M-Labs ©James Anwyl, EUROBUILD t/a Chi (Lowhouse) Ltd. 2012, www.eurobuilduk.co.uk EcoDesigner Star: 'Detailed Energy Analysis – Integrated with BIM' EcoDesigner Star is a revolutionary step forward in Building Information Modeling energy evaluation. The former EcoDesigner engine has been fully revamped to provide the ultimate tool to deliver reliable dynamic energy evaluation professionally from the very early stages of design. The resulting data enables architects to make better decisions on meeting regulations, while also satisfying the interests of the client and complying with building energy standards. Approximately 80% of the design decisions that influence a building's energy performance are made by the architect in the early design phase. GRAPHISOFT EcoDesigner Star enables architects to quickly and efficiently evaluate design alternatives based on energy consumption, carbon footprint and monthly energy balance. Built on ArchiCAD 16’s native Energy Evaluation infrastructure, this stand-alone product offers a workflow that fulfills the most rigorous standards for sustainable design. Architects can evaluate energy performance directly from ArchiCAD! With EcoDesigner Star, the ArchiCAD Virtual Building becomes an even more intelligent "BEM" model, right from the very first concept design.

Direct BIM to BEM Turn the ArchiCAD building information model into a building energy model with minimal effort. Create and visualize multiple thermal block BEM geometry directly from the ArchiCAD BIM using the EcoDesigner Star Model Review Palette. Additional data input is fast and intuitive. Use the robust feature set to collect and define variables and let EcoDesigner Star do the rest. Use Thermal bridge simulation to accurately define zone-by-zone performance and fine-tune the building occupancy according to real usage patterns by setting Custom operation profiles.

Streamlined Collaboration with Energy Consultants and Engineers 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, VIP-Energy and iSBEM, while the gbXML export file and the detailed XLS spreadsheet enable communication with other third party energy software. IFC export ensures flawless Open communication with engineers for workflow-level integration and compatibility

Standard Compliant ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 140-2007is the most rigorous evaluation method for building energy analysis computer programs. It is referenced by most national standards and by the Energy Efficiency sections of the world's leading voluntary green rating systems (e.g. LEED, BREEAM, Green Star, Energy Star/Architecture 2030 Challenge etc.). The EcoDesigner STAR Public Beta add-on for ArchiCAD16 complies with the Building Thermal Envelope and Fabric Load Tests. The commercial version of EcoDesigner STAR for ArchiCAD17 fully complies with all three sections of the ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 140-2007. ASHRAE Certified ArchiCAD Test Files and Results Read more about the EcoDesigner Star Workflow >

EcoDesigner STAR Beta BIM-Integrated Energy Workflow GRAPHISOFT EcoDesigner STAR Public Beta is the first software that places standard-compliant energy analysis at the heart of the architect’s familiar BIM work environment. It enables architects to design the most energy efficient buildings, without having to rely on input from engineers or specialist consultants. Automated BIM Analysis

Turn the ArchiCAD building information model into a building energy model with minimal effort.

EcoDesigner Star updates the building energy model automatically during the architectural design.

Model Review Palette Enables manual optimization of the automatically generated Building Energy Model.

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.

Structures 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 effortlessly browse, edit and visualize this rich and highly accurate data created automatically – from the ArchiCAD model.

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, VIP-Energy and iSBEM, while the gbXML export file and the detailed XLS spreadsheet enable communication with other third-party energy software.

Model- Based Solar Irradiation Study The Openings page of the EcoDesigner STAR Model Review Palette allows for the individual analysis (listing, editing and visualization) of every transparent space boundary

This is necessary to take advantage of the Model-Based Solar Irradiation Study, with which solar gain through each individual transparent element of the building envelope may be precisely determined.

Thermal Bridge Simulation Use 2D Thermal Bridge Simulation to evaluate the performance of details, then assign the resultant performance values to thermal blocks to factor in their effect on the building’s 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 the input accuracy of occupancy patterns.

Basic Building System Settings In case of Heating and Cooling, users specify whether the relevant Operation Profile’s Minimum and Maximum Internal Air Temperature schedules apply to the selected thermal block, or are only influenced by building envelope characteristics and external weather conditions (Free Float).

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

Detailed Building Energy Performance Reports Execute a multiple thermal block building energy simulation integrated in ArchiCAD 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 and energy demands.

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 User’s preference.

The report spreadsheet is capable of displaying 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 internal environments with free float internal temperature – e.g. atriums, conservatories, unconditioned staircase blocks etc.).

EcoDesigner Star Feature Videos www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxQ4f-M9_UGdivkz1-dOqhnGDsYqEDiSa

Multiple Thermal Block BEM: Define thermal block geometries Thermal blocks are a collection of one or more rooms or spaces in the buildings that have similar heating or cooling requirements – also called as thermostat control requirements.

Space boundary orientations & categories Zone boundaries are the surface that envelop zones. According to the zone’s position within the thermal block, zone boundaries are classified as either Internal or External Thermal Block boundaries.

Structures list: List and tree views properties & Interactions The geometry analyses algorithm uses the ArchiCAD building information model to automatically populate the lists of the Energy Model Review palette.

Openings list: List & tree views properties & interactions Zone boundaries are the surface that envelop zones. According to the zone’s position within the thermal block, zone boundaries are classified as either Internal or External Thermal Block boundaries.

Openings list: Model-based solar study and shading devices The solar irradiation study calculates the opening’s percentage of glazed area exposed to direct sunlight for every hour of an entire year.

Thermal bridge simulation on ArchiCAD details EcoDesigner Start enables architectural designers to calculate and visualize the performance of the ArchiCAD building model's constructional details.

Operation profiles: Creating custom profiles Operation profiles define the schedules that the model hourly variations in occupancy, lighting power, miscellaneous equipment power and thermostat set points.

GRAPHISOFT EcoDesigner Star online seminar Here you can watch the recorded clip of the live, GRAPHISOFT EcoDesigner Star online seminar event presented on January 29, 2013.

www.youtu.be/6BMpzJWtIJE

By clicking this link you can read all questions and answers raised during the webinar EcoDesigner Star enables architects to use ArchiCAD's building information model (BIM) directly as a building energy model (BEM). This ensures streamlined collaboration between designers and energy consultants. Furthermore, EcoDesigner Star offers standard-compliant energy analyses on the BEM and produces a detailed building performance report, all within the familiar ArchiCAD design environment. The M Labs research center presented in the demo is designed by Eurobuild, a company specializing in the design of low energy buildings. Eurobuild was one of the first design teams to utilize the easy-to-use, accurate, and streamlined EcoDesigner Star energy analysis workflow to generate reliable building energy evaluation on the M Labs project, at every stage of the design workflow.

Here you can read all questions and answers raised during the EcoDesigner Star live online seminar on January 29, 2013.

Q: Will it be possible to produce a graphic output for the glazing solar glare radiation calculations? A: No. Q: Is glass area real glass area or wall-hole area (regarding solar radiation)? A: The real glass area. Q: Will the software assist with a rational design solution if the glazing ratio is over 15%? Elements of concern will be the conductance and the solar heat gain factors. A: Yes, the software works well for buildings with high glazing ratio building envelopes. The model-based solar irradiation study gives very precise input for the hourly solar gain component (including mobile and seasonal shading devices as well as the shadow masks of all elements modeled), and the calculation engine’s conductance functionality is also well calibrated (see e.g. ASHRAE 140 Case 220: high conductance in depth test) Note: ASHRAE 140 test cases are available for download from the EcoDesigner* Public Beta Site Q: Can you recognize the custom shape elevation (GDL or Morph tool created) as a building external surface? A: If the GDL or Morph element is a zone boundary, then it will be considered with substituted composite building skin. Q: What about the not rectangular opening? A: The calculations can consider such openings. Q: Does this software measures financial efficiency: costs of installation of different technologies (walls, heating, ventilation, thermal mass) and of course operations costs? A: The operational costs can be considered the installation costs will not be considered. Q: In the help I read about the plant objects as intelligent shading devices. Does this mean also buildings from the environment are recognized? A: Yes. Q: With renovation we often place a second face of glass. Can this work with sun simulation? A: No. Q: What is about the shading like jalousie, curtains etc. Can the program count with these systems? A: Yes, these can be considered as a "shading device". Q: Is the 2d thermal bridge tool validated according to EN 10211 (energy flow) and to EN 13788 (design surface temperature)? Not yet. These validations are scheduled for the next development cycle. Q: Will Ecodesigner star be compliant to local standards such as DEAP (in Irleand) or LEED? DEAP: I am not familiar with this local standard. To be able to answer this question, first I must study this standard. LEED: Yes, LEED Energy (ASHRAE 90.1 2007 Appendix G: Performance Rating Method)

Q: Is there a way to calculate or integrate "chimney effect" in building? A: No. Q: As we seen in presentation building calculation zone volumes are with straight ceiling. Is there possibility to calculate volumes of rooms which have sloped ceilings? A: Yes. Q: Can the window daylight solar analysis deal with over-shading from other buildings? A: Yes. Q: If I apply some sun-shading volumes above the openings, will the calculation results be automatically adjusted? A: Yes. Q: Have you compared results with PHPP? Yes. For super-insulated, air-tight buildings, the results are pretty much the same. For other buildings, PHPP does not work. Q: Is it possible to export to WUFI Passive? A: Does WUFI Passive read gbXML or IFC? If yes, then the export is possible Q: Is Maxon Cinema4D modeling being planned as part of EcoDesigner Star? A: It is considered as part of the long-term development. Q: Can multi-node air-flow simulation be done? Essentially channeling air from one thermal zone to another. A: Yes. Q: Can you simulate natural ventilation by opening windows? A: No, natural ventilation is defined by hourly schedule or by steady airflow in EcoDesigner*. Q: Can we customize units to Imperial instead of SI? A: Yes, it is done automatically, according to the ArchiCAD project settings. Q: Can convection or air stagnation be taken into account for double-height spaces/atriums? A: No. Q: Can all types of air and water HVAC systems be assigned to the thermal zones? A: Yes. Q: Will I be able to export the data and place the information into analysis tools that we use here in California in the USA? Yes, • to third party analysis tools via gbXML or IFC. • to spreadsheets, data can be referenced from the Detailed Performance Evaluation Report XLS file of EcoDesigner*. Q: How is infiltration through joints at dissimilar materials modeled? A: As surface-based infiltration. Q: Does this export to WUFI-Therm? Does WUFI Passive read gbXML or IFC? If yes, then the export is possible

Q: Is the solar irradiation based only on orientation or does it take into account the other building elements? A: The adjacent buildings and other elements in the external environment are also considered as external obstructions. Q: Will this export to US PHPP as well as European PHPP? A: Yes. Q: I live in Aruba, how I can integrate air-conditioning with the specifications of the product. A: Detailed specifications and parameters for MEP and HVAC systems can be manually provided and will be considered throughout the calculations. Q: Can there do more than one detail in he detail window? Typically we keep the original ArchiCAD Detail and create a new one with more detail? A: The detail marker’s boundary defines the boundaries of the Thermal Bridge Simulation, as well. In your case, I would place a new detail marker around the specific area of the original detail that I want to include in the analysis, then display that new detail and run the Thermal Bridge Simulation on it. Q: Is it possible to change the heating requirements through the day in the same way as you are able to change the ventilation? A: Yes Q: What did you used to do the details shown? Was it just a zoom in on the model or can you do it using 2D lines as well? A: The 2D details are automatically generated from the ArchiCAD BIM. Q: Can you schedule ED* with ArchiCAD interactive schedule? without exporting ED* to XLM and back to Archicad? A: No Q: In AUS we used MJ/M2A can ED* change some of their indicators? A: In Australia, NatHERS and NABERS / Green Star Energy, as well as BCA Part J prescribe simulation according to ASHRAE 140. EcoDesigner*’s validation according to these codes is scheduled for the upcoming development cycle. Q: Can ED* thermal properties be embedded into IFC thermal property? A: Yes. Q: Can this model data be exported into Australian NatHERS software? A: Can Australian NatHERS software read gbXML or IFC? If yes, then the export is possible Q: Will it be possible to produce a graphic output for the glazing solar glare radiation calculations? A: Glare calculation is part of Daylighting Calculations. This is out of scope for EcoDesigner*, which is an energy analysis tool. Q: As we seen in the live online seminar, building calculation zone volumes are with straight ceiling. Is there a possibility to calculate volumes of rooms which have sloped ceilings? A: Absolutely! All ArchiCAD modeling elements are supported (except for columns, beams, stairs and library objects), including complex geometries created with Morph, Shell, Multi-Plane Roof, Profiled Walls, Curtain Walls etc.

Q: Which climate data are needed? (As for example in Austria - Tyrol - local situations vary largely and even in PHPP this cannot be represented accurately.) A: Climate Data Sources: Choose an option for the source of the climate data to be used for Energy Evaluation. • Download from Strusoft Climate Server: With this option, climate data is obtained from the Strusoft climate website. All StruSoft climate data are created from NCEP Reanalysis data provided by the NOAA-CIRES Climate Diagnostics Center, Boulder, Colorado, USA, from their website at http://www.cdc.noaa.gov/. • Use ASHRAE IWEC, TMY, WTEC2 file: Use the browser window to select and import data from analytic weather files obtained from an external source (from open source e.g. http:// apps1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/energyplus/cfm/weather_data.cfm., or purchased) Note: use analytic ("ideal year") weather data whenever possible as it usually represents a given location's climate better than climate data recorded in any particular year. Q: Lots of detail on analysis of building fabric and systems at a well developed and detailed stage, but what about the 'low hanging fruit' so much more is gained at the early design stages by making intelligent, well advised decisions on optimized building orientation and shading? A: ArchiCAD16 provides quick energy evaluation right out of the box – it can be efficiently used for energy demand calculations at the early design stages. Q: Can this simulation meet ASHRAE 90.1 standards that are required for LEED certified buildings? A: Yes Q: Is there a good resource to find the required energy data inputs for various building materials that do not come in the default material catalogue provided? A: Yes, for the most accurate thermal property data, visit the building material manufacturers’ websites Q: Will I be able to export the data and place the information into analysis tools that we use here in California in the USA? A: Can California, US software read gbXML or IFC? If yes, then the export is possible Q: What about customized wall profiles built in the profile manager? Will their thumbnail images/icon appear next to the name in the model review window/view? A: Yes Q: How close, relatable or associable to US Green Building Council and LEED in the US? With regards to tables, computations, etc? A: EcoDesigner* is ASHRAE 90.1 Performance Rating Method (LEED Energy) Compliant Q: Is U-value, infiltration, etc. calculated automatically or does the user have to input each value? A: All of the above are calculated automatically Q: Will EDS provide any output data that can be used for LEED certification? A: Yes. Q: Can we calculate the hourly cooling and heating loads for the design day (coldest day, etc.)? A: Yes

Download EcoDesigner Star Beta Requirement EcoDesigner Star Beta requires an ArchiCAD 16 license. If you do not have an ArchiCAD 16 license, download the fully functional 30-day trial version of ArchiCAD from myArchiCAD.com. Step1 Please download the latest ArchiCAD 16 hotfix from here Important note: The EcoDesigner Star Beta runs smoothly only with the latest ArchiCAD 16 hotfix (build 3487)! Step2 Download EcoDesigner Star Beta, locate the file on your computer and double-click on it to start installation. The installer wizard will help you through the installation. After installation is complete, EcoDesigner Star Beta will be embedded in ArchiCAD 16. Version: 1.2 Release Date: January 30, 2013 File size: 77.7M Start Windows Download

Version: 1.2 Release Date: January 30, 2013 File size: 67.8M Start Mac Download

ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 140-2007 Building Thermal Envelope and Fabric Load Tests Download the ASHRAE 140-2007 certified ArchiCAD test files and the test results below.

Ashrae 140-2007 Envelope

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