Modeling Non-USA located LEED for Homes Projects in Ekotrope

Modeling Non-USA located LEED for Homes Projects in Ekotrope

Using US-based HERS rating software for international LEED for Homes projects is common practice — LEED for Homes International relies on the same HERS-based tools and methodology used domestically. 

However, to utilize US-based HERS rating software a few workarounds are necessary. 

Ekotrope RATER relies on standard TMY3 weather files generated by US weather agencies, so it does not natively support international addresses or climate locations, and this holds true for HERS rating software generally. 

As a result, the workarounds below are consistent across most HERS platforms, not unique to Ekotrope, and GBCI has approved these modeling workarounds for LEED for Homes International submissions.

Step 1: Approximate Your Climate with a US Weather Zip Code

To perform hourly energy simulations, you must map your project to a comparable US climate zone.

• Find a Match: Select a US ZIP code and county that closely match the temperature, humidity, and weather characteristics of your international site. For example:
  • Panama or Caribbean locations can be approximated using South Florida or Hawaii ZIP codes.
  • Middle Eastern locations (e.g., Saudi Arabia or UAE) can be approximated using hot, dry climates like Climate Zone 2B (e.g., Tucson, AZ).
  • Canadian locations are typically modeled using adjacent northern border states like Michigan or New York.
• Set the Weather Zip: Enter the matching US ZIP code into the Zip (Weather) field in Ekotrope to assign the simulation weather station, while keeping your actual international address in the informational text fields.
• Note on Address Fields: Ekotrope's address fields are built around a US address format. Because of this, your reports will display a US state (matching your weather ZIP selection) rather than your actual international location, and you may see a validation warning when entering a non-US address. This is expected — the state and address fields are being used to drive the weather simulation, not to represent the physical project location.

Step 2: Consider Mirroring the Solar Path (Southern Hemisphere Projects)

Ekotrope's thermodynamic engine assumes the sun is located in the southern sky. If your LEED project is in the Southern Hemisphere (e.g., Australia or Mauritius), you may want to model the window orientations in reverse.

• Input your north-facing windows as south-facing in the software, and vice versa.
• This mirrors the solar path so the model more accurately simulates solar heat gain from the northern sky.

Step 3: Handle Non-Typical Energy Users (Pools, Spas, and Common Spaces)

LEED for Homes often requires you to manually account for major energy-consuming systems that are outside the standard HERS scope.

• No Native Modeling: Ekotrope does not natively calculate energy consumption for scheduled common spaces, elevators, or heated pools/spas.

Step 4: Generate Projected LEED Reports

Because international projects cannot be submitted to the US-based RESNET registry, you will not be able to print "Confirmed" HERS certificates.

• Under the Non-Code Programs section, select and print the LEED for Homes Source Energy Budget and LEED v4 Reference Home Summary reports.
• Submit these Projected PDF reports directly to the GBCI for your final credit documentation.

A Note on LEED Requirements

These workarounds address how to model an international project within Ekotrope. They are not a substitute for LEED program guidance. Requirements can vary by project and jurisdiction, so please check with GBCI directly for authoritative guidance on LEED rules, documentation requirements, and any project-specific exceptions before finalizing your submission.