BEO Science — Online Course
Energy Modelling with
SketchUp, DesignPH & PHPP
A practical, on-demand course covering the complete early-stage energy modelling workflow — from SketchUp geometry to PHPP output. Built for Passive House consultants, architects, and professionals working across H1 VM1, Green Star, and Homestar pathways.
What You'll Learn
A repeatable process from model to certification
Every module builds toward a single outcome: a confident, reliable workflow that takes you from building geometry to a complete PHPP analysis — on every project.
- Passive House consultants
- Architects and designers
- Energy assessors
- H1 VM1 practitioners
- Green Star and Homestar professionals
- Anyone learning PHPP from scratch
Course Content
Four modules — SketchUp to PHPP output
The course is broken into four focused modules, each building on the last. Work through them sequentially or return to individual modules as a reference on active projects.
Getting Started
Install DesignPH, navigate SketchUp, and link both tools to PHPP with confidence. By the end of this module you'll have a working setup and understand how the three tools connect.
- Installing and configuring DesignPH
- SketchUp interface and navigation fundamentals
- Linking SketchUp and DesignPH to PHPP
- Project file setup and version control
Building the 3D Model
Import plans, draw your thermal envelope, assign U-values and window properties, model shading elements and ventilation, and prepare the model for export. This is the core modelling module.
- Importing architectural plans as a reference base
- Drawing the thermal envelope accurately
- Assigning U-values, window properties, and thermal bridges
- Modelling shading — eaves, fins, adjacent buildings
- Adding ventilation system geometry
- Pre-export checks and model preparation
Setting Up PHPP
Export your DesignPH model into PHPP, complete the essential data entry worksheets, and run your first energy analysis. Learn the feedback loops that let you iterate design options quickly.
- Exporting from DesignPH to PHPP
- Essential data entry — climate, occupancy, services
- Running the first energy balance calculation
- Reading the results and interpreting what matters
- Quick design iteration workflow
Using PHPP — Sheet by Sheet
Work through every worksheet in PHPP with targeted video lessons, practical tips, and validation checks. The most detailed module — and the one you'll return to most on live projects.
- Climate and site data sheets
- U-values, windows, and thermal bridges
- Areas, ventilation, and heating demand
- Summer comfort and overheating assessment
- Primary energy and renewable energy inputs
- Certification sheets and result verification
Enrol
Enrol in the full course
One price for complete access to all four modules, all video lessons, and all future content updates.
- Module 1 — Getting Started
- Module 2 — Building the 3D Model
- Module 3 — Setting Up PHPP
- Module 4 — PHPP Sheet by Sheet
- All video lessons and reference materials
- Lifetime access — return to any module anytime
- Future content updates included
Why This Course
Built around how the work actually happens
Delivery
On-demand. Work at your own pace.
Self-paced video lessons — accessible anywhere, anytime
The course is fully on-demand with no scheduled sessions. Work through modules across an afternoon, a week, or a month — whatever fits your schedule. Lessons are short and focused, and Module 4 is structured so you can dip in and out by worksheet as needed on live projects.
Lifetime access means the course stays with you as a reference. Future content additions are included at no extra cost.
BEO Science Courses
Where this fits in the BEO course range
| Energy Modelling | ATTMA L1 | ATTMA PH+ | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Focus | SketchUp + DesignPH + PHPP workflow | Blower door testing — equipment, procedure, certification | ATTMA TSL4 — Passive House airtightness testing |
| Delivery | Fully online, on-demand | Online theory + in-person workshop and exam | Fully online, self-paced |
| Credential | CPD certificate on completion | ATTMA L1 registration | PH ✓ on ATTMA profile |
| Prerequisite | None | None | None (L1/L2 for ATTMA endorsement) |
| Price | $697 (full course) | $2,500 + GST (NZ · in-person) | See PH+ page |
Looking for airtightness testing certification? The ATTMA L1 course covers blower door testing and leads to ATTMA registration. The Energy Modelling course and ATTMA courses complement each other well — many practitioners hold both.
FAQ
Common questions
How does DesignPH improve accuracy in energy modelling with SketchUp?
DesignPH adds building performance logic directly to your SketchUp geometry — assigning thermal properties, categorising surfaces, and preparing inputs in the format PHPP expects. This removes the manual translation step between modelling and analysis, which is where most errors occur.
What are the key benefits of integrating DesignPH with PHPP?
The integration keeps your geometry and your energy model in sync. When you update the SketchUp model, the change flows through to PHPP without re-entering data manually. It reduces errors, saves time, and ensures the model you're designing matches the model you're certifying against.
How does the course cover shading analysis?
Module 2 covers modelling shading elements — eaves, fins, louvres, and adjacent structures — as real 3D geometry in SketchUp. DesignPH then reads these objects and calculates solar gain impact for each orientation and season. The result feeds directly into the PHPP summer comfort and heating demand calculations.
Do I need to know SketchUp before starting?
No. Module 1 covers SketchUp navigation and geometry from the beginning, in the context of building energy modelling. If you already have SketchUp experience, Module 1 will be a quick run through — but it's included to ensure everyone starts from the same foundation.
Is this relevant for H1 VM1 and Green Star work, not just Passive House?
Yes. PHPP and DesignPH are approved calculation tools for the H1 VM1 pathway in New Zealand, and are accepted for Green Star and Homestar energy modelling. The workflow taught in the course applies across all three, and Module 4 notes where input requirements differ by pathway.
How long will I have access to the course?
Lifetime access. The course and all future content additions are included in your purchase — there is no expiry. Module 4 in particular is designed as an ongoing reference, structured so you can return to specific worksheet lessons on live projects as needed.