Autodesk Revit Tools Help the Construction Industry Meet the 2030 Challenge

11. Autodesk Revit Tools

With an Energy Efficiency Analysis that provides helpful insight, Revit can simplify the construction process. 

INTRODUCTION

When it comes to keeping our environment clean, everyone has a role and can make a diference. Every little bit helps, so when individuals change their lifestyle and reduce their use of carbon, the state of the environment can be improved.

Changes by the construction industry, particularly the urban built environment, would make a significant impact on carbon use and benefit our environment. Architecture 2030, a nonprofit that was established in response to concerns over climate change, says “75% of annual global GHG [greenhouse gas] emissions” are a result of the urban built environment, where “buildings alone account for 39%.” To combat this environmental hazard, the nonprofit issued the 2030 Challenge.

The challenge is meant to spur the building community to make all new buildings and major renovations carbon neutral by 2030.

Architecture 2030 defines carbon neutral as “using no fossil fuel GHG emitting energy to operate.”

The construction world has taken this challenge to heart and is striving to meet the challenge. For many, the challenge may seem daunting as it requires significant changes to the status quo. However, with technology, innovations, and just increasing awareness a carbon neutral building can be designed.

Revit enables measurement of the carbon footprint of a building design early in the process. This tool is included at no charge in Revit’s features and is simple to use.

Utilizing Revit’s tools can aid the construction industry as they strive to meet the 2030 Challenge of creating buildings that are carbon neutral.

WHAT IS IT?

As the construction industry tries to meet the 2030 Challenge, they need to run an energy efficiency analysis of a building’s design. Revit tools Green Building Studio (GBS) and Insight enable an energy efficiency analysis to be done easily and quickly.

While both GBS and Insight are web portals, GBS is the engine that runs Insight. With robust BIM integration, Insight allows users to visualize, interact with, specify, and document building performance data.

GBS and Insight enable users to perform an energy efficiency analysis early in the design process. Informed decisions made in the schematic design phase have a monumental impact on a building’s energy efficiency and can be a boon to contractors and subcontractors.

Aptly named, Insight can help users make design decisions that lead them to construct carbon-neutral buildings.

Kanisco, a provider of CAD and BIM solutions, says of Insight, it “offers a unique Energy Cost Range that communicates the range of potential performance for each project. Use the range to guide design decisions and set reasonable and achievable performance goals.”

Insight gives users the ability to visualize and interact with key performance indicators, benchmarks, factors, ranges, and specifications with real time cause-and-effect feedback. By looking at an energy analysis from a conceptual point of view and receive relevant and valuable feedback, users can make informed decisions.

The feedback includes energy analysis, solar analysis, light analysis, and heating and cooling loads. The software also generates insight as it automatically varies building design inputs, resulting in maximum and minimum possible annual energy costs with approximately +/– 10% accuracy. Inputs can then be adjusted, for example, on glazing properties, and instant feedback on performance impacts can be evaluated.