Easy Building-Integrated Energy Modeling of Innovative HVAC Systems

BOSTON — (BUSINESS WIRE) — July 12, 2011 — Integrated Environmental Solutions (IES), a provider of integrated performance analysis software and consulting services for sustainable building design, today announced an updated version of its VE-Pro module ApacheHVAC. As part of the VE 6.4.0.5 thermal systems package, the new ApacheHVAC incorporates additional HVAC equipment modeling features and an extensive library of pre-defined systems. These add to the already extensive range of standard, high performance and other non-conventional HVAC systems that can be simulated by ApacheHVAC with minimal effort and without workarounds.

The new library of predefined systems allows users to quickly import and customize prototype HVAC systems. The predefined systems range from basic VAV to mixed mode, UFAD and DOAS with active chilled beams. This feature will save significant time and provide greater productivity by facilitating autosizing and modeling. Alternatively, users can create HVAC systems from scratch using the flexible schematic component-based approach at the core of ApacheHVAC.

New ApacheHVAC equipment modeling features in VE 6.4.0.5 include:

• Enhanced hot-water loop modeling
• Hot-water heating equipment sequencing
• Advanced hot-water heating coil model
• Solar hot water model on hot water loop
• Improved Air-Water, Air-Source, and Air-to-Air Heat Pump interfaces and configurations
• Integrated Water Side Economizer (IWSE) with configuration options
• Dry Fluid Cooler model on condenser water loop
• Water-to-Water heat-exchanger model
• Modeling of intentionally undersized heating and cooling plant equipment on hot- and chilled-water loops

ApacheHVAC allows users to simulate for energy analysis a wide range of HVAC systems using building-integrated thermal modeling. It is exceptionally well suited for mixed-mode and building-integrated systems, including stack-effect double-skin facades, thermal labyrinths and earth-tubes. Many other cutting-edge, low-energy systems can also be modeled, including Dedicated Outside Air Systems (DOAS), natural & demand-controlled ventilation, active/passive chilled beams, radiant heating/cooling panels, underfloor air distribution (UFAD) and hollow-core slab systems.

The IES ApacheHVAC module accounts for all gains/losses, heat transfer, and thermal mass in the building, alongside direct interaction with building loads, bulk airflow/natural ventilation and HVAC systems. Time steps down to 1 minute can be defined to capture detailed dynamics.

“The new features in this release are part of a series of recent major developments to ApacheHVAC designed to making modeling energy-efficient systems quick and easy,” said Don McLean, Founder and CEO of IES. “Sitting alongside existing features such as multiplexing and integration with our VE-Navigator for ASHRAE 90.1 tool, they quickly allow users to dynamically simulate and review a buildings’ HVAC as part of an integrated design process.”

VE 6.4.0.5 also introduces a new tabular editing feature for use in associated VE-Pro modules ApacheSim, ApacheLoads and ApacheCalc. This new feature allows users to dynamically add, edit and review Room Thermal Data, as well as import and export this to Excel in order to easily share and review with clients and colleagues. It will save users significant time during model data set-up and enable tighter control on quality.

VE 6.4.0.5 is available now. For more information, visit www.iesve.com/software/download.

About IES

Integrated Environmental Solutions (IES) is an innovative company at the forefront of the use and development of powerful software simulation tools which help architects, engineers, facilities managers, and all those involved in the development and management of buildings design and maintain truly sustainable properties. IES’ mission is to advance the sustainability of the world’s buildings through the use of integrated performance modelling technology and conserve natural resources for future generations. IES was established in June 1994 and is headquartered in Glasgow, Scotland, with offices in Dublin, Republic of Ireland; Boston and San Francisco, USA; Vancouver, Canada; Pune, India; and Melbourne, Australia. IES Consulting is the specialist international environmental performance consultancy division of IES, its expert team of consultants include some of the most experienced LEED, BREEAM, Green Star Accredited Professionals and UK Accredited Energy Assessors. IES’ services and products aid significantly in the provision of healthier and more energy efficient built environments.

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