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C4B vs CBE Clima Tool

C4B vs CBE Clima Tool

CBE Clima Tool and C4B both bring climate analysis for building design into the browser. Clima analyses weather files for more than 27,500 locations; C4B starts from any address and adds site-specific data, future climate and energy analysis.

Last checked18 September 2026

C4B and CBE Clima Tool at a glance

AspectC4BCBE Clima Tool
TypeWeb app, in the browserWeb app, open source
PriceFree plan; paid plans from €59/month (cancellation takes effect after 12 billing cycles) or €599/year, with a 7-day free trialFree
Choosing the locationSearch an address or click the map; no weather file neededMap of EPW files for tens of thousands of locations, or upload your own EPW
Weather dataNearest weather station file (Climate.OneBuilding.Org, usually TMYx) plus, in projects, site-specific reanalysis (ERA5 / ERA5-Land, CERRA, NORA3) at the exact coordinatesEPW files from EnergyPlus and Climate.OneBuilding.Org
Future climateSSP1-1.9 to SSP5-8.5, any year from 2025 to 2100, in projects on paid plansNo built-in future scenarios; its documentation lists sources of future weather files you can upload
Outdoor comfortUTCI outdoor comfort, including on the Free planUTCI outdoor comfort
Energy analysisPreliminary hourly energy balance; orientation and aspect-ratio optimization in projects on paid plansNot mentioned in its documentation
OutputsInteractive charts; written readings on most charts in projects and a PDF report on paid plans; EPW downloads on Technical and EnterpriseInteractive charts; SVG chart downloads; CSV data

Where CBE Clima Tool is strong

  • Free and open source, developed at the Center for the Built Environment, UC Berkeley, and described in a peer-reviewed journal paper.
  • A broad chart set for climate-adapted design: sun path, wind rose, psychrometric chart, natural ventilation potential, UTCI and degree days.
  • Accepts any EPW file you upload, so it also works with custom or future weather files you already have.
  • Charts export as SVG and data as CSV.

Where C4B takes a different approach

  • You start from any address or map point rather than choosing among weather station files.
  • Projects add a weather file compiled from reanalysis at the site's exact coordinates, corrected to its elevation, next to the nearest station.
  • Future climate scenarios under five SSPs, climate zone projections to 2100 and a preliminary energy balance are part of the same workflow.
  • Projects on paid plans add written readings on most charts and a PDF report.

CBE Clima Tool may suit you better if

  • You need a free tool, for example for teaching.
  • You already have the EPW file you want to analyse, including a custom or future one.
  • You want to download chart graphics or the underlying data as CSV.

C4B may suit you better if

  • The nearest weather station is far from your site, or you want to compare it with data at the site itself.
  • You need future climate, climate zone projections and a first energy balance in one place.
  • You want a report a client or the whole team can read.

See your site's climate before design begins

Pin any location and get climate, comfort and preliminary energy insight your whole team can read. Start with a 7-day free trial, or book a 30-minute demo.

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Frequently asked questions

Is CBE Clima Tool free?

Yes. CBE Clima Tool is a free, open-source web application from the Center for the Built Environment at UC Berkeley. C4B has a free plan and paid plans.

Does C4B use EPW files like Clima?

C4B uses the nearest station's weather file from Climate.OneBuilding.Org (usually TMYx), and in projects it compiles its own site-specific weather file from reanalysis data. You do not need to find or upload a file.

Can I use both?

Yes. They answer overlapping questions from different starting points, and comparing a station file in Clima with C4B's site-specific data can be useful.

Sources

Information about CBE Clima Tool comes from its official website and documentation, checked on 18 September 2026. Products change, so check the official site for the latest details. CBE Clima Tool belongs to the Center for the Built Environment (CBE), UC Berkeley; C4B is not affiliated with or endorsed by them.

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