Resources & Tools

DesignBuilder – DesignBuilder is all in one software for 3D modelling, visualization, shading analysis, day lighting, HVAC, renewable, cost analysis, fluid dynamics, and model optimization. Used extensively in early stage of building design to design a climate responsive and sustainable building. DesignBuilder has an easy to use interface with inbuilt high quality rendering outputs. Key features are – energy consumption, carbon emissions, thermal comfort, daylight availability and cost.

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SunPosition online – Many architectural design features or solar energy system design required accurate solar altitude and azimuth angles for their analysis. SunPosition online is an online tool to position the sun angles in a particular location and time most accurately. It used an advance mathematical algorithm for its internal analysis.

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Cool Roof Calculator – Direct solar radiations on the roof is responsible for increasing summer cooling load and reducing winters heating load. Application of reflective coating and membranes can help in reducing cooling loads but increasing heating requirement. Cool Roof Calculator is used to estimate the net energy saved with the application of cool roof concepts in the building.

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Shading II – Shading II is a SketchUp plugin to analyse sun path and shading design. A very accurate tool for building shading, object shading, internal and external window shading devices etc. The software output helps to estimate the optimized design based on visual and quantified data.

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Building Energy Simulation Software

EnergyPlus – EnergyPlus is an advance whole building simulation engine for hourly simulation analysis. EnergyPlus is equipped with simultaneous solution of zone conditions and HVAC system actions, a modular HVAC structure that accommodates a wide range of system configurations, and a runtime scripting language for user-defined control strategies. Key features are – heat balance-based solution of radiant and convective effects, combined heat and mass transfer model, illuminance and glare calculations, component-based HVAC, and functional mock up Interface.

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COMFIE– Comfie is an advance simulation software for hourly simulation analysis suitable to all types of simulation requirements – mechanical, whole building energy use, architectural engineering. The software estimates building energy needs and temperature profiles very accurately. Key features are – thermal comfort and passive solar structure analysis, life cycle assessment, intercode comparision.

eQuest – eQuest is an advance, comprehensive, user friendly software for building energy performance analysis, comfort system design, detail simulation results. The software support the batch integration effectively to analyse different energy conservation measures on the building and report the comparative analysis on each. It includes advance fenestration, heat balance, and day light controls options as well.

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IES VE – IES VE is an advance software for comfort system design, energy modelling, and performance analysis for comprehensive calculation and accurate results. The software supports the multiple iteration to analyse the impact of additional features on a comfort system for new building or retrofit project. Capable of handling all size of building, IES VE has four tiers –

  • VE – Ware – It’s a free energy and carbon foot print analysis tool
  • VE – toolkits – It’s a user friendly tool kit for concept and schematic design
  • VE – Gaia – It’s an tool that included concept design analysis, quality check, detail analysis of energy performance and comfort system design, sizing and energy efficiency, and detailed report generation.
  • VE – Pro – It’s a powerful, user friendly, and comprehensive building performance tools applicable for energy analysis, day light integration, solar integration, life cycle etc.
  • Training videos –
    1. Youtube Channel name – Integrated Environmental Solutions (IES)

Other relevant tools and references on overall sustainable design

Training on sustainability design –

  • Youtube Channel name – Autodesk Sustainability Workshop (Building design strategies, sustainable product design strategies, building performance analysis)
  • Youtube Channel name – iihschannel

Other references for tools

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