IBPSA-USA Requests for Proposals
For any of the following opportunities, please submit questions to us at admin@ibpsa.us.
Competition begins: Tuesday, June 3, 2025
Competition ends: Tuesday, June 17, 2025
Reviewers assigned: Tuesday, July 1, 2025
Panels meeting deadline: Friday, August 1, 2025
Top proposals determined for members poll: Friday, August 8, 2025
Member poll begins: Wednesday, August 13, 2025
Member poll ends: Wednesday, August 20, 2025
Judging complete: Monday, August 25, 2025
Winners announced: Wednesday, September 17, 2025
IBPSA-USA is looking for project ideas from the leading experts (YOU) on what is needed to advance the impact of building performance simulation, particularly those ideas that can help streamline the BEM process and lower costs for all stakeholders (e.g., practitioners, building owners). We are soliciting ideas for projects that could be typically completed in one to three years and ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 per year. We want ideas from experts across building performance areas (thermal, acoustic, energy, lighting, indoor air quality - just to name a few). We want ideas from decision makers who use building simulation data. Do you want to see more data, see it more clearly, or see it more holistically? This competition is an open-call for all project ideas that would shape the future of building simulation, making it easier, better, and more impactful for all stakeholders. Submit your ideas in the following simulation topics that include but are not limited to:
- Reliability (grid, building services)
- Security (cybersecurity, energy)
- Artificial intelligence
- Energy performance
- Daylighting and lighting
- Thermal comfort
- Urban scale modeling
- Affordability e.g., cost-saving retrofit strategies, saving on energy costs, lowering capital costs, and streamlining BEM
- Methods to improve BEM process
- Other
Submit your two-page ideas by June 17, 2025 (submission template here)! Whether you submit an idea or not, look out for a members’ poll beginning August 13, 2025 where IBPSA members will have a chance to vote for the winning ideas. Winners will be announced September 17, 2025 and winning ideas will be prioritized for future proposals by IBPSA-USA for project funding. Winning ideas in this competition will receive a choice of incentive valued up to $1,000.
All proposals will remain confidential and be retained by IBPSA-USA for the purpose of this competition and future full proposal development. The full proposals will be shared with reviewers. Only proposal abstracts will be shared in a public members’ poll to aid in understanding of the project idea for voting purposes.
Please visit this FAQ for more information on this competition, which will be updated as new questions are received. Contact admin@ibpsa.us for questions.
The IBPSA-USA Emerging Professional and Students Committee (EPSI) invites students and early-career professionals to submit simulation or analysis-based projects for the Simulation Showcase, a new webinar series spotlighting innovative work in building performance. Selected participants will present in a 10-minute live session, gain recognition at SimBuild 2026, and be considered for awards. Submissions are open from May 15 to July 15, 2025, and should include a project abstract, visual, and presenter bio.
- Coordinate with AHJs to encourage them to rely on the IBPSA-USA “certified tools” portal as their list of approved software programs and to move away from referencing the IRS 179D list
- Gather feedback on the certification frameworks including technical details, usefulness to AHJs’ programs, suggested revisions, and other feedback to make the certification frameworks as valuable to AHJs as possible.
- Discuss the potential to develop pilots for the certification programs
