Graphisoft EcoDesigner

"GREEN" Now an Organic Part of Architecture

Green design has been embraced openly by many architectural firms worldwide. They appreciate the value and financial sense of developing a truly green design and architects who actively take 'green' decisions early on are saving their clients real money, now and in the future. EcoDesigner coupled with ArchiCAD's open standards place the Virtual Building™ at the heart of energy analysis.

EcoDesigner Workflow

GRAPHISOFT EcoDesigner uses a simple, three-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 the building physics classification of the ArchiCAD model's structural elements in a user-friendly way.

Calculation data input

Location & Function

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  Weather Data - air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and solar radiance data for ArchiCAD default cities are included in the program's built-in database. Using these geographical coordinates, EcoDesigner downloads weather data of non-default locations from an online weather server and adds it to the built-in content for future reference.

• Building Location - the Project North, Grade level to project zero, Wind protection and Surrounding surfaces settings define basic site characteristics and the building's situation on the site, while Fa�ade Shadings determine shadows on the building's elevations.

• Activity Type - define building function or multiple functions (offices, residential buildings, hospitals, schools, various industries, etc.) to assign day-by-day internal temperature and internal heat gain profiles (including human and equipment-related heat loads) to the project.

Structures

• Structures of the building envelope are automatically listed with their default physical properties. These may be reviewed or changed. Use the extensive built-in material database to assemble composites, and the U-value Calculator to control their heat transfer characteristics. It is also possible to set the heat transfer coefficient of multiple structure groups directly, using the U-value override function.

Openings

The list of fenestration and external doors is compiled by EcoDesigner, automatically. Use the Openings Catalog to assign performance data to openings, or enter specific product properties manually, then equip fenestration with fixed or mobile shading devices, in order to control solar gains.

MEP Systems & Energy

The relevant information about Heating, Cooling, Ventilation, Hot Water Generation and Interior Lighting is essential for accurate calculations. The correct definition of Energy Prices and Sources enable EcoDesigner to calculate the building's annual Energy Supply Costs and Carbon Footprint accurately.

Green Energy

Substituting fossil fuels with green energy sources not only lower the carbon footprints of buildings, but they can be very economical, too. EcoDesigner is capable of dynamically calculating the effect of the installation of air-to-air recovery system types, solar collectors and various heat pump types on the energy household of buildings. Combine several green MEP systems, or use them for multiple purposes simultaneously, to evaluate the resulting carbon emission reductions and cost benefits.

2. Calculate

When all necessary input data is provided, activate the StruSoft VIPCore Calculation Engine to perform the dynamic analysis that determines the building's energy balance at every hour, throughout one year. The calculation results are handled in XML format.

3. Results

Energy Balance Evaluation Report

The Building Energy Evaluation Report is an easy-to-read representation of the yearly energy balance simulation results, instantly available in PDF format. It displays the evaluation of the building shell, the detailed energy balance, the energy consumption with related costs and the carbon footprint, thus providing a holistic overview of the building's performance.

• Key Values - in the first section of the Energy Balance Evaluation report sheet, general project information (Location, Activity Type and Evaluation Date) is displayed alongside the geometry summary and the building shell thermal performance data.

• Energy Consumption - total and specific energy source consumption values and prices are listed in this section. Effortlessly compare the amounts of different energy types (e.g. gas, oil, coal, nuclear energy, electricity) the building consumes relative to the total energy need and to each other, using the Energy Consumption pie chart.

• Carbon Footprint - this index provides information on the carbon dioxide emissions resulting from the building's operation over the course of one 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 detailed, yet easy-to- visualize graphical display of the monthly magnitudes of all energy flows emitted by the building and energy flows that are supplied to the building. The components that make up the energy balance are listed next to the chart, enabling users to have a complete and detailed picture of the building as a physical system, at a glance.