Preliminary energy balance
An hourly, multi-zone heat balance of a simplified building on the site's weather file shows how the building gains and loses heat: monthly energy use, heating and cooling loads by zone, and energy use by end use. You can change orientation, aspect ratio, thermal mass, floor area, number of floors, floor height, window-to-wall ratio and use type; projects save these building parameters and share them across the energy modules.
Orientation and aspect-ratio optimization
Projects on a paid plan sweep 221 combinations of orientation (from -90° to +90°) and aspect ratio (from 1 to 5) and show the energy use intensity of each, so the best-performing massing options are clear. Window-to-wall ratio and shading are not part of this optimization.
Technical energy balance
The Technical and Enterprise plans add a technical energy balance with the full set of inputs, including wall and roof assemblies, setpoints, heating efficiency, cooling COP and zoning.
See your site's climate before design begins
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Frequently asked questions
Is this a compliance energy model?
No. It is a preliminary analysis to compare options early in design. Detailed energy modelling and code compliance still need a dedicated simulation later in the project.
What does the energy balance take into account?
An hourly heat balance with perimeter and core zones, conduction through the envelope, solar gains, ventilation and infiltration, running on the site's weather data.
Can I include future climate?
Yes. In projects, the energy balance can be compared between the present climate and future climate scenarios.
Learn the concepts
ASHRAE 169 climate zones
How ASHRAE 169 thermal zones and moisture regimes are defined, how to find a site's zone and where the zones are used.
Heating and cooling degree days
What HDD and CDD measure, how base temperatures work, how to calculate them and how they are used in codes and energy analysis.
Passive design strategies by climate
How bioclimatic charts link ventilation, thermal mass, evaporative cooling, internal gains and passive solar heating to the climates where they work.
Grid carbon intensity
What gCO₂e/kWh measures, the difference between average, marginal, lifecycle and direct factors, and where the data comes from.
Related features
Solar radiation and PV potential
Direct, diffuse and global solar radiation, yearly PV potential, optimal panel orientation and geothermal ground temperatures.
Psychrometric chart and passive design
An hourly psychrometric chart and the share of hours covered by each passive design strategy.
Grid carbon intensity
The carbon intensity and generation mix of the national electricity grid, compared with other countries.