The event takes place globally on December 1, 2011, Thursday. Here are some times:

• Sydney Time – 4:00pm AEDT (register)
• London Time – 2:00pm GMT (register)
• Paris Time – 1:00pm CET (register)
• Moscow Time – 4:00pm MSK (register)
• Los Angeles Time – 9:00am PST (register)

A Spanish-language event on December 1 is also available here:

• Madrid Time – 4:00pm CET (register)

Architects know that sustainability is the most important trend in architecture and construction today. And BIM software is a powerful new tool that enables architects to better develop architecture that is responsive to its environmental context. In this webinar participants will discover how Graphisoft’s award-winning EcoDesigner software can help architects make design decisions early on in the design process that inform the architect of various energy concerns.

Graphisoft EcoDesigner helps you make design decisions by providing precise forecasts about the annual total and specific energy consumption, monthly energy balance, and carbon footprint of your project.

Event Details

Tuesday, March 1, 2011 is the first event at 12:00 – 1:00pm EST (New York) and also at 8:00 – 9:00AM GMT (London). Actually, the first event of this day is the London time zoned event.

01 - Graphisoft's upcoming Green BIM Event centers its attention on helping architects understand how to design more sustainable buildings by using Graphisoft EcoDesigner software.

The third event is on Tuesday, March 8, 2011 at 5:00 – 6:00 CET (Madrid) and is a Spanish-language version of this event.

To register for this event go here. To watch a teaser preview of this event on YouTube visit this link.

EcoDesigner is the world’s first, fully-integrated (into a BIM) dynamic building energy modeling application that allows architects to compare the sustainability of various design options and change the project in the early design phase, when it is still easy to do so. EcoDesign can generate accurate results up to 80 percent faster than stand-alone energy software. EcoDesigner works in conjunction and integral to Graphisoft’s BIM product ArchiCAD.

“It was very interesting that many of these product ideas are related to the field of sustainability, which will be absolutely the most important trend for the next few years in architecture as well as in the entire building sector,” said Mirko Arend, Exhibition Director for BAU.

EcoDesigner, first released in 2009, works with ArchiCAD 14 on both the Windows and Mac platforms. To learn more visit Graphisoft here.

Introduction to ArchiCAD 12 – Accelerating the Design Experience is the title of the first webinar coming up on Friday, August 7, 2009. It takes place from 12:00pm – 1:00pm EST.  This webinar is free and is designed to provide an overview of ArchiCAD 12 for those who are interested in transitioning to Building Information Modeling (BIM). The focus will be on:

• Speed
• Revolutionizing Documentation
• Curtain Wall Tool

Graphisoft EcoDesigner is an integrated energy evaluation tool specifically aimed at architects using ArchiCAD 12. It sets new standards in integrating easy to use but powerful energy analysis tools within BIM (building information modeling) software tools, which are the 3D modern-day CAD systems architects have been slowly adopting for the past several years. Now architects do not have to rely solely on outside consultant professionals to analyze their building designs early in the design process. 

“Graphisoft EcoDesigner has generated great interest among architects at the 2009 AIA convention in San Francisco and continuously thereafter,” said Akos Pfemeter, Director of Graphisoft Global Marketing. “Designers welcome this integrated ‘one-click’ energy evaluation solution that helps them make informed design decisions even at early design phases.”  

To learn more visit them here: www.graphisoft.com

Having a programmer with a proven track-record for innovation head Graphisoft at such a pivotal time in the AEC software market is likely a wise move on the part of Graphisoft’s governing board. When markets go through a global downturn due to recession and other disruptive events, the companies that tend to come out ahead during these times are often the ones that commit themselves to true innovation. As a press colleague remarked to me at AIA this year, given Graphisoft’s size the company continues to impress with the rate at which it comes out with new products and updates. In the span of this year the company has come out with both MEP Modeler for ArchiCAD and now EcoDesigner. 

We’ve already covered the announcement of EcoDesigner back at AIA itself, so in this article we delve into some of the details behind the new product. 

EcoDesigner – Energy Analysis for Architects During Design

EcoDesigner, which will be released at the end of May, is a Graphisoft add-on software module to its award-winning BIM application ArchiCAD. What primarily sets this application apart from similar energy analysis applications is that it works directly inside ArchiCAD, thereby eliminating the need to export BIM data out to another software package in order to obtain feedback on the design with respect to energy. 

01 - EcoDesigner works in tandem inside ArchiCAD providing the architect immediate and quick feedback on energy efficiency that fits into the normal iterative process of architectural design.

Beyond that convenience, EcoDesigner itself was conceived as an energy analysis tool for designers, not engineers. Viktor Varkonyi marked that architects using ArchiCAD are the primary audience for EcoDesigner. As such there was a lot of emphasis on making the product easy to use, simple to implement and fast. The idea is to make it fast for the architect designing the building to compare his design against other design options. 

With a single click EcoDesigner can provide a PDF report on energy use with a given building design providing the user with key values, energy consumption and a building’s carbon footprint. In testing the solution EcoDesigner produced results within 8 percent accuracy of a buildings actual energy use. 

02 - The EcoDesigner interface palette as it exist inside of ArchiCAD.

Graphisoft’s perspective on EcoDesigner is elaborated on in its primary product brochure. The company is right in noting that sustainability is all about choices and that 80 percent of design choices affecting energy efficiency are made in the early design phase. EcoDesigner is squarely aimed at the up-front design phase decision making that effects energy efficiency. 

The goal is to “advise” the design process and provide another dimension to the BIM environment for the architect in shaping his design. This is different than the energy analysis tools already in the market, such as the new Bentley tools we discussed earlier. 

VIP-Energy Engine & Details

In light of what EcoDesigner is aiming to be–a tool for the architect–speed is an important aspect of the usefulness of the product. Akos Pfemeter said that the company chose to go with the Swedish-based VIP-Energy core calculation engine partly because it was very fast. VIP-Energy is produced by StruSoft and is a well regarded energy analysis calculation engine validated by ASHRAE-BESTEST and more. 

03 - Setting Parameters on Openings in EcoDesigner.

EcoDesigner comes loaded with all the essential energy data built into the common BIM assemblies from which you work in ArchiCAD. With EcoDesigner the architect works the same as before in ArchiCAD. From a set of palettes unique to EcoDesigner the architect sets the parameters that inform EcoDesigner of all aspects of the building in relation to energy use. For example, under the Location & Function tab (see image 02) you set your location in the world and the program downloads weather data for that location. You also set environmental parameters such as wind, facade shading, and site surroundings. And you set your building function. In the other tabs you set your structural envelope assemblies, openings, and input your MEP systems and energy data.

All of these settings are nicely laid out in the manner that is consistent with ArchiCAD’s interface standards. You can see from the Openings tab that windows and doors are pulled up from ArchiCAD’s common interface. The user can also specify if an opening has a shading type (see image 03).

04 - Your Carbon Footprint can be calculated in EcoDesigner.

EcoDesigner can be configured by the user with real fuel and energy cost data (see image 04) allowing the program to calculate savings or loss based on design configuration options. With EcoDesigner the architect using ArchiCAD can produce various design options such as wall types, window and curtain wall configurations, et cetera, and quickly calculate the real energy costs differences between them. This energy evaluation capability embedded into the normal iterative design process is what EcoDeigner was created for. 

EcoDesigner has flexibility and can classify projects into mixed-use arrangements. Viktor Varkonyi, CEO of Graphisoft, said it is also possible to create custom assemblies (eg: walls, etc.) and load them with the appropriate R-values and other data for calculation work. In the earliest stages architects often do not know or even want to know the material conditions of their designs. In these very early conceptual phases the architect can choose generic walls, roofs, floors and openings and work with averaged U-values, running the energy analysis and letting EcoDesigner inform her of the impact on energy use based on purely schematic differences in design.

Lastly, it is important to discuss what EcoDesigner is not. EcoDesigner is not meant to help you qualify for Credit 1, Option 1 under Energy and Atmosphere for LEED certification. It is not compliant with the ASHRAE 90.1-2004 standard and therefore cannot be used for whole building energy analysis for LEED certification. However, with EcoDesigner you can export out .vut files–the native files for the VIP-Energy engine from StruSoft– for more advanced energy analysis by engineers or energy analysis consultants. And you can also export out gbXML files for import into a range of ASHRAE 90.1-2004 compliant energy analysis tools–such as the new tools like Bentley Tas Simulator and Bentley Hevacomp which we touched on briefly here. 

Graphisoft EcoDesigner will ship in various license combinations and range in price from 275.USD to 645.USD. Again, the company plans to ship it by the end of May. For further information go to: www.graphisoft.com

As a side note, it was interesting to compare this show at the Moscone to the Macworld Expo show at Moscone. In the AIA’s case, all three exhibit halls were pretty much filled to capacity–which would be a dream-come-true for a Macworld Expo show. 

01 - Nemetschek North America was on hand to show its latest release of Vectorworks Architect 2009. Here architects visiting the booth pick up new licenses after watching a round of demos in the mini booth theater.

It is always interesting for me to hang around all the booths and over-hear with people say as they come up to them and experience various companies for the first time. At both AIA shows (this year and last) I heard separate individuals say to their buddies, “what’s Vectorworks Architect?”  This still really surprises me because on some level I think this company does an excellent job of marketing itself. I suspect there are several factors at play here. One is that Vectorworks is truly a “global product” success story. So the company markets to a global audience. I know from past interviews with Nemetschek executives that the company is aware of this issue specific to the US. Showing up at AIA National each year is a steady way to address its US market share. 

02 - Vectorworks booth. Gallery walls show flashy architecture. This connection between outstanding architecture by its users links creativity and excellence to Vectorworks Architect.

Like the Bentley booth the Nemetschek North America booth does a great job of showcasing its architecture by its users. I personally love this aspect of both company’s booths. It is also an Apple-way of doing things–demonstrating the link between creative work and the tools that make it. I’ll address more of that aspect in an article on Autodesk later. 

03 - Graphisoft introduced EcoDesigner at AIA and their new tool did draw lots of users to their booth.

Graphisoft introduced EcoDesigner at the AIA show and the company’s booth drew lots of visitors. The one unique market advantage Graphisoft holds in the industry is that it has been producing a true BIM software tool longer than any other CAD software company serving the global markets. As such the company is smart to point out that millions of buildings have been produced by ArchiCAD. This is a statement of confidence and maturity in the use of ArchiCAD to meet the BIM demands of architects around the globe. 

04 - An architect checks out the features of ArchiCAD 12, shown here running on a Mac Pro.

The Graphisoft booth was loaded with Macs (of course there were Windows PCs too…) and it seemed this year (more than last) more visitors to the booths were gravitating to the Mac stations. Obviously, that is where the sexy hardware and OS lives. Might I be particularly more biased and sensitive to this phenomena? Of course. But it seemed to me that the Mac in particular was a bit more popular. I have much more to say about that based on some COFES feedback. (more on that later…)

As mentioned EcoDesigner was the brand new software product introduced by Graphisoft at AIA. We will be covering this product in detail in a separate report.

EcoDesigner

EcoDesigner will operate as an advanced module to ArchiCAD 12 and will provide architects with the ability to produce an energy analysis and evaluation with just the click of a button–at any stage of the design process.

Graphisoft’s announcement reads: “We realize sustainability is all about choices, and 80 percent of design choices on energy efficiency are made in the design process.” Graphisoft states that instead of relying on outside professionals to analyze a building for energy when the building is well advanced and decisions are irreversible, EcoDesigner enables the architect to get informed early on in the design process and make informed design decisions that impact energy use. 

Architosh will be getting a private demonstration on EcoDesigner early in the show and we look forward to reporting more details on this exciting announcement. To learn more visit Graphisoft online; or even better if you are attending the AIA Convention this week stop by Graphisoft’s booth at booth #1551 and see EcoDesigner up close.