Architects worldwide have been tasked with the ambitious goal of designing net-zero energy buildings. This endeavour represents one of the most significant actions in the fight against climate change. Computer-based building performance analysis tools are poised to play a pivotal role in this new approach to architectural design. This article aims to explore the process of architectural design for net-zero energy buildings (NZEBs) through the application of the latest computer-based building performance analysis tools. The research seeks to demonstrate how and at which stages of architectural design these advanced simulation programs and databases on the energy efficiency of completed buildings are employed. The foundation of this research lies in the integration of cutting-edge science, technology, and analytical methods to design buildings with minimal energy consumption and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. A case study methodology was employed to investigate these issues. The findings of the research indicate that these tools empower architects to perform crucial analyses throughout the design process, facilitating the creation of net-zero energy buildings.

The objective of this analysis was to forecast the energy demand of a tall office building situated within a mid-rise urban context under future climate conditions. The research employed energy simulations conducted using OpenStudio v. 3.9.0 and EnergyPlus software v. 24.2.0, with weather data in TMY format. Climate projections for the years 2050 and 2080 were derived from the HadCM3 model. The morphing method was applied to generate climate data files in EPW format for integration into the building energy simulations. Based on these future weather files, the building’s performance was simulated, accounting for the operation of HVAC systems to determine energy consumption for heating and cooling. The results were compared against a baseline simulation representing contemporary climatic conditions, constructed from data covering the years 2004–2018. The findings indicate that cooling demand will play a decisive role in the total energy consumption of the building.

Intensive residential development today takes on various spatial forms, which are the subject of numerous studies. The article presents the author's method of representing structural models, which inspired the creation of an urban planning game used in didactics and popularization. Dozens of theoretical models created for the representation of indicators were realized for the game. The purpose of the conducted research is to verify to what extent the adopted method of representing housing complexes is effective and how it can be used in other studies that currently rely on data collected in spatial information systems. The conclusions can be useful for researchers, as well as architects, urban planners and decision-makers associated with the planning of housing complexes.