Energy Modeling

  • The Grasshopper definition facilitates automatic window placement and displays a legend alongside the analysis.

    The Grasshopper definition facilitates automatic window placement and displays a legend alongside the analysis.

  • The simplified interface (right) provides the necessary controls to tune the analysis. Layers in the Rhino document translate automatically into different building programs.

    The simplified interface (right) provides the necessary controls to tune the analysis. Layers in the Rhino document translate automatically into different building programs.

  • The full definition requires no interaction but is driven by the simplified interface.

    The full definition requires no interaction but is driven by the simplified interface.

The energy modeling plugins Ladybug and Honeybee use EnergyPlus, Radiance, Daysim and OpenStudio (Industry standard, vetted energy modeling software) to calculate and present energy and daylighting simulations within Grasshopper. However the plugins require a detailed knowledge of the energy simulation process in order to properly set up a definition. The goal of this project, carried out for the Design Applications group at Perkins+Will, was to build an interface in Grasshopper which simplifies the designer’s interaction with Ladybug and Honeybee. The interface presents the critical parameters and controls in a clear format while hiding the complicated inner workings which tie the four energy simulation programs together. The simplified workflow allows a designer to immediately see the effect on energy use of changes to massing, program, orientation, glazing ratio, and assembly materials.