New Buildings Institute (NBI) today announced the official release of one of the first LEED Automation tools available to LEED project teams. The COMNET Energy Modeling Portal is an online platform used to collect energy modelling simulation results, perform quality assurance checks, and submit the results to LEED Online. It can be accessed here.

The new COMNET portal is currently free to use, but payment for the service will be required after October 1. The introductory fee per project will range from $500 to $1,000 depending on project size.

Now LEED Online users can upload modelling results directly from their simulation software to the COMNET Energy Modeling Portal. From there, users can review the official LEED Online template to ensure that it has been filled out appropriately. "The new COMNET portal will be a valuable, time-saving tool for LEED project teams," said Scott Horst, Senior Vice President, USGBC. "LEED Automation is changing the LEED certification landscape and helping accelerate the marketplace."