New Version of Green Building Studio – Enhanced UI and New Weather Data

A new version of Autodesk Green Building Studio has gone live. Version 4.2 has a nicer user interface as well as new weather data for more parts of the globe (Central and South America, the Caribbean, Indonesio and eht Southwest Pacific, the Middle East and Africa have been added). The GBS weather data now covers most of the World.

Via blgsim

Export Revit to EnergyPlus via Ecotect

EnergyPlus is one of the most sophisticated energy analysis tools available and Revit has become somewhat of a standard for the AEC industry at least in North America and Oceania it seems like a natural fit ..

See this recent post on openRevit for some in depth instructions on how to use the Revit gbXML export feature via Ecotect with EnergyPlus for thermal simulations and more.

Via Blgsim

Revit: Exporting to Ecotect Analysis

Here is some more fodder for environmental designers on exporting data from Revit to Ecotect Analysis:

Via Blgsim

VisualARQ – Architectural Tools for Rhino

Designed for architects, planners and interior designers, VisualARQ (developed by Asuni CAD) is a Rhino plugin for creating and editing architectural models. It adds parametric 3D objects like walls, columns, doors, windows and stairs that are suitable for 3D modeling and 2D documentation.

For detail on features and to download a trail version go to the VisualARQ website. Here are also some videos showing different tools in VisualARQ.

Via blgsim

Google Sketchup for Energy Analysis using EnergyPlus Online Tutorials at AIA Website

Here is some more insight into using SketcUp for Building Performance Simulation

These hands-on tutorials will help you, step-by-step, test drive a new set of 3D modeling and energy analysis tools: Open Studio, SketchUp and EnergyPlus. After viewing the videos, you may earn four hours of HSW Credit by taking a quiz on the peer learning site.

Downloadable Programs Google Sketchup Google Earth EnergyPlus OpenStudio

Hands-on Tutorials (Streaming Video) Google SketchUp for Energy Analysis Using EnergyPlus Google SketchUp, Part 1 Google SketchUp, Part 2 EnergyPlus, Part 1 EnergyPlus, Part 2

Find out more at AIA/ Practicing Architecture

Via Blgsim

Autodesk Green Building Studio Adds More Than a Million Global Weather Locations

“The previous version of the Autodesk Green Building Studio service supported weather locations mainly based on large airport sites. The 1.6 million virtual weather locations now supported by the service are located no more than 8.8 miles (14 km) from any given project location covered by the new data set. The new virtual weather locations were developed using weather data from a variety of government and other public sources, such as airports, ocean or river buoys, and aircraft and satellite readings. An observations-based physics model (mesoscale meteorological model) was then generated for each region. Access to the 1.6 million virtual weather location data set is available now to subscribers of Autodesk Ecotect Analysis 2010 during the term of their Subscription.”

Via Blgsim

Ecotect Analysis Training Packages

As announced at AU 2008 these training packages will help you make the most of your Ecotect Analysis software.

These html based packages contain background information, movies and
step-by-step tutorials to get you started on five main areas of
analysis:

• Daylighting
• Shading Device Design
• Shadows and Reflections
• Solar Radiation
• Visual Impact

An Introductory Product Demonstration package is also available.

You can download the training packages from the following location.
After installation these training packages are available via the
Ecotect Help menu:

Ecotect Analysis 2010 Training Packages

Via Blgsim

Solar Radition Technology Preview Not Compatible with Revit Service Pack 2

The Solar Radiation Technology Preview for Revit is available for download from:

http://labs.autodesk.com/utilities/ecotect/

With the recent release of Service Pack 2 for Revit, the combination of the technology preview and the service pack results in:

Read more at the “It’s alive in the lab blog” …

Via Blgsim

CASAnova – An Educational Software for Heating and Cooling Energy Demand

The program CASAnova – An educational software for heating and cooling energy demand as well as the temperature behaviour in buildings can be used intuitively in order to understand the relations between building geometry, orientation, thermal insulation, glazing, solar heat gains, heating demand, heating and primary energy as well as overheating in summer.

The user of CASAnova can adjust and change more than 20 different parameters. All inputs in CASAnova are made with the mouse; to do this scrollbars and listboxes are at the user’s disposal. Calculations take place immediately after the modification of a parameter and results are immediately shown in the diagrams and the tables.

The calculation of heating demand is based on the European norm EN 832. CASAnova uses building shapes of rectangular form for which in a monthly balance transmission and ventilation losses as well as solar and internal gains are calculated. Heating demand is the difference between energy losses and energy gains of the building.

For determining the number of hours which are overheated in the considered building CASAnova uses a single-zone dynamical thermal model. Based on hourly data of the outside temperature and the solar heat gains through windows and walls, CASAnova calculates the useable solar heat gain as well as the transmission and ventilation losses of this zone. Together with the internal gains the balance of energy for an effective thermal mass is determined (i.e. energy losses and gains for the room-air including the heat which is stored up in an active part of the wall). According to the amount and the sign of this balance zone temperatures change with time. Finally, the number of hours is counted for which room-air temperatures exceed a comfort temperature limit given by the user.

For more info and to download the software go to the University of Siegen website ..

Via Blgsim

Preview of Autodesk Ecotect Analysis 2010

Another interesting summary of Ecotect’s abilities that provides a preview of the features and functionality of Autodesk Ecotect Analysis 2010, a comprehensive, concept-to-detail sustainable design analysis tool that provides a wide range of simulation and analysis functionality. Includes energy, water and carbon emission analysis using Autodesk Green Building Studio web-service and detailed environmental studies using powerful visualization tools on the desktop. In this video, you will learn how these tools can be used to perform energy analysis and help to achieve other sustainable design targets at the earliest stages of the design process.

Via blgsim

solar roof tiles

the american company srs energy has taken the idea of solar panels design for rooftop to a whole new level by integrating them right into roof tiles. rather than using flat panels installed over traditional roofing materials, srs energy has developed solar panel roofing tiles that integrate right into the roof. the unique design allows the tiles to blend right into the roof, making themselves almost invisible. the tiles are made from a lightweight recyclable plastic that is molded together with a flexible solar cell. while the flexible panel design gathers less energy, it actually reacts to a broader spectrum of light. the tiles are also linked together so that they can operate even if one stops working.
Further info visit: http://www.srsenergy.com









Via Designboom

Kiefer Technic Showroom: Architecture

In earlier times, façades were characterised by window arrangements and axes. They often featured surface relief with architectural elements from the relevant period or style. The structure of the façade also determined the ground plan; the greater the number of window axes in a room, the more important the function of the user.

Not long ago office buildings had a clear structure and the number of axes was predetermined - e.g. how many for a director or high-ranking counsellor and how many for a mere civil servant.
With the introduction of window strips, these hierarchies were abandoned. Today it is possible that the complete exterior façade is transparent, and this very transparency indicates a modern character. At the same time, individual requirements escalate and need to be reconciled with the desire for comfort.



For this reason dynamic façades has been developed which can be adapted individually to changing conditions and needs. Of course they can also be controlled by optimising programs if users are not present in the rooms behind. Thus it is possible to realise these new transparent façades and yet still maintain a cosy atmosphere in the rooms.

These façades change continuously; each day, each hour shows a new “face” - the façade is turning into a dynamic sculpture.

Below is a video demonstrating the facade transformations:
  

Kiefer Technic Showroom,Bad Gleichenberg,Austria by Giselbrecht + Partners

Via e-architect

Pachube: Realtime Sensor Data Linked to SketchUp

Pachube is a web service available at http://www.pachube.com that enables you to connect, tag and share real time sensor data from objects, devices, buildings and environments around the world.

The key aim is to facilitate interaction between remote environments, both physical and virtual. If you have not heard of Pachube before it is well worth taking a look at their site and the exploring the concept which is a little bit like YouTube, except that, rather than sharing videos, Pachube enables people to monitor and share real time environmental data from sensors that are connected to the internet.

The linkages can now be visualised via SketchUp, the incoming data can be used to generate or modulate a 3D model of a building or environment, and enables sophisticated design-decisions that are based on actual (and not simulated) sensor and environment data. Possible uses include designing interactive façades, undertaking post-occupancy evaluation (which is where you evaluate how well the design performs) and sensor-based form generation.

Video below shows a demonstration of the plugin for sketchup. It shows real-time water, gas and energy usage from a building management system being graphed on top of a model of the building. Although in this demo the data is merely driving simple scalar transformations to visualize energy usage, the real potential of the plug-in is to serve Pachube data to real-world design tools to directly inform design decisions in a much more sophisticated way.

Download the plug-in and see the tutorial here: http://community.pachube.com/sketchup

Via Digital Urban

New YouTube Channel on Ecotect

Ideate, a leading Autodesk reseller in the Pacific Northwest has started an Ecotect Channel on YouTube. So far there are these two tutorials on weather files and artificial lighting. Stay tuned for more … If you are new to Ecotect I recomend seeing the Ecotect overview presentation done by Ideate or check out Practical Sustainable Design Workflows with Ecotect and Revit at the Autodesk University Classes (sign up required)

In-Revit Solar Simulation Tool available

This is an exciting though expected development that the technology behind Ecotect will eventually be integrated right into Autdesk’s core BIM application Revit. Let’s hope this is the first of many integrated building performance tools.

Use this Solar Radiation Technology Preview to analyze the effects of solar radiation on various surfaces of your conceptual building model. The add-in uses conceptual massing elements from Revit models and the Autodesk Ecotect insolation analysis engine to calculate the amount of solar radiation hitting the surfaces of the massing shapes. This add-in works with Revit Architecture 2010 Update Release 1 and Revit MEP 2010 Update Release 1.
Go to Autodesk Labs to download the add-in. The archive includes a PDF “getting started” guide.

See this video for an overview.

Microsoft Unveils Energy Management Software

Google has been releasing information on their smart meter management software called PowerMeter little by little, but we've yet to see a fully-completed product.  Microsoft is hoping to steal some of their thunder by releasing a beta version of their energy management software, Hohm, this week and, at least appearance-wise, it has Google beat.

The web-based software allows users to monitor and control their energy use by logging into the Hohm website with their Windows Live ID and zip code.  Based on that information, the software makes estimates of their home energy use and allows the user to enter specific information by answering any or all of 180 questions, with each answer making the numbers more accurate.

So far the software is only available for use by a few utilities - Xcel Energy, Sacramento Municipal Utility District, Seattle City Light and Puget Sound Energy - with more in line to start using it soon.  If you happen to live in one of the areas serviced by the list above, your energy use information will be even more comprehensive with historical data available from the utility.

The software will be smart meter-compatible as soon as any of its utility partners begin using them.

Eventually, the software will be used in connection with electric vehicle charging and grid demand management, but those more delux features will likely come with a price.  Microsoft has made clear that this software is a product like any other they've created and as it's further developed, cost will start being a factor.  For now, at least while it's in beta, the energy managment tool is free.

via Ecogeek and Earth2Tech

City of Vancouver: Passive Design Toolkits

The City has developed and approved two passive design toolkits detailing ways to reduce energy use in new buildings, which are a major source of greenhouse gas emissions in Vancouver. The tookits provide best practices for homes and larger buildings for passive design elements such as layout, orientation, insulation, landscaping and ventilation. They are targeted to City staff and the design and development communities, intended to help us move toward a new, higher standard of energy efficiency without sacrificing thermal comfort.

Read more

Via blgsim

SunTools for SketchUp is available now

SunTools, a new Plugin for SketchUp is available now.

Plug-in Features:

• SunPATH: visualization (month and year)
• SunPOS: Sun Position for a date and time
• SunVIEW: Axonometric views from the Sun
• SunPENETRATION: Analyze Sun Penetration/Access in any specific analysis point.

The plug-in can be downloaded after registration from: http://tx.technion.ac.il/~arrguedi/SunTools/download.html


Via Blgsim

Passive Homes Heat Up Around the World

Passive design is architectural design that eliminates the need for mechanical heating and cooling of a building through the use of smart, time-tested heating and cooling strategies such as natural ventilation, solar heat gain and solar shading and efficient insulation. Around 15,000 passive houses have been built around the world in a few short years, yet few are cropping up the United States. Scandinavian and German-speaking countries are sweeping the industry and streamlining the modern family’s heating bill in the process. Passive homes seem to be the next logical step in, well, logical design - German Bauhaus style coupled naturally with Scandinavian modernism, later exploding into what we now know as mid-century modern. Now with 2009 well underway, the world’s budding designers are leaning on the shoulders of sustainability, while passive design is planting its feet in the homelands of Alvar Aalto and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe.

Read More

Via Inhabitat