BEMP study guide
BEMP · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Building Energy Modeling Professional (BEMP) is a professional credential offered by ASHRAE for practitioners who create, run, and interpret whole-building energy simulations. It is aimed at engineers, architects, energy analysts, and consultants whose work depends on simulation results being technically defensible - people who build models for code compliance, LEED or above-code documentation, design comparisons, retrofit analysis, or measurement-and-verification support. Rather than testing software button-clicking, the exam is structured around four practice areas: the physics and modeling theory behind simulation engines; the practical construction and execution of a model; the analysis and honest interpretation of results; and the project-management, documentation, and quality-assurance discipline that makes a model reviewable by a third party. Exam items are multiple choice and are written to test judgment across all four areas rather than depth in one. The BEMP study guide has 4 sections and about 1,629 words.
01Energy Modeling Fundamentals and Theory
Every annual simulation is an accounting exercise built on the first law of thermodynamics and on heat transfer by conduction, convection, and radiation. Be able to explain the difference between steady-state load calculations (used to size equipment on a design day) and dynamic energy simulation (used to predict annual consumption with a weather file).
345 words, about 2 min02Model Creation and Simulation
Start with geometry: spaces versus thermal zones. A thermal zone is the control volume served by one thermostat, so zones should follow HVAC zoning and solar/orientation exposure rather than architectural room names.
321 words, about 2 min03Results Analysis and Interpretation
Different questions need different metrics. EUI (energy use intensity, kBtu/ft²·yr or kWh/m²·yr) supports benchmarking but is weather- and schedule-sensitive.
318 words, about 2 min04Modeling Project Management, Documentation, and Quality Assurance
Every modeling project begins with the owner's project requirements and basis of design, plus an explicit statement of what decisions the model will support. A code-compliance model, a design-optimization model, and an M&V baseline model have different levels of detail, different acceptable uncertainty, and different deliverables.
645 words, about 3 min