BUILDING ENERGY SOFTWARE – FREE

Posted on: 09/06/2008

A US company is offering a free tool designed to assess energy consumption and carbon emissions, described as suitable for all building types in any location worldwide.

Integrated Environmental Solutions has unveiled VE-Ware, a free download that gives 'limited but incredibly valuable' access to its proven thermal analysis package. IES maintains this enables new and existing buildings to asses their energy profile and carbon emissions easily and at no cost.

That assessment is designed to help increase the energy efficiency of buildings by giving instant feedback on consumption and emissions based on real geometry and using international data on climatic conditions and the typical characteristics of different building, room and system types.

IES believes this is especially valuable in early project stages as it facilitates iterative design, allowing the comparison of different design, layout and system options. The software also assesses performance against the US benchmark Architecture 2030, which works towards a 50% energy reduction target.

Of course, one has to ask whether there is such a commodity as a free software download. Here you do really need IES stuff to begin with – but the thought is there.