Full-scale building energy simulation

Insolation analysis of a city block

We are pleased to announce a milestone version of our Energy3D CAD software. In addition to fixing numerous bugs, Version 5.0 includes numerous new features that we have recently added to the software to enhance its already powerful concurrent design, simulation, and analysis capabilities.

For example, we have added cut/copy/paste in 3D space that greatly eases 3D construction. With this functionality, laying an array of solar panels on a roof is as simple and intuitive as copying and pasting an existing solar panel. Creating a village or city block is also made easier as a building can be copied and pasted anywhere on the ground — you can create a number of identical buildings using the copy/paste function and then work to make them different.

Insolation analysis of various houses

Compared with previous versions, the properties of every building element can now be set individually using the corresponding popup menu and window. Being able to set the properties of an individual element is important as it is often a good idea for fenestration on different sides of a building to have different solar heat gain coefficients. The user interface for setting the solar heat gain coefficient, for instance, allows the user to specify whether he or she wants to apply the value to the selected window, all the windows on the selected side, or the entire building.

In a move to simulate machine-learning thermostats such as Google’s Nest Thermostat to test the assertion that they can help save energy, we have added programmable thermostats. We have also added a geothermal model that allows for more accurate simulation of heat exchange between a building and the ground. New efforts for modeling weather and landscape more accurately are already on the way.

The goal of Energy3D is to create a software platform that bridges education and industry — we are already working with leading home energy companies to bring this tool to schools and workplaces. This synergy has led to some interesting and exciting business opportunities that mutually benefit education and industry.

A bonus of this version is that it no longer requires users to install Java. We have provided a Windows installer and a Mac installer that work just like any other familiar software installer. Users should now find it easy to install Energy3D, compared with the previously problematic Java Web Start installer.