VectorWorks Energos – Passivhaus
Plenty of #’s in this title!
I’ve been using the new Energos energy analysis commands in Vectorworks for a little while now and thought I’d share my thoughts. I’m probably one of a select number who are creating Passivhaus designs as a Registered and Chartered Architect (with the RIAI and RIBA), who is also a Certified European Passive House Consultant / Designer and has experience (in depth) of using Vectorworks. So my ears immediately pricked up when I saw that Vectorworks were implementing energy analysis which included Passivhaus compliance checks.
The VectorWorks Energos commands are in competition against Design PH (for SketchUp – which I’ll review & compare at a later date.
So how does it work?
1. You need to start with ‘Spaces’ using the ‘Space’ Tool:
2. Energos requires a Heliodon to orientate the building correctly and give its location:
3. Then you create your walls, roof, slabs etc…as you would normally in 3D and ensure these are included in the Energos calculations:
4. You then use the Energos Project settings to set all the parameters. Below are annotated screen grabs for these:
You can then add a label of results to the drawing:
And then export the results (csv ot txt) to other applications; where you could copy/paste them into PHPP:
This is Part 1 of this subject, Part 2 will give an opinion and a comparison to Sketchup DesignPH – so watch this space…
Comments welcome…
Hi there
Good of you to write this stuff.
I am an architect based in Cambridge and have only just completed the Passivhaus course in london and was looking forward to getting myself dirty with Phpp and designph when I remembered that Energos calcs are also based on Passivhaus.
Most of my works is done in sketchup, including details, save for larger projects where I have to use Vectorworks.
Question for you, is the Energos data integration with Phpp better than designPH? As I understand, naming of surfaces and other attributes is not exported by the latter, making it awkward to identify individual elements in Phpp.
Many thanks,
Sabin
Hi Sabin
Many thanks; designPH has better integration directly with PHPP
Mark