Conceptual Energy Analysis

In my earlier posts I didn't get into the details of the new features revealed in the Subscription Advantage Pack that just became available. A post today at Inside the Factory means I can be lazy and just point you in their direction. That is, assuming you haven't already watched them?

Autodesk is getting quite proactive about explaining features with video. The only trouble with this is figuring out where to find information on a given feature. Pulling it all together so the average user can find it all will be the ongoing challenge, I think.

Here's the links to each video, just to be a little bit redundant:

Choosing the Project Location and Weather Station
Using Automatic Form Rationalization
Changing Energy Settings
Customizing Form Rationalization
Performing Conceptual Energy Analysis

HVAC Load Calculation Extension

There have been other posts about this extension but I figure I'll mention it again..but late. When Autodesk purchased Carmel Software (January 2008) they rebranded it and released it as a subscription benefit. Time for a pretty picture!

What it is:

The HVAC Load Calculation Extension by Autodesk, Inc. is a commercial and industrial HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) load calculation software package whose calculations are based upon the ASHRAE 2005 Fundamentals radiant time series (RTS) method.

It's purpose:

This tool will provide you with total cooling and heating loads for a building so that you may properly specify the correct size HVAC equipment (whether it is a packaged rooftop unit or a boiler). This program is geared specifically toward the HVAC engineer, architect, design/build mechanical contractor, and building maintenance supervisor.

Some key features:

Input HVAC system characteristics such as supply cooling and heating temperatures, ventilation rates, fan characteristics, cooling and heating setpoints, duct sizing, and safety factors

Input HVAC area (room) characteristics such as wall, window, roof, door, skylight, and partition areas. In addition, there are inputs for # of people, electrical appliances, infiltration, lighting, miscellaneous, exhaust, and plenum loads

Weather data from over 800 cities throughout the world

A complete u-value database for common wall, roof, window, floor, and door types

A complete appliance list for determining internal electrical equipment load contributions

Many reports including summary, detailed, psychrometric, wall/window breakdown, 24-hour load breakdown, and graphical reports

A feature that allows the user to export all inputs and outputs to custom Microsoft Word and Excel documents

Equipment selection

Support for both English (IP) and Metric (SI) units

I've noticed a couple traces of Carmel still in the product the other day as pictured here.

The information provided here can be found in the Help documentation for this software. It is provided as a compliment to Revit and AutoCAD MEP software. Most notable is that you can export TO GBXML format from either product, then Import into this extension and THEN export BACK to them.

Check it out!

IES Virtual Environment - Revit Plug-In

This has been mentioned several times in various blogs but I thought I'd echo them..echo....echo.

Remember if you are using RAC 2008 or 2009 you can take advantage of their free VE-Ware plug-in. Here is a screen capture of their web site page dedicated to Revit.


This is text from their VE-Ware download section:

VE-Ware - Free software for yearly energy, carbon and Architecture 2030 Challenge assessment. You can also try a licence for the easy-to-use VE Toolkits, but not the whole suite.

Recommended for: New Users and Architects etc. who want straightforward performance calculations.

Install process: You’ll need to register and Download VE-Ware (54Mb) here
(For ease of deployment, a single file installs VE-Ware with both the SketchUp and Revit Plug-ins)