Director of Energy Analytics and Informed Design John Nichols will host the educational breakout session “MythBusters! Lessons Learned from Architectural Energy Modeling” at upcoming APPA conferences in Virginia and North Carolina. Formerly known as the Association of Physical Plant Administrators, APPA changed its name to the Association of Higher Education Facilities Officers in 1991.

The “Mythbusters” sessions will explore how architectural energy modeling can help address the challenges of potentially conflicting design issues about building form, function, cost and performance. Featuring case studies and lessons learned from a wide-range of new construction and renovation projects throughout the Mid-Atlantic, the sessions will examine misconceptions related to energy performance and natural daylight harvesting.

Higher Education Sector Leader Jeff Hyder will co-host with Nichols at APPA’s Virginia chapter (VAPPA) conference in Williamsburg on March 12. VAPPA’s conference theme centers around disruptive technology, with a focus on how artificial intelligence, machine learning and generative design are affecting design, construction and operations.

Principal Brad Lockwood will serve as Nichols’ co-host at APPA’s North Carolina chapter (NCAPPA) annual conference, “See the Forest with 20/20 Vision,” in Winston-Salem on May 28.

Moseley Architects has provided design services for more than 150 buildings encompassing more than 8.7 million gross square feet on collegiate campuses. The firm’s high performance projects have resulted in an estimated annual energy savings of $5.87 million.

Using modeling data, research reports and past project experience, the firm’s energy analytics services identify the best energy efficiency strategies for each project. Leading this effort, Nichols focuses on leveraging data and other resources to inform key design decisions throughout each project, supported by energy and daylight modeling, life-cycle cost analysis and technology research. He works closely with building owners to identify additional opportunities for saving energy during actual operations.

“Energy and daylight models have been an invaluable design tool for our firm, especially when we run them during early design. By using these models to challenge assumptions and question certain rules of thumb, we have found some surprising results that we are excited to share with our clients,” Nichols said.