Small Project Design

What are small residential firms using for energy modeling? HEED? Open Studio/Sketchup? Sefaira? Autodesk Insight? Most of our residential work is additions and renovations.

We use Revit so it would be great to be able to use that geometry, but I wouldn't be opposed to using Sketchup.  I'm not sure such an animal exists, but we would love use one software to; show performance based code compliance, provide 2030 Challenge reporting, test different design options and show clients cost savings by investing in the envelope.

CoveTool is the best option.

https://cove.tools

What are small residential firms using for energy modeling? HEED? Open Studio/Sketchup? Sefaira? Autodesk Insight? Most of our residential work is additions and renovations.

We use Revit so it would be great to be able to use that geometry, but I wouldn't be opposed to using Sketchup.  I'm not sure such an animal exists, but we would love use one software to; show performance based code compliance, provide 2030 Challenge reporting, test different design options and show clients cost savings by investing in the envelope.

RE Energy modeling for small firms

I have found that energy modeling and carbon calculating plugins have restrictions on the host drawing tool. We use Revit LT, which is very powerful - but we don't need / can't afford the full version. The carbon software we wanted to use - Tally - doesn't work on LT, only the full version. We developed work arounds, but ultimately it was too much trouble and expense for us, even though we are committed to low carbon design and motivated by the 2030 Commitment. Still looking for an easier solution to calculating embodied carbon. For now, we reduce concrete, steel, glass and fossil fuel materials, and retrofit to Passive House. Still, I'd love to have some numbers.....

CoveTool is the best option.

https://cove.tools

What are small residential firms using for energy modeling? HEED? Open Studio/Sketchup? Sefaira? Autodesk Insight? Most of our residential work is additions and renovations.

We use Revit so it would be great to be able to use that geometry, but I wouldn't be opposed to using Sketchup.  I'm not sure such an animal exists, but we would love use one software to; show performance based code compliance, provide 2030 Challenge reporting, test different design options and show clients cost savings by investing in the envelope.

As a solo practitioner, I'd love to have an affordable, easy-to-use tool. For someone like me, running a dozen projects on my own, it is impossible to learn to use a complicated tool, let alone pay for it. When I contacted Cove Tool about my concerns, how I would use the tool only a few times a year, and how the cost was 10X what I could afford, the response was a deafening silence.

Another rogue aspect of my firm is that I use Vectorworks, so typical plug-ins built for Revit are lost on me. The industry and this organization need to understand and reflect upon what it takes to run a practice solo and our unique challenges. As fellow architects, being sensitive and not condescending to others in the practice who are "not there yet" would also go a long way. I'm not saying this thread has been condescending, but I often face it from architects, energy testing specialists, and those with more resources than they know what to do within their practice.

Soap box over.

RE Energy modeling for small firms

I have found that energy modeling and carbon calculating plugins have restrictions on the host drawing tool. We use Revit LT, which is very powerful - but we don't need / can't afford the full version. The carbon software we wanted to use - Tally - doesn't work on LT, only the full version. We developed work arounds, but ultimately it was too much trouble and expense for us, even though we are committed to low carbon design and motivated by the 2030 Commitment. Still looking for an easier solution to calculating embodied carbon. For now, we reduce concrete, steel, glass and fossil fuel materials, and retrofit to Passive House. Still, I'd love to have some numbers.....

CoveTool is the best option.

https://cove.tools

What are small residential firms using for energy modeling? HEED? Open Studio/Sketchup? Sefaira? Autodesk Insight? Most of our residential work is additions and renovations.

We use Revit so it would be great to be able to use that geometry, but I wouldn't be opposed to using Sketchup.  I'm not sure such an animal exists, but we would love use one software to; show performance based code compliance, provide 2030 Challenge reporting, test different design options and show clients cost savings by investing in the envelope.

Lee I hear your frustration and I agree in the industry it should not be a one size fits all when it comes to software that supports architectural practice. I work for local government and I am fighting for funding so I can provide Revit to my intern who is dying to use it on our projects.

As a solo practitioner, I'd love to have an affordable, easy-to-use tool. For someone like me, running a dozen projects on my own, it is impossible to learn to use a complicated tool, let alone pay for it. When I contacted Cove Tool about my concerns, how I would use the tool only a few times a year, and how the cost was 10X what I could afford, the response was a deafening silence.

Another rogue aspect of my firm is that I use Vectorworks, so typical plug-ins built for Revit are lost on me. The industry and this organization need to understand and reflect upon what it takes to run a practice solo and our unique challenges. As fellow architects, being sensitive and not condescending to others in the practice who are "not there yet" would also go a long way. I'm not saying this thread has been condescending, but I often face it from architects, energy testing specialists, and those with more resources than they know what to do within their practice.

Soap box over.

RE Energy modeling for small firms

I have found that energy modeling and carbon calculating plugins have restrictions on the host drawing tool. We use Revit LT, which is very powerful - but we don't need / can't afford the full version. The carbon software we wanted to use - Tally - doesn't work on LT, only the full version. We developed work arounds, but ultimately it was too much trouble and expense for us, even though we are committed to low carbon design and motivated by the 2030 Commitment. Still looking for an easier solution to calculating embodied carbon. For now, we reduce concrete, steel, glass and fossil fuel materials, and retrofit to Passive House. Still, I'd love to have some numbers.....

CoveTool is the best option.

https://cove.tools

What are small residential firms using for energy modeling? HEED? Open Studio/Sketchup? Sefaira? Autodesk Insight? Most of our residential work is additions and renovations.

We use Revit so it would be great to be able to use that geometry, but I wouldn't be opposed to using Sketchup.  I'm not sure such an animal exists, but we would love use one software to; show performance based code compliance, provide 2030 Challenge reporting, test different design options and show clients cost savings by investing in the envelope.

As a solo practitioner, I'd love to have an affordable, easy-to-use tool. For someone like me, running a dozen projects on my own, it is impossible to learn to use a complicated tool, let alone pay for it. When I contacted Cove Tool about my concerns, how I would use the tool only a few times a year, and how the cost was 10X what I could afford, the response was a deafening silence.

Another rogue aspect of my firm is that I use Vectorworks, so typical plug-ins built for Revit are lost on me. The industry and this organization need to understand and reflect upon what it takes to run a practice solo and our unique challenges. As fellow architects, being sensitive and not condescending to others in the practice who are "not there yet" would also go a long way. I'm not saying this thread has been condescending, but I often face it from architects, energy testing specialists, and those with more resources than they know what to do within their practice.

Soap box over.

RE Energy modeling for small firms

I have found that energy modeling and carbon calculating plugins have restrictions on the host drawing tool. We use Revit LT, which is very powerful - but we don't need / can't afford the full version. The carbon software we wanted to use - Tally - doesn't work on LT, only the full version. We developed work arounds, but ultimately it was too much trouble and expense for us, even though we are committed to low carbon design and motivated by the 2030 Commitment. Still looking for an easier solution to calculating embodied carbon. For now, we reduce concrete, steel, glass and fossil fuel materials, and retrofit to Passive House. Still, I'd love to have some numbers.....

CoveTool is the best option.

https://cove.tools

What are small residential firms using for energy modeling? HEED? Open Studio/Sketchup? Sefaira? Autodesk Insight? Most of our residential work is additions and renovations.

We use Revit so it would be great to be able to use that geometry, but I wouldn't be opposed to using Sketchup.  I'm not sure such an animal exists, but we would love use one software to; show performance based code compliance, provide 2030 Challenge reporting, test different design options and show clients cost savings by investing in the envelope.

Lee, you nailed my frustration as well. I recently attended a Sustainability Symposium, hosted by our local AIA chapter and walked out even more frustrated. When the panel was talking about energy modeling and selecting low carbon footprint materials, it was clear this conversation was for the big firms only. I even asked the panel how this conversation can be applied to smaller firms/projects, and I was literally given the answer, "change the paper towels you use".

IMHO small to medium sized firms, which are the overwhelming majority of AIA membership, need to work together to push the AIA to represent our needs and advocate for some kind of a public or PPP funded solution to provide our firms this capability. Small scale projects are the overwhelming majority of development in the US (from some CE lectures I have attended it is close to 90%). If our industry wants to really make a difference in climate change, we have to improve the performance of these buildings, and ironically we cannot afford the tools to help change the conversation.

As a solo practitioner, I'd love to have an affordable, easy-to-use tool. For someone like me, running a dozen projects on my own, it is impossible to learn to use a complicated tool, let alone pay for it. When I contacted Cove Tool about my concerns, how I would use the tool only a few times a year, and how the cost was 10X what I could afford, the response was a deafening silence.

Another rogue aspect of my firm is that I use Vectorworks, so typical plug-ins built for Revit are lost on me. The industry and this organization need to understand and reflect upon what it takes to run a practice solo and our unique challenges. As fellow architects, being sensitive and not condescending to others in the practice who are "not there yet" would also go a long way. I'm not saying this thread has been condescending, but I often face it from architects, energy testing specialists, and those with more resources than they know what to do within their practice.

Soap box over.

RE Energy modeling for small firms

I have found that energy modeling and carbon calculating plugins have restrictions on the host drawing tool. We use Revit LT, which is very powerful - but we don't need / can't afford the full version. The carbon software we wanted to use - Tally - doesn't work on LT, only the full version. We developed work arounds, but ultimately it was too much trouble and expense for us, even though we are committed to low carbon design and motivated by the 2030 Commitment. Still looking for an easier solution to calculating embodied carbon. For now, we reduce concrete, steel, glass and fossil fuel materials, and retrofit to Passive House. Still, I'd love to have some numbers.....

CoveTool is the best option.

https://cove.tools

What are small residential firms using for energy modeling? HEED? Open Studio/Sketchup? Sefaira? Autodesk Insight? Most of our residential work is additions and renovations.

We use Revit so it would be great to be able to use that geometry, but I wouldn't be opposed to using Sketchup.  I'm not sure such an animal exists, but we would love use one software to; show performance based code compliance, provide 2030 Challenge reporting, test different design options and show clients cost savings by investing in the envelope.

Lee, you nailed my frustration as well. I recently attended a Sustainability Symposium, hosted by our local AIA chapter and walked out even more frustrated. When the panel was talking about energy modeling and selecting low carbon footprint materials, it was clear this conversation was for the big firms only. I even asked the panel how this conversation can be applied to smaller firms/projects, and I was literally given the answer, "change the paper towels you use".

IMHO small to medium sized firms, which are the overwhelming majority of AIA membership, need to work together to push the AIA to represent our needs and advocate for some kind of a public or PPP funded solution to provide our firms this capability. Small scale projects are the overwhelming majority of development in the US (from some CE lectures I have attended it is close to 90%). If our industry wants to really make a difference in climate change, we have to improve the performance of these buildings, and ironically we cannot afford the tools to help change the conversation.

As a solo practitioner, I'd love to have an affordable, easy-to-use tool. For someone like me, running a dozen projects on my own, it is impossible to learn to use a complicated tool, let alone pay for it. When I contacted Cove Tool about my concerns, how I would use the tool only a few times a year, and how the cost was 10X what I could afford, the response was a deafening silence.

Another rogue aspect of my firm is that I use Vectorworks, so typical plug-ins built for Revit are lost on me. The industry and this organization need to understand and reflect upon what it takes to run a practice solo and our unique challenges. As fellow architects, being sensitive and not condescending to others in the practice who are "not there yet" would also go a long way. I'm not saying this thread has been condescending, but I often face it from architects, energy testing specialists, and those with more resources than they know what to do within their practice.

Soap box over.

RE Energy modeling for small firms

I have found that energy modeling and carbon calculating plugins have restrictions on the host drawing tool. We use Revit LT, which is very powerful - but we don't need / can't afford the full version. The carbon software we wanted to use - Tally - doesn't work on LT, only the full version. We developed work arounds, but ultimately it was too much trouble and expense for us, even though we are committed to low carbon design and motivated by the 2030 Commitment. Still looking for an easier solution to calculating embodied carbon. For now, we reduce concrete, steel, glass and fossil fuel materials, and retrofit to Passive House. Still, I'd love to have some numbers.....

CoveTool is the best option.

https://cove.tools

What are small residential firms using for energy modeling? HEED? Open Studio/Sketchup? Sefaira? Autodesk Insight? Most of our residential work is additions and renovations.

We use Revit so it would be great to be able to use that geometry, but I wouldn't be opposed to using Sketchup.  I'm not sure such an animal exists, but we would love use one software to; show performance based code compliance, provide 2030 Challenge reporting, test different design options and show clients cost savings by investing in the envelope.

RE Energy modeling for small firms

I have found that energy modeling and carbon calculating plugins have restrictions on the host drawing tool. We use Revit LT, which is very powerful - but we don't need / can't afford the full version. The carbon software we wanted to use - Tally - doesn't work on LT, only the full version. We developed work arounds, but ultimately it was too much trouble and expense for us, even though we are committed to low carbon design and motivated by the 2030 Commitment. Still looking for an easier solution to calculating embodied carbon. For now, we reduce concrete, steel, glass and fossil fuel materials, and retrofit to Passive House. Still, I'd love to have some numbers.....

CoveTool is the best option.

https://cove.tools

What are small residential firms using for energy modeling? HEED? Open Studio/Sketchup? Sefaira? Autodesk Insight? Most of our residential work is additions and renovations.

We use Revit so it would be great to be able to use that geometry, but I wouldn't be opposed to using Sketchup.  I'm not sure such an animal exists, but we would love use one software to; show performance based code compliance, provide 2030 Challenge reporting, test different design options and show clients cost savings by investing in the envelope.

CoveTool is the best option.

https://cove.tools

What are small residential firms using for energy modeling? HEED? Open Studio/Sketchup? Sefaira? Autodesk Insight? Most of our residential work is additions and renovations.

We use Revit so it would be great to be able to use that geometry, but I wouldn't be opposed to using Sketchup.  I'm not sure such an animal exists, but we would love use one software to; show performance based code compliance, provide 2030 Challenge reporting, test different design options and show clients cost savings by investing in the envelope.

What are small residential firms using for energy modeling? HEED? Open Studio/Sketchup? Sefaira? Autodesk Insight? Most of our residential work is additions and renovations.

We use Revit so it would be great to be able to use that geometry, but I wouldn't be opposed to using Sketchup.  I'm not sure such an animal exists, but we would love use one software to; show performance based code compliance, provide 2030 Challenge reporting, test different design options and show clients cost savings by investing in the envelope.

What are small residential firms using for energy modeling? HEED? Open Studio/Sketchup? Sefaira? Autodesk Insight? Most of our residential work is additions and renovations.

We use Revit so it would be great to be able to use that geometry, but I wouldn't be opposed to using Sketchup.  I'm not sure such an animal exists, but we would love use one software to; show performance based code compliance, provide 2030 Challenge reporting, test different design options and show clients cost savings by investing in the envelope.

What are small residential firms using for energy modeling? HEED? Open Studio/Sketchup? Sefaira? Autodesk Insight? Most of our residential work is additions and renovations.

We use Revit so it would be great to be able to use that geometry, but I wouldn't be opposed to using Sketchup.  I'm not sure such an animal exists, but we would love use one software to; show performance based code compliance, provide 2030 Challenge reporting, test different design options and show clients cost savings by investing in the envelope.

Thanks all for a great discussion on tools. I put the ask out to the 2030 and Materials Pledge working groups and as a starting response these blog posts were recommended. These are descriptions of different tools available along with short descriptions. Shout out to one of our volunteers Daniel Overbey for writing these for everyone. 

Please let me know how else we can support small firms interested in sustainability and AIA's pledge programs! 

What are small residential firms using for energy modeling? HEED? Open Studio/Sketchup? Sefaira? Autodesk Insight? Most of our residential work is additions and renovations.

We use Revit so it would be great to be able to use that geometry, but I wouldn't be opposed to using Sketchup.  I'm not sure such an animal exists, but we would love use one software to; show performance based code compliance, provide 2030 Challenge reporting, test different design options and show clients cost savings by investing in the envelope.

Thomas, Lee, All:  Great questions, and thanks Melissa for linking to Dan Overbey's piece too.  At our 8 person firm we use Vectorworks, and are just beginning use of its Energos built-in energy modeling tool. Prior to this we used Sefaira with our SketchUp models, but as we've transitioned to Vectorworks 3D are not modeling in SketchUp in the early stages, so Energos will be our modeling tool going forward.  Sefaira is great, and can be bundled with SketchUp so I still recommend it especially if one is using SketchUp already.

For Embodied Carbon accounting we've dabbled with Vectorworks built-in calculator, based on the ICE (European) database, but our go-to tool is BEAM Estimator (Building Emissions Accounting for Materials) tool, available for free from Builders for Climate Action:  https://www.buildersforclimateaction.org/beam-estimator.html  It's free and easy to use, and right-sized to the projects we do.  It also includes a number of the novel bio-based materials (e.g. strawbale, hempcrete, etc.) which is great (the ICE database has these also).  

We encourage anyone not already signed up to join the AIA's 2030 Commitment and also the A+D Materials Pledge, and start reporting your portfolio of projects, to track your own progress as well as be part of tracking our c collective progression toward decarbonizing the built environment.  

Thanks for posting on this important topic!  

Thanks all for a great discussion on tools. I put the ask out to the 2030 and Materials Pledge working groups and as a starting response these blog posts were recommended. These are descriptions of different tools available along with short descriptions. Shout out to one of our volunteers Daniel Overbey for writing these for everyone. 

Please let me know how else we can support small firms interested in sustainability and AIA's pledge programs! 

What are small residential firms using for energy modeling? HEED? Open Studio/Sketchup? Sefaira? Autodesk Insight? Most of our residential work is additions and renovations.

We use Revit so it would be great to be able to use that geometry, but I wouldn't be opposed to using Sketchup.  I'm not sure such an animal exists, but we would love use one software to; show performance based code compliance, provide 2030 Challenge reporting, test different design options and show clients cost savings by investing in the envelope.

I'm glad we're starting this conversation. Andrew and Daniel's comments give me hope. Thanks for sharing tools, Melissa.

Here's the thing: for us solo AIA folks (that's a quarter of all AIA firms!), hitting goals like the 2030 commitment feels a bit out of reach. Why? Because we need tools that help us quickly explain the benefits to clients-benefits for them, not just the planet. After all, our clients are different from those of bigger firms. Firms like mine primarily do commercial renovations, not new construction. Many small firms design super-small residential additions. What about the TI project, coffee shop project, or yoga studio?

As a solo architect for 21 years, the struggle is real. I do all the work. Running a practice is a full-time job, and learning a complex tool that takes forever to figure out adds to the pile. I can't even afford a part-time accountant. Sometimes, convincing clients to follow basic building codes feels like a battle! The idea of tackling climate action hasn't quite sunk in for them yet. Don't sound surprised, but that's another day over coffee or something stronger.

And don't even get me started on some of these carbon calculators! They make filing taxes look like a walk in the park. (For those of you with bigger teams, delegating might be an option, but for us solo flyers, it's not.)

Here's the key takeaway: when discussing these issues, let's not forget about solo architects (or 2 to 3-person firms). I've seen far too many magazine articles and online discussions that treat us like the forgotten child.

I'm happy to pay a consultant to handle some of this recording and calculating, but most people use Revit. Me? I'm a Vectorworks user, and some folks even use ArchiCAD, SoftPlan, or AutoCAD LT. If we are a genuinely equitable organization, let's ensure "all" means all when providing resources.

Every year, paying my AIA dues feels a bit tougher. No LLC or employer can pick up the tab – it comes straight out of my pocket. So, let's find ways to make these sustainability goals achievable for everyone, not just the big firms. That way, we can all be part of the solution!

Thomas, Lee, All:  Great questions, and thanks Melissa for linking to Dan Overbey's piece too.  At our 8 person firm we use Vectorworks, and are just beginning use of its Energos built-in energy modeling tool. Prior to this we used Sefaira with our SketchUp models, but as we've transitioned to Vectorworks 3D are not modeling in SketchUp in the early stages, so Energos will be our modeling tool going forward.  Sefaira is great, and can be bundled with SketchUp so I still recommend it especially if one is using SketchUp already.

For Embodied Carbon accounting we've dabbled with Vectorworks built-in calculator, based on the ICE (European) database, but our go-to tool is BEAM Estimator (Building Emissions Accounting for Materials) tool, available for free from Builders for Climate Action:  https://www.buildersforclimateaction.org/beam-estimator.html  It's free and easy to use, and right-sized to the projects we do.  It also includes a number of the novel bio-based materials (e.g. strawbale, hempcrete, etc.) which is great (the ICE database has these also).  

We encourage anyone not already signed up to join the AIA's 2030 Commitment and also the A+D Materials Pledge, and start reporting your portfolio of projects, to track your own progress as well as be part of tracking our c collective progression toward decarbonizing the built environment.  

Thanks for posting on this important topic!  

Thanks all for a great discussion on tools. I put the ask out to the 2030 and Materials Pledge working groups and as a starting response these blog posts were recommended. These are descriptions of different tools available along with short descriptions. Shout out to one of our volunteers Daniel Overbey for writing these for everyone. 

Please let me know how else we can support small firms interested in sustainability and AIA's pledge programs! 

What are small residential firms using for energy modeling? HEED? Open Studio/Sketchup? Sefaira? Autodesk Insight? Most of our residential work is additions and renovations.

We use Revit so it would be great to be able to use that geometry, but I wouldn't be opposed to using Sketchup.  I'm not sure such an animal exists, but we would love use one software to; show performance based code compliance, provide 2030 Challenge reporting, test different design options and show clients cost savings by investing in the envelope.

Thanks all for a great discussion on tools. I put the ask out to the 2030 and Materials Pledge working groups and as a starting response these blog posts were recommended. These are descriptions of different tools available along with short descriptions. Shout out to one of our volunteers Daniel Overbey for writing these for everyone. 

Please let me know how else we can support small firms interested in sustainability and AIA's pledge programs! 

What are small residential firms using for energy modeling? HEED? Open Studio/Sketchup? Sefaira? Autodesk Insight? Most of our residential work is additions and renovations.

We use Revit so it would be great to be able to use that geometry, but I wouldn't be opposed to using Sketchup.  I'm not sure such an animal exists, but we would love use one software to; show performance based code compliance, provide 2030 Challenge reporting, test different design options and show clients cost savings by investing in the envelope.

What are small residential firms using for energy modeling? HEED? Open Studio/Sketchup? Sefaira? Autodesk Insight? Most of our residential work is additions and renovations.

We use Revit so it would be great to be able to use that geometry, but I wouldn't be opposed to using Sketchup.  I'm not sure such an animal exists, but we would love use one software to; show performance based code compliance, provide 2030 Challenge reporting, test different design options and show clients cost savings by investing in the envelope.

What are small residential firms using for energy modeling? HEED? Open Studio/Sketchup? Sefaira? Autodesk Insight? Most of our residential work is additions and renovations.

We use Revit so it would be great to be able to use that geometry, but I wouldn't be opposed to using Sketchup.  I'm not sure such an animal exists, but we would love use one software to; show performance based code compliance, provide 2030 Challenge reporting, test different design options and show clients cost savings by investing in the envelope.

Thomas and all,

Encouraging to see others that are struggling with an effective energy modeling tool. In June, I was asked by GreenHome Institute to evaluate a few energy-related tools and software, and then to create an hour-long webinar with two others. In the course of doing this, I concluded that Sefaira with SketchUp was the closest to what might be helpful. I was able to get an hour-long personalized demo of Sefaira via Zoom, but then I felt like I was ghosted with follow-ups on details of a trial, costs, etc. Although it could be used via Revit, they had told me that it was easier and quicker to just create the model independently in SketchUp. Only exterior surfaces are needed so the model can be created quickly. I often do that level in SketchUp just for mass model study anyway. 

For more info on Sefaira which is a plug-in for SketchUp, look at the Case Study for the Net Zero Energy Home: https://www.sketchup.com/en/products/sefaira

I wonder if as a group, we could get AIA to advocate for us to get special pricing for small firms.  Has anyone tried anything like this before?

What are small residential firms using for energy modeling? HEED? Open Studio/Sketchup? Sefaira? Autodesk Insight? Most of our residential work is additions and renovations.

We use Revit so it would be great to be able to use that geometry, but I wouldn't be opposed to using Sketchup.  I'm not sure such an animal exists, but we would love use one software to; show performance based code compliance, provide 2030 Challenge reporting, test different design options and show clients cost savings by investing in the envelope.

Hi all, late to this party, but for what it's worth--we're a 5-person firm, mostly residential, and we use WUFI-Passive, since we decided years ago we wanted to design Phius certified (Passive) projects. Yes, it's complicated and takes a while to learn, but it does have a SketchUp plugin (for importing SU geometry into Wufi-Passive) and there is a free version. We use the paid version since that allows us to save custom libraries and speed up our workflow. Having done a bunch of Phius certified projects, we now find ourselves offering energy modeling to other firms, diversifying our service offerings. 

WUFI-Passive lets you save a "Case" and try other versions (Cases) to show comparison of different insulation levels, window performance, etc. And the output is sufficient for our 2030 reporting. We use WUFI-Passive for non-Phius projects as well, in fact we model all our projects in it.

For embodied carbon modeling we're using the BEAM Tool, free from Builders For Climate Action, pretty easy to use. 

Cove seemed crazy expensive and set up for bigger projects; but Sefeira, last I checked it out, seemed good and pretty easy to use, but we're comfortable with what we have and doing Phius projects, so no reason to switch.

We've become a specialist firm (energy efficiency/Net Zero etc) partly because of investing time and money into learning modeling. I know since we're more niche this may not be so applicable, but I hope it's helpful to some. 

Thomas and all,

Encouraging to see others that are struggling with an effective energy modeling tool. In June, I was asked by GreenHome Institute to evaluate a few energy-related tools and software, and then to create an hour-long webinar with two others. In the course of doing this, I concluded that Sefaira with SketchUp was the closest to what might be helpful. I was able to get an hour-long personalized demo of Sefaira via Zoom, but then I felt like I was ghosted with follow-ups on details of a trial, costs, etc. Although it could be used via Revit, they had told me that it was easier and quicker to just create the model independently in SketchUp. Only exterior surfaces are needed so the model can be created quickly. I often do that level in SketchUp just for mass model study anyway. 

For more info on Sefaira which is a plug-in for SketchUp, look at the Case Study for the Net Zero Energy Home: https://www.sketchup.com/en/products/sefaira

I wonder if as a group, we could get AIA to advocate for us to get special pricing for small firms.  Has anyone tried anything like this before?

What are small residential firms using for energy modeling? HEED? Open Studio/Sketchup? Sefaira? Autodesk Insight? Most of our residential work is additions and renovations.

We use Revit so it would be great to be able to use that geometry, but I wouldn't be opposed to using Sketchup.  I'm not sure such an animal exists, but we would love use one software to; show performance based code compliance, provide 2030 Challenge reporting, test different design options and show clients cost savings by investing in the envelope.

Thomas and all,

Encouraging to see others that are struggling with an effective energy modeling tool. In June, I was asked by GreenHome Institute to evaluate a few energy-related tools and software, and then to create an hour-long webinar with two others. In the course of doing this, I concluded that Sefaira with SketchUp was the closest to what might be helpful. I was able to get an hour-long personalized demo of Sefaira via Zoom, but then I felt like I was ghosted with follow-ups on details of a trial, costs, etc. Although it could be used via Revit, they had told me that it was easier and quicker to just create the model independently in SketchUp. Only exterior surfaces are needed so the model can be created quickly. I often do that level in SketchUp just for mass model study anyway. 

For more info on Sefaira which is a plug-in for SketchUp, look at the Case Study for the Net Zero Energy Home: https://www.sketchup.com/en/products/sefaira

I wonder if as a group, we could get AIA to advocate for us to get special pricing for small firms.  Has anyone tried anything like this before?

What are small residential firms using for energy modeling? HEED? Open Studio/Sketchup? Sefaira? Autodesk Insight? Most of our residential work is additions and renovations.

We use Revit so it would be great to be able to use that geometry, but I wouldn't be opposed to using Sketchup.  I'm not sure such an animal exists, but we would love use one software to; show performance based code compliance, provide 2030 Challenge reporting, test different design options and show clients cost savings by investing in the envelope.

Thomas and all,

Encouraging to see others that are struggling with an effective energy modeling tool. In June, I was asked by GreenHome Institute to evaluate a few energy-related tools and software, and then to create an hour-long webinar with two others. In the course of doing this, I concluded that Sefaira with SketchUp was the closest to what might be helpful. I was able to get an hour-long personalized demo of Sefaira via Zoom, but then I felt like I was ghosted with follow-ups on details of a trial, costs, etc. Although it could be used via Revit, they had told me that it was easier and quicker to just create the model independently in SketchUp. Only exterior surfaces are needed so the model can be created quickly. I often do that level in SketchUp just for mass model study anyway. 

For more info on Sefaira which is a plug-in for SketchUp, look at the Case Study for the Net Zero Energy Home: https://www.sketchup.com/en/products/sefaira

I wonder if as a group, we could get AIA to advocate for us to get special pricing for small firms.  Has anyone tried anything like this before?

What are small residential firms using for energy modeling? HEED? Open Studio/Sketchup? Sefaira? Autodesk Insight? Most of our residential work is additions and renovations.

We use Revit so it would be great to be able to use that geometry, but I wouldn't be opposed to using Sketchup.  I'm not sure such an animal exists, but we would love use one software to; show performance based code compliance, provide 2030 Challenge reporting, test different design options and show clients cost savings by investing in the envelope.