Washington, DC, March 28, 2006--The Sustainable Buildings Industry Council (SBIC) released Version 1.8 of the award-winning Energy-10 software.
For the first time, building designers will have an easy-to-use tool to help them integrate photovoltaics and solar domestic hot water in an energy efficient building. These solar features were added to Energy-10 Version 1.8 at the urging of the solar industry. Version 1.8 offers many new features including:
•Photovoltaic module that provides the ability to model and simulate the performance of a PV system that is either stand-alone or integrated with the building.
•Solar Domestic Hot Water module provides a new solar domestic/service hot water modeling capability.
•A new library is included defining constructions (wall, roof, window, etc.) as spelled out in Ashrae 90.1-2004.
Thousands of building designers and many more thousands of students currently use Energy-10 to make informed decisions about the energy performance of the smaller commercial buildings and homes they are designing. The software helps identify the best combination of nearly a dozen energy-efficient strategies, including daylighting controls, passive solar heating, and high-efficiency mechanical systems to name a few. It usually takes less than an hour at a project’s outset to produce a simulation, but that investment of time can result in energy savings of 40-70%.
Norm Weaver, a professional engineer from Steamboat Springs, CO, involved in the development of Energy-10 since 1999, is excited about this release, “Among the many updates in Version 1.8, the biggest feature is the introduction of integrated PV and Solar DHW modeling. With the growing interest in "net zero" buildings, Energy-10 can be used to rapidly close-in on workable alternatives.”
A few unique advantages of Energy-10 are that it:
•Allows you to integrate and assess dozens of energy-efficient design decisions quickly and accurately.
•Quantifies and clearly illustrates the impact of design decisions on first cost, operating costs, and pollution prevention.
•Helps you obtain energy credits under the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED™ program. Output reports for “daylighting” and “total building energy use” facilitate the LEED™ submission process.
•Has multiple levels of technical support, including free or hourly direct support for professionals seeking assistance with beginning through advanced simulations, and SBIC’s free ENERGY-10 TM NetForum, which allows users to discuss the program and share ideas. Visit www.Energy-10.com for details.
Energy-10 Version 1.8 is now available for purchase online ($75 students, $375 professionals) through SBIC at: www.Energy-10.com. Upgrades, academic and professional site licenses are also available for purchase on-line.
The Midwest Research Institute (MRI) developed ENERGY-10 Version 1.8 and holds certain intellectual property rights including trademark and copyright rights related to Energy-10 Version 1.8 software that it has licensed to SBIC for the purpose of commercialization. SBIC is an independent, nonprofit organization whose mission is to advance the design, affordability, energy performance, and environmental soundness of America's buildings. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is the U.S. Department of Energy's primary national laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development. NREL is operated for DOE by MRI and Battelle.
