The truth of sustainable design is that approximately 80% of the design decisions that influence a building's energy performance are made by the architect in the early design phase; the remaining 20% are made by engineers at the later phases of design. Therefore it is crucially important for architects to be able to utilise a quick and reliable energy performance evaluation at the very early stage of the building design process.

Using Graphisoft EcoDesigner architects can easily analyze, at an early stage, their design for energy efficiency. Providing invaluable feedback on the building's energy performance means the architect can make better decisions on how to conform to regulations and satisfy the interests of the client and the operator of the building. Ultimately, with energy efficiency we all win!

"Energy efficiency is becoming a key factor. ArchiCAD allows the Architect to positively affect the design at the earliest and most convenient phase."
Teemu Kurkela, CEO, JKMM Architects, Finland

"Sustainable architecture" is the practice of designing, constructing and maintaining buildings in a way that their environmental impact is minimized. One of the most important aspects of sustainable design is energy efficiency - a drive to reduce the amount of energy a building consumes over its life-span.

Graphisoft EcoDesigner enables architects to quickly and efficiently evaluate design alternatives based on energy consumption, carbon footprint and monthly energy balance.

"Henry Deane Place was one of the first "green" buildings in Sydney and embodies many environmentally sustainable solutions. It is multi award winning and has been used as a benchmark for other government buildings."
Graeme Smith, Principal of Rice Daubney, AUS

The relationship between building volumes, proposed area and orientation of glazed surfaces, as well as the properties of the external shading options, all greatly influence the future energy consumption and also determine the overall look of the design. Selecting the right design alternative, that delivers better energy performance, is becoming vital for client presentations.

Now architects can evaluate energy performance from within ArchiCAD. Graphisoft EcoDesigner is available from ArchiCAD and the best news is that all architects can use it right away!

With EcoDesigner the ArchiCAD Virtual Building becomes an even more intelligent "BIM" model, right from the very first concept design.

"As environmentally conscious architects, the ability to quickly and effectively perform energy analyses on our building models is beneficial to us and it adds tremendous value to our clients."
Russ Sanders, AIA, Orcutt | Winslow, US

Graphisoft EcoDesigner uses a simple 3 step workflow to determine the energy characteristics of the project: Analyze > Calculate > Results.

"The Green Buildings concept is no longer earth-berm houses and grass roofs, but an intelligent business decision."
Brian Malarkey, AIA, LEED-accredited, Kirksey, U.S.

1. Analyze

Model analysis

• Automated structure markup helps to define the structure groups as the basis of energy calculations.

• The selected structures are displayed with colors on the floor plans and also in 3D for easier identification.

• The Model Review Palette helps designers to alter, in a user friendly way, the results by fine-tuning the automated structure markup.

Calculation data input

• Location & Function: using the geographical coordinates provided, EcoDesigner obtains relevant weather data (air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and solar radiance) from an online weather database or from the built-in database if internet connection is unavailable.

• Project orientation, wind protection, and solar reflection can be defined

• Building type: such as: heavy, medium, light weight also can be set

• Internal heat gains and required internal temperatures: predefined day by day thermal profiles are attached to each selectable activity (offices, residential buildings, hospitals, schools, various industries etc).

• Shading properties of the building (shadow cast by other external objects and parts of the building itself) can be defined.

• Structure & Openings: The U-value Calculator calculates the average heat transmission coefficient value based on a simplified algorithm. EcoDesigner uses an accurate dynamic calculation algorithm that evaluates heat transmission of the building envelope structures at every hour throughout one year.
  
  

• The final energy evaluation carried out by EcoDesigner uses a more accurate dynamic calculation algorithm that evaluates heat transmission of the building envelope structures at every hour throughout one year.

• The thermal properties of external openings may be attached from the built in opening catalogs or can be entered manually where specific product properties are available.
  
  

• MEP Systems & Energy: the relevant information about the proposed MEP systems in the design have to be provided to ensure an accurate calculation

• Ventilation type, air-to-air energy recovery system info, heat pump characteristics, solar panel setup and target, hot water generation, limit temperature values and cooling type also must be provided.

• The Carbon Footprint of the project can be evaluated by providing a local price for the types of energy used.

2. Calculate

• Once all necessary input data is provided, EcoDesigner starts the StruSoft VIPCore Calculation Engine to perform a dynamic energy analysis. The calculation results are handled in XML format.

3. Results

Energy Balance Evaluation Report

• Key Values display basic information, such as Project Name, Location and Activity Type, as specified by the user on the first tab page of the EcoDesigner dialog box.

• Summarized Energy Consumption results are available as pie-charts and in numeric tables. Energy consumption is calculated according to consumption type (heating, cooling, lighting, usage) and prime energy usage  (gas, oil, coal, nuclear energy, electricity). Average U value of the entire building is identified.

• Carbon Footprint: the Carbon Footprint index provides information on the carbon dioxide emissions resulting from the building's operation over the course of a year. The area of the tropical forest that absorbs this carbon dioxide quantity is also included for comparison.
  

• Monthly Energy Balance: this bar chart is a graphical display of the amount of energy the building emits (top part of chart), as well as the building's Supplied energy: the amount of energy it absorbs from the environment and its own internal heat sources (bottom part of chart), by month.

• The Building Energy Evaluation Report is available instantly in PDF format as well.