The inputs required to carry out the energy simulation of a building design may be extensive and a sufficient amount of information may not be available. In this case, it is helpful to understand those variables in the building model that have little impact on the results versus others that have a significant impact. A sensitivity analysis is performed on ten buildings using EE4 CB, a software program that verifies a building's compliance to Natural Resources Canada's Commercial Building Incentive Program requirements and predicts annual energy cost savings. The degree of sensitivity of 14 required inputs on predicted energy consumption and savings is noted for the different building types that are investigated. The building models are found to be most sensitive to inputs describing the characteristics of the building envelope, the installed lighting power density, the outdoor air supply to the building, pump type, HVAC equipment efficiency, and temperature schedules. The building's orientation and thermal mass, service water heating equipment efficiency, supply air flow, and average monthly ground temperature are found to have less of an importance on predicted energy savings.

Units: SI