*2.1. Design and Phases*

Creating a new model of energy verification for Mexico seems to be a complex project. Our principal research aims were the development of a model for verifying the model's compliance with the Mexican standard and conducting a comparison with the Energy Plus simulation model for testing the benefits of including thermal comfort analysis in the verification model. For a new scheme, profound studies are required to support the coefficients and reference values of the standard. For practical purposes, the use of an actual verification method was suggested, but with the customization of several issues. Due to the lack of an international regulation code at the time (2010), the actual energy standard NOM-020-ENER-2011 was developed using the practices and guidelines quoted in publications, like the ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers) Fundamentals Manual, 1998 and 2001 editions. The standard presents its own method of verification, pursuing energy savings by controlling the thermal envelope heat transfer with a mathematical calculation method [13]. So, as a first approach for a new verification model, new reference values were researched and created. To obtain the planned results of the initial hypothesis, the working plan was divided into four stages,as displayed on Figure 1: (1) The development of climatologic zoning of Mexico according to its different climatic severities; (2) the study of Mexican energy standard NOM-020-ENER-2011 and its application; (3) constructing a traditional building system catalogue for the country; (4) the development of an energy testing exercise with the previous materials and tools, applied for the selected social housing model. The fourth stage, the testing exercise, was used to test if the existing model complied with the standard. If not, improved models for each climatic zone were developed until standard compliance was achieved. Finally, for verifying the applicability of energy efficiency strategies on different traditional construction systems, a comparison test was performed.

**Figure 1.** A general scheme of the four research stages for the energy verification model.
