Green BIM: Sustainable Design with Building Information Modeling

Sustainable, or green design, are buzzwords of contemporary architecture. For reasons that vary from meeting energy codes, managing increasing fuel costs, reducing waste, expression of personal values, or the desire for self-sufficiency, more people are thinking green. How can Building Information Modeling (BIM) help to design better “green buildings”?

Challenges in the Pacific Northwest

The regions of western Oregon and Washington State have unique challenges when it comes to green design. For a good part of our winter months we receive little direct sunlight when we could use it the most. Raw materials are also becoming more expensive and construction waste is at an all time high. Even in parts of the country with these challenges, BIM can be used to optimize solar and energy efficient design and minimize waste.

Green Design with BIM

The thoughtful designer can use BIM models to save resources AND money for project owners by incorporating analytical studies into the early design phase.

Analytical sun studies

Conducting a sun study helps the designer to evaluate and refine his project to effectively use daylight sources.

Continuous control of usage of resources

Quantities and detailed data about building components can be generated, providing the architect and the owner with valuable information about the materials used.

What-if scenarios for design optimization

The ability to run different scenarios supports the green design process.

Computer energy simulations

Computer energy simulation is used throughout the design process to assess the building’s energy conservation value and construction costs.

Architects and engineers can collaborate to generate many alternative concepts for building form, envelope, and landscaping. This allows focus on minimizing peak energy loads, demand, and consumption.

Typically, heating and cooling load reductions from shading devices, better glazing, insulation, efficient lighting, daylighting, and active and passive solar systems allow for smaller and less expensive HVAC equipment which, when well designed, can result in little or no increase in construction cost compared to conventional designs. Simulations are used to refine designs and ensure that energy-conservation and capital cost goals are met and to demonstrate compliance with regulatory requirements.

01 - David Vandervort Architects -- Located in Issaquah, Washington, zHome is the first multifamily, production, zero-energy, carbon neutral community in the United States. In addition to presentation images and construction documentations, BIM was used to create sun studies which helped shape the roofs. URL: http://www.vandervort.com

BIM as Collaborative Foundation

Effective green designs use the BIM model as a basis for measuring the various performance analyses. The BIM approach provides an optimal collaborative environment for specialized applications.

Developers of BIM applications have become one of the leading forces behind interoperability standards such as the Industry Foundation Classes (IFC), which allows sharing and exchange of the 3D model’s information for generating building simulations across multiple applications.

As a result of this interoperability, the BIM model functions as a fulcrum around which everything else pivots – from structural engineering applications to collision detection, building performance and energy analysis regardless of the software manufacturer.

Data Sharing

Using the BIM model as the data backbone for the process, energy analysis software such as IES, ECOTECT and EnergyPlus in North America or VIP and RIUSKA in Europe can contribute valuable data to a project. Primarily used by engineers, this software can be used to optimize systems such as solar, thermal, lighting and HVAC. EnergyPlus and RIUSKA users can take advantage of IFC compatibility for a smooth collaboration with the BIM application. Green Building XML (gbXML) is used for connections with Green Building Studio, ECOTECT, and IES Virtual Environment.

02 - b9 Architects -- Currently in design, this 4-unit development in Seattle, Washington, seeks to achieve zero energy usage and/or the PassivHaus Institute certification. Throughout the process BIM and energy modeling has been utilized as a way of evaluating the design. Strategically oriented site planning, roof slopes for solar photovoltaics and clerestories, glazing percentages, building envelope and wall thickness have been carefully examined in BIM. URL: http://www.b9architects.com

So what tools are available for architects who want to quickly evaluate design options right at the initial design stage?

EcoDesigner is a new plug-in for Graphisoft’s BIM application, ArchiCAD. As soon as a design takes shape, comparative energy reports can be generated with a click. The resulting reports give feedback about the buildings energy usage, yearly utility costs, and carbon footprint. (ed. note: see Architosh’s interview article: “AIA: Talking to Viktor Varkonyi about EcoDesigner,”

This changes the essence of energy analysis from a formal checking stage at the end of the design process when it is often too late to be an effective design tool. Ideally,  energy analysis should be integrated from the start of a project.

Final Thoughts

At a time when economical use of resources is critical, to the survival of the building trades and, potentially, to the survival of human and biotic communities, it makes sense to take a new look at how we create efficient buildings. The technology is available today to help architects find the best solution. And as the demand for “more green” increases, developers will expand these analytical tools to take advantage of the power of BIM.

One more thing. While you are designing the greenest buildings, why not do it on one of the world’s greenest computers? In addition to their power and ease of use, Apple’s lineup of notebooks are energy efficient and built with the environment in mind.

To learn more about BIM and Green Design contact Matthew W. Brewster, founder of BIMiDEAS at: http://www.bimideas.biz/

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