Whole building 3d modeling

In response to current global environmental challenges, city governments worldwide have developed ambitious long term greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets.  These city governments and their partners are increasingly focusing on the development of urban energy efficiency strategies for buildings to help meet reduction targets. Similarly, energy utilities and suppliers need to develop long term supply strategies that are cost efficient. To support these diverse needs, a new generation of urban building energy models are currently being developed for the estimation of citywide hourly energy demand loads down to the individual building level.
 
Limbach Engineering & Design Services now uses advanced 3D Whole Building Energy Modeling software to assist building owners, architects, engineers, regulatory and rating agencies. The software drives projects toward energy sustainability and efficiency.  The ability to perform 3D modeling gives the project team the opportunity to analyze not just equipment efficiency but also to provide an in-depth analysis of building performance. Uncovering hidden cost, energy and carbon savings, LEDS technology and consulting services support smarter, energy-efficient choices across new and refurbished structures. Compatible with our BIM/Revit models, Whole Building Energy Modeling seamlessly provides a complete visualization of the impact derived from conceptual architectural designs.

Some key capabilities of Whole Building Modeling include:

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Solar Insolation Studies.  These studies provide the ability to model external obstructions plus self and adjacent building shading, assuring that the building utilizes key environmental surroundings.  ​​This data is invaluable for solar panel design, landscape modeling, glazing placement, even allowing for the integration of passive solar designs into a project.

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​Daylighting Analysis. This analysis helps both architects and engineers to better design the building as well as select equipment.  Whole Building Modeling utilizes 3D models to help us understand detailed interior spatial lighting.  In conjunction with our Solar Analysis data, it can calculate lighting levels, daylight factors and glare from artificial lighting by generating 3D-geometric models of the space.

​Flow Visualization. This model allows LEDS to validate the effectiveness of a building system. One such advanced flow study is a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model.  CFD is an excellent tool for ‘what-if’ analysis in regards to airflow and heat transfer within and around a building.  Effects from climate, internal energy sources and HVAC systems can all be accounted for. Traditional, experimental flow studies have limitations, as measurement sensors placed within a space can affect results.  A CFD model has no such limitations, allowing a variety of scenarios to be accurately tested.

Life Cycle Cost Analysis. This type of analysis looks at the environmental properties of materials for construction. Utilizing that data, a user can make material or construction decisions and tradeoffs from early conceptual design right through to detailed design stages.


​Energy Modeling plays an important role in driving down costs and analyzing energy efficient options early in the design phase. In addition to the above capabilities, Whole Building Modeling also provides Natural Ventilation Analysis, Regulatory Compliance Analysis, and Net Zero Building Analysis, plus many more technical services. Whole Building Modeling is another indispensable tool in the LEDS toolbox.