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:
General set-up of building and ‘Standard’ you want to compy with (BREEAM and others also included here)
Project description, architect etc. and altitude (important)
Profile and internal required temperature (again v. important)
Usage requirements from electrical items etc… Different input here to PHPP but very similar data (PHPP shown for comparison below)
Building Envelope shows how each element is collected for the calculations
This is why ‘Spaces’ are important to use
The exposure & airtightness settings; again shown in comparison to PHPP below
MHVR settings
Heating system settings
You can also include for cooling
And hot water requirements
You can then analyse the results
With an over view analysis and each building element
Note the Pass for Passivhaus heat load in the analysis and all the other detailed compliance checks
Note also the option to check the Heat Energy Demand complaince for Passivhaus
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:
Exported results in Excel
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