ECOTECT AND
DESIGNBUILDER SOFTWARE
CLIMATE AND ARCHITECTURE - II
INTRODUCTION TO
ECOTECT
• Ecotect is a building performance analysis software tool.
• It helps architects and engineers design energy-efficient,
comfortable, and sustainable buildings.
• Used in climate-responsive architecture and
environmental analysis.
• Developed by Autodesk as Autodesk Ecotect Analysis.
• It is a conceptual design analysis tool.
• Used in early stages of design to understand:
1. Sun path
[Link]
[Link]
[Link] performance
KEY FEATURES OF
ECOTECT
1. Solar Radiation Analysis
1. Ecotect analyzes how much solar energy (radiation) falls on building
surfaces.
[Link] uses geographical location and climate data to simulate sun
movement.
[Link] identify:
• High heat gain zones
• Optimal orientation of building
1. Useful for designing:
• Shading devices (louvers, overhangs)
• Solar panel placement
2. Shadow and Shading Analysis
1. Simulates shadow patterns throughout the day and year.
[Link] how surrounding buildings or elements affect sunlight.
[Link] in:
• Preventing overheating
• Designing effective shading systems
1. Can analyze self-shading and mutual shading in urban context.
KEY FEATURES OF
ECOTECT
3. Daylighting Analysis
1. Evaluates natural light distribution inside spaces.
[Link]:
• Daylight factor
• Light intensity (lux levels)
1. Helps optimize:
• Window size and placement
• Skylights and openings
1. Reduces dependence on artificial lighting.
4. Thermal Performance Analysis
1. Estimates heat gain and heat loss in a building.
[Link]:
• Material properties
• Climate conditions
• Building orientation
1. Helps evaluate:
• Indoor temperature variations
• Effectiveness of insulation
KEY FEATURES OF
ECOTECT
5. Natural Ventilation Analysis
1. Analyzes airflow patterns within and around the building.
[Link] on:
• Wind direction and speed
• Opening sizes and positions
1. Helps design:
• Cross ventilation
• Stack effect systems
6. Energy Consumption Estimation
1. Provides an estimate of energy usage for heating,
cooling, and lighting.
[Link] compare different design options.
[Link] in selecting:
• Efficient materials
• Passive strategies
INTRODUCTION TO
DESIGNBUILDER
DesignBuilder is a leading, user-friendly building performance
simulation software developed by DesignBuilder Software Ltd
(UK). It serves as an intuitive graphical interface to the powerful
EnergyPlus simulation engine (the global standard for detailed
building energy modeling), along with integrations like Radiance
for daylighting and CFD for airflow.
Mainly used for :-
1. Energy consumption and carbon emissions analysis
[Link] comfort and overheating assessment
[Link] and visual comfort simulation
[Link] system modeling and load sizing
[Link] certification support (LEED, GRIHA, BREEAM,
ASHRAE 90.1, Part-L/Part-O)
[Link] and parametric studies
7. CFD (airflow and ventilation) analysis
KEY FEATURES OF
DESIGNBUILDER
1. Thermal (Energy) Simulation
1. DesignBuilder performs dynamic thermal simulations using EnergyPlus.
[Link] calculates heating and cooling loads over time (hourly/annual).
[Link]:
• Climate data
• Building materials
• Internal heat gains (people, equipment)
1. Provides outputs like:
• Energy consumption graphs
• Temperature variation charts
2. HVAC System Modeling
1. Allows detailed modeling of Heating, Ventilation, and Air
Conditioning (HVAC) systems.
[Link] can simulate:
• Air conditioning systems
• Heating systems
• Ventilation strategies
1. Evaluates:
• System efficiency
• Energy consumption
• Indoor comfort levels
KEY FEATURES OF
DESIGNBUILDER
3. Daylighting and Lighting Analysis
1. Analyzes both natural and artificial lighting.
[Link]:
• Illuminance levels (lux)
• Daylight autonomy
• Glare index
1. Helps in:
• Designing window placement
• Reducing artificial lighting needs
4. CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) Analysis
1. Simulates airflow patterns and temperature distribution
inside and outside buildings.
[Link]:
• Air movement
• Pressure differences
• Ventilation effectiveness
1. Useful for:
• Natural ventilation design
• Indoor air quality improvement
KEY FEATURES OF
DESIGNBUILDER
5. Carbon Emissions and Environmental Impact Analysis
1. Calculates carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions based on energy use.
[Link] assess:
• Environmental impact of design
• Sustainability performance
1. Supports compliance with:
• Green building standards (LEED, GRIHA)
7. Detailed Building Modeling
1. Allows creation of accurate 3D building models.
[Link]:
• Zoning (different spaces)
• Material layers (walls, roofs, glazing)
1. Enables precise simulation of real-world building behavior.
QUICK FEATURE ECOTECT DESIGNBUILDER
COMPARISON Stage Early conceptual
Full design to
certification
EnergyPlus (most
Engine Built-in
accurate)
Detailed but faster
Speed Very fast visuals
workflow
Climate Solar, shadows, Full dynamic + CFD
Analysis basic thermal + optimisation
Discontinued in Actively updated
Current Status
2015 (v2025.1)
Accurate results &
Perks Quick ideas
reports
THANK YOU
Submitted To :- Ar. Jasmeen Kaur Submitted By :- Harshit (2437869)
Harpreet (2437868)