Instructor Resources
Given the accessibility of SimBuilding and its flexibility on various systems, students can play the game from their home computers or in a lab classroom. Instructor input is useful when students have difficulty with the Building Science questions highlighted throughout the game, and for which students accumulate points. The resources below can be used for simply playing SimBuilding in a classroom setting, or we've also provided a sample lesson plan if you wish to incorporate an entire Building Science lesson, complete with powerpoint presentations, into your classroom time.
SimBuilding Overview - A basic overview of the game and how it can be used in the classroom
SimBuilding Sample Lesson Plan - Lesson plan with two options, one for introductory Building Science students and another for a more advanced class. Utilizes many of the links below.
Game Questions with Answer Key - A spreadsheet of the actual questions in the SimBuilding Game, with their locations and answer choices.
SimBuilding Floorplan with Hotspots - The map of the entire SimBuilding House with hotspots marked. Can be a resource for the instructor, since ideally students should be finding the hotspots on their own. Alternately, can be given to students as a resource if time is short or students are younger.
Principles of Building Science in SimBuilding - Basic handout on Building Science Principles for students to use as a guide while working on the game
SimBuilding Auditor Worksheet - A worksheet to use in conjunction with the SimBuilding game, encouraging students to look for additional information throughout the house, much like an Auditor would during a real energy audit. Some answers are arbitrary. The point of the exercise is to get students thinking more analytically and applying their Building Science knowledge.
SimBuilding Auditor Worksheet Answers - The answer sheet for the Auditor Worksheet. Keep in mind, some of the questions do not have a "correct" answer since they are about applying knowledge and interpreting the clues provided by the house.
Emissivity and Infrared Thermography - A handout on emissivity (and reflectivity) and how it affects infrared thermal imaging.
Presentation Materials
The following three links are for powerpoint presentations referenced in the Sample Lesson Plan above. We also have available the two videos below, which are based off of the powerpoint presentations.
The first, entitled Building Science Principles, is an overview of the building science principles incorporated into the SimBuilding game as well as some context for energy diagnostics and analysis. It's purpose is to educate students who are unfamiliar with Building Science and Weatherization.
Building Science Principles Powerpoint
The second, IR Basics, gets into more detail about Infrared Thermography and the clues for analysis we can see using an IR camera. It's purpose is for students who have never used an IR camera before and may not know what details to look for in IR thermographs.
IR Basics Powerpoint
The third, Blower Door Basics, gets into blower door depressurization diagnostics and how they can be used in conjunction with IR thermography to create a more complete image of building performance. No video has been created for this powerpoint yet.
Blower Door Basics Powerpoint
Given the accessibility of SimBuilding and its flexibility on various systems, students can play the game from their home computers or in a lab classroom. Instructor input is useful when students have difficulty with the Building Science questions highlighted throughout the game, and for which students accumulate points. The resources below can be used for simply playing SimBuilding in a classroom setting, or we've also provided a sample lesson plan if you wish to incorporate an entire Building Science lesson, complete with powerpoint presentations, into your classroom time.
SimBuilding Overview - A basic overview of the game and how it can be used in the classroom
SimBuilding Sample Lesson Plan - Lesson plan with two options, one for introductory Building Science students and another for a more advanced class. Utilizes many of the links below.
Game Questions with Answer Key - A spreadsheet of the actual questions in the SimBuilding Game, with their locations and answer choices.
SimBuilding Floorplan with Hotspots - The map of the entire SimBuilding House with hotspots marked. Can be a resource for the instructor, since ideally students should be finding the hotspots on their own. Alternately, can be given to students as a resource if time is short or students are younger.
Principles of Building Science in SimBuilding - Basic handout on Building Science Principles for students to use as a guide while working on the game
SimBuilding Auditor Worksheet - A worksheet to use in conjunction with the SimBuilding game, encouraging students to look for additional information throughout the house, much like an Auditor would during a real energy audit. Some answers are arbitrary. The point of the exercise is to get students thinking more analytically and applying their Building Science knowledge.
SimBuilding Auditor Worksheet Answers - The answer sheet for the Auditor Worksheet. Keep in mind, some of the questions do not have a "correct" answer since they are about applying knowledge and interpreting the clues provided by the house.
Emissivity and Infrared Thermography - A handout on emissivity (and reflectivity) and how it affects infrared thermal imaging.
Presentation Materials
The following three links are for powerpoint presentations referenced in the Sample Lesson Plan above. We also have available the two videos below, which are based off of the powerpoint presentations.
The first, entitled Building Science Principles, is an overview of the building science principles incorporated into the SimBuilding game as well as some context for energy diagnostics and analysis. It's purpose is to educate students who are unfamiliar with Building Science and Weatherization.
Building Science Principles Powerpoint
The second, IR Basics, gets into more detail about Infrared Thermography and the clues for analysis we can see using an IR camera. It's purpose is for students who have never used an IR camera before and may not know what details to look for in IR thermographs.
IR Basics Powerpoint
The third, Blower Door Basics, gets into blower door depressurization diagnostics and how they can be used in conjunction with IR thermography to create a more complete image of building performance. No video has been created for this powerpoint yet.
Blower Door Basics Powerpoint