IES
Launches Free Building Energy and Carbon Assessment Software
With the launch of this free software tool, Integrated
Environmental Solutions (IES) has made a global commitment to the sustainable
building design movement. IES’s VE-Ware, which is available to
download for free online, gives limited but incredibly valuable access
to its world leading Virtual Environment Apache thermal analysis software.
New and existing buildings can now have their energy and carbon emissions
easily assessed for free.
VE-Ware will help increase the energy efficiency of the world’s
buildings, both domestic and commercial, by giving instant feedback
on a buildings energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions based
on real geometry, and using international data on climatic conditions
and the typical characteristics of different building, room and system
types. It is ideal for use at early stages as it facilitates iterative
design, allowing the comparison of different design, layout and system
options.
Additionally in the USA, as a direct response to the Architecture 2030
Challenge, VE-Ware will assess how the building is performing against
this benchmark. For example, does it meet the current Architecture 2030
50% energy reduction targets?
The data entry and outputs are managed for the user so that anyone can
use VE-Ware to help reduce the energy consumption and carbon emissions
of a building. For example, an architect, facilities manager or building
owner can at the press of a few buttons undertake detailed energy and
carbon assessments that can make a real difference to the green credentials
of the building.
Initially only models exported directly from Autodesk’s world leading
Building Information Modelling (BIM) Revit platform can be accepted
by VE-Ware. However, over the coming months this will be expanded to
include other options for inputting the geometry data. The goal is to
make VE-Ware available globally to anyone who wishes to use it, regardless
of vendor or system.
Dr Don McLean the Founder and MD of IES, and a keen advocate of the
power of integrating performance analysis into building design and refurbishment,
commented: 'I expect VE-Ware to make a considerable difference in helping
reduce the energy consumption of buildings throughout the world. As
a direct response to the Architecture 2030 challenge and other international
green building regulations, standards and codes, VE-Ware gives everyone
the capability to get involved in mitigating climate change.'
VE-Ware is available to download from the website http://dmail.dogdigital.co.uk
A
demo video of VE-Ware can be viewed here. http://dmail.dogdigital.co.uk
So just how easy is it? Here’s a step-by-step guide to using
IES’s VE-Ware:
1. Insert geometry data
2. Tell it where your building is in the world
3. Define your: building type, construction materials, heating and cooling
system types, room types
4. Press a button – automatic detailed thermal simulation is performed
for you
5. Get output on: energy consumption, CO2 emissions, US benchmark against
the 2030 Challenge
6. You can then easily modify your building and assess different options
