What are TEDI Ratings and How Do They Affect Balcony Design?

TEDI ratings are often seen as complex, a necessary yet crucial metric by which to assess the sustainability of a building.

TEDI ratings don’t need to be complex. In fact, by engaging with your suppliers early and making informed decisions, it couldn’t be simpler.

TEDI Ratings Explained

TEDI ratings (or Thermal Energy Demand Intensity ratings) indicate the energy efficiency of a building by measuring how much energy it requires for heating. Essentially, it signifies how well-insulated a building is and how much energy it will take to keep it warm. The lower the TEDI rating, the more energy-efficient a building is and generally speaking, the better for the environment it is.

TEDI ratings aren’t just for developers and suppliers, however. The consumer may keep TEDI ratings in mind when purchasing a property too – lower TEDI ratings can often lead to energy cost savings and so not only are lower TEDI scorers more environmentally friendly, but they’re cheaper to boot.

TEDI is scored over an extended period of time, typically in kilowatt-hours per square meter per year (kWh/m²/year). Firstly, data is collected regarding the building’s heating energy consumption and floor area. The total heating energy consumption (in kWh) is divided by the total floor area of the building (in m²) over a year to determine the energy demand intensity. The resulting number, or TEDI value, is then compared to established benchmarks to assess the building’s energy efficiency.

We spoke with experts on the TEDI rating system who mentioned the importance of TEDI ratings. Bluescape Partner Rob Kirwan spoke on how working strategically with companies that understand TEDI ratings and who can execute sustainable plans is crucial to lowering your TEDI score. Speaking with Andrew Geldard (BDP Quadrangle), he mentioned that the external envelope is key to lowering your TEDI score. Thermally breaking your external envelope elements will have a big effect on your TEDI number. Achieving Passive House levels means focusing on lowering your TEDI score, so taking this into account at an early stage is key.

The full TEDI Talks event from Resibuild is available below:

The importance of sustainable building practices

Sustainability is becoming ever more important in the construction sector, with a huge emphasis on meeting Passive House standards to lower the embodied carbon footprint of all new construction.

By its very nature, the construction industry is a big user of natural resources – from energy usage to emissions. There is increasing pressure to reduce the environmental impact – Current and incoming Canadian step codes across the construction sector mean that building sustainably is more important than ever before.

Sustainable construction is possible with several factors like reducing energy consumption, taking care of waste, creating a healthy and sustainable environment, using renewable and recyclable resources and protecting the natural environment.

Innovations in Sustainable Balcony Design

Balcony design and materials can contribute to lower TEDI ratings. Looking at a sustainable alternative to concrete balconies, like a prefabricated solution, can lead directly to a lower TEDI score.

There are plenty of examples of products that have lowered their TEDI ratings through innovation. Whether it’s the inclusion of recycled materials, new technologies implemented throughout the manufacturing process or even an adherence to the Science-Based Target Initiative, each of these approaches has a ripple effect, creating sustainability across the board.

One of these examples is our Next Generation balcony system.

Thanks to a lightweight design and our innovative Clip-On™ anchor, we’ve been able to reduce the weight on a building’s structure when compared to a concrete balcony by up to 4kNm. Balconies are, in fact, very easy to thermally break. The small penetrations mean that less surface area needs to be thermally broken. By featuring a thermal break in the connection anchor, far less heat is lost through the façade, and so a prefabricated balcony can help to make a building thermally efficient and in turn lower a TEDI rating.

There are factors to consider when using a prefabricated balcony, such as compliance with Canadian step codes should also be considered. Having a prefabricated balcony can lead to sustainability benefits, but making sure that balcony designs comply with relevant building codes and regulations, including requirements for structural integrity, fire safety, and accessibility, is crucial for ensuring code compliance.

Learn more below:

Understanding TEDI ratings should be vital when identifying your building’s balcony design.

Not only are sustainable building practices more important in today’s climate than ever before, but designing with sustainability in mind can make a more energy-efficient building, encourage innovation in your design and even make your development more attractive to end-users.

We’re committed to bringing true balcony innovation to North America. To learn more, visit our Canadian hub: