EcoDesigner* Public Beta

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EcoDesigner* Public Beta

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Positioning ............................................................................................................................................................... 3
Certified Energy Analysis Tool For Architectural Design .................................................................................. 3
Energy Demand Calculation ........................................................................................................................................... 3
Standard Compliance ........................................................................................................................................................ 4
Compare With Other GRAPHISOFT Sustainable Solutions ..................................................................... 5
EcoDesigner* Public Beta vs. Energy Evaluation In ArchiCAD16 ................................................................... 5
EcoDesigner* Public Beta - Characteristics ............................................................................................................. 5
EcoDesigner* Public Beta vs. EcoDesigner* ............................................................................................................ 6
Features .................................................................................................................................................................... 6
Multiple Thermal Block Building Energy Model (BEM) Space Boundaries ................................................ 6
Export BEM Data to External Energy Calculation Tools ..................................................................................... 7
Model-Based Solar Irradiation Study ......................................................................................................................... 8
Thermal Bridge Simulation ............................................................................................................................................ 9
Custom Operation Profiles .............................................................................................................................................. 9
Basic Building System Settings ..................................................................................................................................... 9
Detailed Building Energy Performance Reports .................................................................................................. 10

EcoDesigner* Public Beta

Positioning
Certified Energy Analysis Tool For Architectural Design
ArchiCAD, when equipped with the EcoDesigner* Public Beta add-on, is a certified energy
analysis tool that enables architects to monitor and control all architectural design parameters
that influence building energy performance (Pic1), without having to provide input about MEP
systems.

Pic 1

Pic 2

The EcoDesigner* Public Beta is the first software that places standard-compliant energy
analysis at the heart of the architects familiar BIM work environment. It enables architects to
design maximally energy-efficient buildings, without having to rely on input from engineers or
specialist consultants.

Energy Demand Calculation

There are three different building energy consumption data types: Energy Demand, Fuel
Consumption and Primary Energy. (See Pic 2.)
The energy balance calculation computes the energy amounts necessary to operate (heat, cool,
ventilate, illuminate etc.) the building. This is the Energy Demand. If MEP systems are assigned
to fulfill these demands, the specific amounts of fuel they use can be calculated. On the other
hand, not all fuels are created equal. Some fuels require a tremendous initial energy input to
be produced (e.g. electricity produced from coal), others come for free (e.g. electricity
produced with photovoltaic panels from solar irradiation). The Primary Energy data, at the
highest level of the building energy performance metrics hierarchy, represents this initial energy
input.
The EcoDesigner* Public Beta is engineered specifically for Energy Demand calculation. If the
buildings energy demands are minimized in the design development phase of the project, it will
also be more energy efficient in the final design phase (when the MEP systems are designed
and their parameters are included in the energy analysis).
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EcoDesigner* Public Beta

In order to accurately calculate Energy Demand, the architectural design must be analyzed in
the greatest detail possible. Input regarding building systems, on the other hand, can be
reduced to the necessary minimum.

Standard Compliance
ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 140-2007 is the most rigorous evaluation method for building energy
analysis computer programs. It is referenced by most national standards that allow dynamic
simulation as a compliance path. It is also referenced by the Energy Efficiency sections of the
worlds leading voluntary green rating systems (e.g. LEED, BREEAM, Green Star, Energy
Star/Architecture 2030 Challenge etc.).
The Standard consists of 98 test cases that are analyzed with a number of high-end building
energy simulation tools (DOE2, TRNSYS, BLAST etc.). The same test-cases are also analyzed
using EcoDesigner* Public Beta, and the results are compared to verify calculation accuracy
(Pic3). The test results, as well as their input files, must be made available to authorities and the
general public, for inspection and trial.

Pic 3

EcoDesigner* Public Beta

The ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 140-2007 test consists of three sections: 1) Building Thermal
Envelope and Fabric Load Tests, 2) Space-Cooling Equipment Performance Tests, and 3)
Space-Heating Equipment Performance Tests. The EcoDesigner* Public Beta add-on for
ArchiCAD 16 complies with the Building Thermal Envelope and Fabric Load Tests.
The commercial version of EcoDesigner* for ArchiCAD 17 will fully comply with all three
sections of the ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 140-2007. Furthermore, it will also comply with
ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2007, Green Star and Architecture 2030.

Compare With Other GRAPHISOFT Sustainable Solutions

EcoDesigner* Public Beta vs. Energy Evaluation In ArchiCAD16
Energy Evaluation in ArchiCAD 16 is a simplified building energy evaluation tool targeted for
the Schematic Design phase. It uses a Simplified (Single Thermal Block) Building Energy
Model and Simplified MEP parameters as input, to produce Simplified Output that includes
Energy Demand, Energy Consumption and Primary Energy. In contrast, Building Energy
Analysis Standards require detailed input and output. Therefore, Energy Evaluation In ArchiCAD
16 is not compliant with these Standards.

Pic 4

EcoDesigner* Public Beta - Characteristics

The EcoDesigner* Public Beta uses Detailed (Multiple Thermal Block) BEM and Basic MEP
parameters as input, to produce Detailed Output regarding Energy Demand. It can be used
most efficiently up to the Design Development phase, before the detailed MEP design is
prepared by the engineer. It complies with Section 5-2: Building Thermal Envelope and Fabric
Load Tests of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 140-2007. Tests in this Section refer to the architectural
design only. The EcoDesigner* Public Beta, therefore, does not comply with other Sections of
the Standard which refer to MEP Systems, since the Public Beta does not feature Detailed MEP
parameter input.
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EcoDesigner* Public Beta

EcoDesigner* Public Beta vs. EcoDesigner*

The final, commercial version of EcoDesigner* uses Detailed (Multiple Thermal Block) BEM and
Detailed MEP parameters (e.g. fuel type consumed, efficiency, multiple systems, green systems
etc.) as input, to produce Detailed Output that includes Energy Demand, Energy Consumption
and Primary Energy. It fully complies with ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 140-2007 and ASHRAE
90.1-2007, so it can be used up to the Construction Documentation phase.

Features
Multiple Thermal Block Building Energy Model (BEM) Space Boundaries
Create and visualize multiple thermal block BEM geometry directly from the AC BIM, using the
EcoDesigner* Model Review Palette.

The Thermal Blocks page lists thermal blocks with all their relevant properties. Use the Tree
view to define thermal blocks by drag-and-dropping ArchiCAD zones from the floor plan into this
view. Highlight the list entries to visualize the thermal blocks in the 3D window of ArchiCAD.

EcoDesigner* Public Beta

The Structures page of the EcoDesigner* Model Review Palette lists every single opaque space
boundary of the energy model separately. Use the Tree View option to browse, edit and
visualize this highly accurate energy calculation input data, automatically created from the
ArchiCAD model. The property panel adjacent to the Structures List Tree view features highly
intelligent behavior in case of multiple element selection.
Renovation status of elements is now considered in the energy calculation as well.

Export BEM Data to External Energy Calculation Tools

Export the multiple thermal block BEM geometry and material property data to external energy
calculation apps and compliance tools. Direct export channels are available to PHPP, VIPEnergy and iSBEM, while the gbXML export file and the detailed report in XLS spreadsheet
format enables communication with other, third party energy software.

EcoDesigner* Public Beta

Model-Based Solar Irradiation Study

The Openings page of the EcoDesigner* Model Review Palette allows for the individual
analysis (listing, editing and visualization) of every transparent space boundary.

This is necessary to take advantage of GRAPHISOFTs new, Model-Based Solar Irradiation

Study, with which solar gain through each individual transparent element of the building
envelope may be precisely determined.

ArchiCAD plant objects act as intelligent shading devices: their shading capacity is
scheduled for the reference year, making it possible to factor in whether the plants used for
shading are coniferous or deciduous.

EcoDesigner* Public Beta

Thermal Bridge Simulation

Use 2D Thermal Bridge Simulation to evaluate the performance of details, then assign the
resulting performance values to thermal blocks to factor in their effect on the buildings overall
energy balance. It is also possible to place the graphic results of the thermal bridge simulation
(virtual thermal-vision and energy flow diagrams) onto the corresponding ArchiCAD detail, as a
drawing.

Custom Operation Profiles

Define custom Operation Profiles to fine-tune occupancy according to local regulations or to
match actual building usage. Hourly scheduling for the entire reference year guarantees
accurate input of occupancy patterns.

Basic Building System Settings

For Heating and Cooling, users only need to specify whether the relevant Operation Profiles
Minimum and Maximum Internal Air Temperature schedules should be applied to the selected
thermal block (Thermostat Control), or whether the internal temperature should be influenced
only by the building envelope characteristics and the external weather conditions (Free Float).

EcoDesigner* Public Beta

For Ventilation settings, users can specify a steady air change rate (Natural) to control air
currents by a time schedule (Supply, Supply and Exhaust).
Hot water generation is not handled in EcoDesigner* Public Beta.
This simple approach to MEP System parameters allow architects to execute the most accurate
energy balance analysis for the purpose of Demand Calculations, without any additional
engineering info, knowledge or skills.

Detailed Building Energy Performance Reports

Execute the multiple thermal block building energy simulation integrated in AC to produce
detailed building energy performance reports in PDF and XLS formats.
The easy-to-interpret, customizable PDF energy analysis report displays in-depth building
performance metrics such as weekly energy balance,

hourly internal temperature (in case of Free Floating thermal blocks, the less the internal
temperature is out of the comfort zone defined by the applicable operation profile, the better the
architecture is)

and energy demands (in case of Thermostat Controlled thermal blocks, the less energy the
building needs for operation, the better the architecture is).

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EcoDesigner* Public Beta

The .XLS report can be used to document all calculation inputs and outputs. Furthermore, it can
be customized to provide filtered energy performance information according to the Users
preference.

The report spreadsheet can display high end simulation data such as Annual Peak Heating
and Cooling Loads (for Thermostat Controlled cases) and Annual Maximum and Minimum
Zone Air Temperatures (relevant for environments with free float internal temperature e.g.
atriums, conservatories, unconditioned staircase blocks etc.), with date and time of
occurrence.

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