A new version of the award-winning ENERGY-10™ software has just been released by the Sustainable Buildings Industry Council (SBIC). Version 1.7 is a powerful simulation tool that can assist building owners in making informed decisions about energy performance. It can be used on existing buildings as well as throughout the design process, and is recommended during the early phases of design (when sustainable building methods and materials can be integrated at lowest cost). At a project’s outset, the simulation takes less than 1 hour and can result in energy savings of between 40 and 70 percent.
According to the SBIC, the software helps identify the best combination of several energy-efficient strategies, including daylight controls, passive solar heating, and high-efficiency mechanical systems to name a few. Additionally, the new version offers features such as:
New window construction dialog, which makes using National Fenestration Rating Council window data easier to use.
New HVAC system types, expanded to include “variable air volume (VAV) DX cooling” and “fixed COP heat pump.”
New international weather data.
3-D bar graphs.
This software helps make energy-efficient design decisions quickly and accurately; quantify the actual dollar savings achieved through informed siting, materials selection, and integrated energy-efficient design; illustrate the impact of design decisions on first cost, operating costs, and pollution prevention; obtain energy credits under the LEED program; and has multiple levels of technical support.
