DesignBuilder Software

📊 Top Tip: Use Temperature Distribution Plots for Additional Insights Temperature distribution plots provide a big-picture overview of zone air and operative temperatures during occupied times, helping you to identify comfort issues and unusual patterns. They can reveal additional insights that may not be obvious from other results views. These tools help validate early-stage designs and optimise natural ventilation through temperature analysis. They enable quick CIBSE and ASHRAE comfort compliance checks, while also providing detailed insights into ‘unmet hours’ to help refine HVAC system performance. This analysis works by grouping sub-hourly temperature data into 1°C intervals during occupied hours or custom schedules. It generates 'hours at', 'hours below', and 'hours above' plots, with each temperature bin covering values up to the next degree (e.g., 12°C bin includes 12°C to 12.99°C). How you can use temperature distribution plots: 🔹To generate the plot: before running a simulation go to Calculation options > Output > Comfort and Environmental, select Temperature Distribution and set the required reporting period. 🔹To view the plot: After the simulation, go to a zone. In the Display Options adjust the Interval to Distribution and the Data option to Comfort. For more details search for ‘Comfort Analysis’ in DesignBuilder Help and navigate to Temperature Distribution, or see the comments below for links. #DesignBuilder #Comfort #Analysis

🌬️Try It Out: Hybrid Ventilation to Mitigate Overheating As climate change intensifies, building designers must pay ever greater attention to preventing overheating. Even in traditionally temperate regions, passive strategies alone are not always sufficient, and in some buildings, it may be necessary to integrate an active mechanical component to maintain comfort during the warmest periods. Hybrid systems, such as DX-assisted and Mixed-mode ventilation, supplement free cooling with mechanical cooling for optimal comfort and energy efficiency. DesignBuilder can be used to model and test the combined performance of these and a wide range of other passive architectural features and modern mechanical HVAC systems. To support your hybrid ventilation projects, we've developed a modelling guide for DX-assisted ventilation and a tutorial for Mixed-mode systems. These resources are designed to simplify your initial workflow, helping you implement these systems more efficiently and confidently from the start. ⬇️ You can download the attached modelling guide or see the comments below for a link to the tutorial. #DesignBuilder #MixedMode #Guide #HybridVentilation #Overheating

❄️ Dynamic Cooling System Sizing with DesignBuilder Cooling design calculations are a quick and easy way to quantify the mechanical cooling equipment size for peak summer conditions and can also serve as an invaluable early-stage design tool. 🔹Summer at its Worst: We simulate the warmest expected daily temperature profile, accounting for all internal heat gains while excluding possible wind-driven cooling. 🔹Early Design Optimisation: Compare the impact of passive strategies like window sizing, shading, insulation, and surface reflectivity on zone-specific peak cooling requirements. Unlike static heating design (see https://lnkd.in/dhgHQWwk), cooling design dynamically considers variations in temperature, solar radiation, internal gains, and humidity. For in-depth insights, see the free cooling design tutorial on our website: Training > Tutorials > # 303 or see the comments below for links. ☝️Remember: While sizing is crucial, annual simulations are necessary for a more complete building performance evaluation. Undersized equipment compromises comfort, while oversizing unnecessarily increases capital cost. 💡Tip: Use the default 'multiple design months' option (Site > Summer Weather Data) for thorough analysis. DesignBuilder will sequentially test various monthly temperature and solar radiation profiles to identify your peak cooling month automatically. #DesignBuilder #CoolingDesign #BuildingPerformance #EnergyEfficiency

🔊 Free Webinar: Streamline Your ASHRAE 90.1 and LEED Workflow Register here: https://lnkd.in/dxEchwZy (Wed, Nov 20th, 2024)   Our upcoming webinar will show you how DesignBuilder's ASHRAE 90.1 and LEED tools simplify the building certification process by automating key workflow steps. After you set up your proposed building model, the software automatically creates the baseline model and guides you in selecting pre-configured ASHRAE 90.1 baseline HVAC systems tailored to your project. We will also show you how DesignBuilder can automatically populate LEED MEPC spreadsheets direct from your model, saving time and minimising manual input and errors in your LEED documentation. And finally, we’ll show you how use DesignBuilder for LEED Daylighting and LEED LCA credit calculations. This webinar will demonstrate our high-productivity workflow in a live session so you can see for yourself why it is the preferred choice for efficient and accurate compliance modelling. ⬇️ In the meantime, you can download our updated user guide for step-by-step ASHRAE 90.1 and LEED modelling workflow in DesignBuilder, featuring new LEED resources and QA tips. 🗓️ Register here : https://lnkd.in/dxEchwZy to attend the live webinar on Wednesday, November 20th, or to receive a recording after the event. #DesignBuilder #LEED #ASHRAE

🔥 Faster and Easier Heating System Sizing with DesignBuilder DesignBuilder uses EnergyPlus to perform precise, steady-state calculations for peak heating demand, enabling you to effortlessly assess and refine system sizing throughout your entire modelling process. Here is how it works: 🔹Winter at its Worst: We simulate a point in time at the coldest expected winter design weather conditions – based on ASHRAE, CIBSE etc. weather data - when your heating system operates without help from the sun or internal heat sources, while accounting for heat losses such as infiltration. For details, search 'Winter Design' in DesignBuilder Help (accessible via our website's Support menu). 🔹Customisable Settings: While we typically exclude internal heat gains and most external heating factors, you’re still in control! You can adjust winter design temperatures, add safety margins, modify schedules to include internal gains, include/exclude ventilation, and more. 🔹Easy Review and Analysis: Results are at your fingertips with our convenient steady-state and zone-based summary graphs. Review and adjust your sizing at any stage of your modelling workflow. DesignBuilder helps you create efficient, comfortable, and cost-effective heating systems. You can find out how by viewing our concise tutorial on setting up and running heating design calculations. Visit our website: Training menu > Tutorials > # 302 or see the comments below for links. #DesignBuilder #Heating #Design #ASHRAE #CIBSE

🥇 Celebrating the Past Success of DesignBuilder Users at CIBSE’s Building Simulation Awards! The CIBSE Building Simulation Awards recognise projects that demonstrate innovation in building simulation techniques, and also awards outstanding contributions from young modellers. Submissions for 2024 are now open, so this is a great opportunity to showcase your work and join several past winners that gained prestigious international recognition! DesignBuilder has been used in many of the winning, runner-up, and shortlisted submissions in recent years, including these: 🔹In 2021: Patricia Pino Argumedo of Wirth Research won the CIBSE Building Simulation Award, with DesignBuilder playing a central role in her modelling. Additionally, our own Nishesh Jain received the CIBSE Young Modeller Award. 🔹In 2022: Several modellers received awards and recognition for their outstanding simulation work using DesignBuilder. Daniel Sánchez García from the University of Madrid secured the CIBSE Building Simulation Award, and Shweta Salvankar triumphed with the CIBSE Young Modeller Award. Dr Jonathan Reynolds of Arup was the runner-up for the CIBSE Building Simulation Award 2022. 🔹In 2023: Divyanshu Sood of University College Dublin won the CIBSE Young Modeller category using DesignBuilder to optimise operational variables including natural ventilation for sustainable building design. DesignBuilder’s Dr Renjith Jayapalan Nair was a CIBSE Young Modeller Award finalist and Prethvi Raj of TRAJECT Adviseurs & Managers was a finalist of the prestigious CIBSE Building Simulation Award. We encourage all DesignBuilder users to showcase your expertise and innovation by participating in these awards. Your success in the past three years has been inspiring, and we can't wait to see more of your ground-breaking projects emerge this year! 🗓️Don't Miss the Deadline: Submit your entries by October 18th, 2024. For more information on how easy it is to enter and examples of previous winning submissions, or to submit your entry, follow this link: https://lnkd.in/eJkaZ-mj. #DesignBuilder #Awards #BuildingSimulation #CIBSE #Build2Perform

🔊 Submissions for the CIBSE Building Simulation Awards 2024 are open! These prestigious awards recognise outstanding achievements in the field of building simulation, and several DesignBuilder users have won, placed as runners-up, or been shortlisted in recent years. This success – which we will showcase in an upcoming post – has been inspiring, and we're thrilled to see how DesignBuilder users will push boundaries with their submissions this year. To help advance building simulation and support our industry, DesignBuilder is once again sponsoring these awards. DesignBuilder modellers from all relevant disciplines are encouraged to showcase their work and gain prestigious international recognition. There are two award categories: the Building Simulation Award, which celebrates innovative use of building simulation in projects and promotes advancements in simulation techniques; and the Young Modeller Award, which honours the exceptional work of young building performance simulation modellers. For more information and examples of previous winning submissions, or to submit your entry, follow this link: https://lnkd.in/eJkaZ-mj. 🗓️ Don't Miss the Deadline: Submit your entries by October 18th, 2024. #DesignBuilder #Awards #BuildingSimulation #CIBSE #Build2Perform

📢 Webinar: Streamline Your ASHRAE 90.1 and LEED Workflow DesignBuilder is a leading building performance simulation tool for ASHRAE 90.1 / LEED energy modelling. This webinar will demonstrate our industry-leading workflow automation in a live session so you can see for yourself why it is the preferred choice for efficient and accurate compliance modelling. Using a typical office building as an example, the webinar will cover: 🔹ASHRAE 90.1 and LEED modelling workflow (energy, daylight, carbon) 🔹Proposed building configuration and simulation 🔹Automated baseline building generation 🔹Guided setup and adjustment of preconfigured baseline HVAC systems 🔹Automated simulation of four rotated baseline buildings with results averaging 🔹Comparison of proposed and baseline building simulation results for energy and cost 🔹Automated MEPC spreadsheet generation for LEED submission 🔹LEED daylighting credit calculation options (sDA, ASE, illuminance) and reporting 🔹Embodied carbon calculations and One Click LCA integration for LEED LCA credits 🗓️ Register here: https://lnkd.in/dxEchwZy to attend the live webinar on Wednesday, November 20th, or to receive a recording after the event. #DesignBuilder #Webinar #LEED #ASHRAE

🏆Celebrating the Past Success of DesignBuilder Users at CIBSE’s Building Simulation Awards!  The CIBSE Building Simulation Awards recognise projects that demonstrate innovation in building simulation techniques, and also awards outstanding contributions from young modellers. Submissions for 2024 are now open, so this is a great opportunity to showcase your work and join several past winners that gained prestigious international recognition!       DesignBuilder has been used in many of the winning, runner-up, and shortlisted submissions in recent years, including these:   🔹In 2021: Patricia Pino Argumedo of Wirth Research won the CIBSE Building Simulation Award, with DesignBuilder playing a central role in her modelling. Additionally, our own Nishesh Jain received the CIBSE Young Modeller Award. 🔹In 2022: Several modellers received awards and recognition for their outstanding simulation work using DesignBuilder. Daniel Sánchez García from the University of Madrid secured the CIBSE Building Simulation Award, and Shweta Salvankar triumphed with the CIBSE Young Modeller Award. Dr Jonathan Reynolds of Arup was the runner-up for the CIBSE Building Simulation Award 2022. 🔹In 2023: Divyanshu Sood of University College Dublin won the CIBSE Young Modeller category using DesignBuilder to optimise operational variables including natural ventilation for sustainable building design. DesignBuilder’s Dr Renjith Jayapalan Nair was a CIBSE Young Modeller Award finalist and Prethvi Raj of TRAJECT Adviseurs & Managers was a finalist of the prestigious CIBSE Building Simulation Award. We encourage all DesignBuilder users to showcase your expertise and innovation by participating in these awards. Your success in the past three years has been inspiring, and we can't wait to see more of your ground-breaking projects emerge this year! 🗓️Don't Miss the Deadline: Submit your entries by October 18th, 2024. For more information on how easy it is to enter and examples of previous winning submissions, or to submit your entry, follow this link: https://lnkd.in/eJkaZ-mj.    #DesignBuilder #Awards #BuildingSimulation #CIBSE #Build2Perform

☝️Submissions for the CIBSE Building Simulation Awards 2024 are open! These prestigious awards recognise outstanding achievements in the field of building simulation, and several DesignBuilder users have won, placed as runners-up, or been shortlisted in recent years. This success – which we will showcase in an upcoming post – has been inspiring, and we're thrilled to see how DesignBuilder users will push boundaries with their submissions this year.   To help advance building simulation and support our industry, DesignBuilder is once again sponsoring these awards. DesignBuilder modellers from all relevant disciplines are encouraged to showcase their work and gain prestigious international recognition.    There are two award categories: the Building Simulation Award, which celebrates innovative use of building simulation in projects and promotes advancements in simulation techniques; and the Young Modeller Award, which honours the exceptional work of young building performance simulation modellers. For more information and examples of previous winning submissions, or to submit your entry, follow this link: https://lnkd.in/eJkaZ-mj. 🗓️ Don't Miss the Deadline: Submit your entries by October 18th, 2024. #DesginBuilder #Awards #BuildingSimulation #CIBSE #Build2Perform