One of the most time-consuming aspects of Building Performance Analysis is the setup. This process involves re-creating building geometry as well as setting the environmental conditions both inside and outside of the building.

IES’s Virtual Environment is an integrated performance modeling package that models energy use, daylighting, computational fluid dynamics (CFD), and other attributes based on a single shared model of the building.

With Revit MEP, a great deal of effort has been removed with the gbXML export tool and direct link to the IES <Virtual Environment> (<VE>) analysis platform within Revit MEP.

The <VE> Toolkits enable designers to perform common sustainable design analysis with a single button click:

	Heating and Cooling Loads Calculation lets architects es- tablish building effects during peak energy usage. It also al-lows mechanical engineers to establish chiller/boiler sizes.
	Dynamic Thermal Simulation establishes annual energy/ carbon dioxide usage, peak internal climactic and internal thermal comfort conditions.
	Daylighting Assessment establishes daylight illuminance levels throughout the building.
	Sun view movies analyse winter, summer and transitional polar penetration.
	LEED Daylighting Credit Report produces a LEED NC 2.2 daylighting credit 8.1 report analysing all regularly habited rooms within the building.

The IES <VE> Toolkits are ideal for the earliest stages of the design process in Revit MEP.

Beyond the load calculation tool that is provided with Revit MEP, users can purchase the Virtual Environment Toolkit, which includes the ability to perform more sophisticated analyses.

A variety of Toolkits offer different analysis options. They automatically run the chosen analysis and generate a report within minutes at the click of a few buttons.

The following <Virtual Environment> Toolkits are available for purchase:

• Sustainability Toolkit
• LEED Toolkit
• BREEAM Toolkit
• Greenstar Toolkits

The full <Virtual Environment> provides the detailed high-end analysis that is required at the final stages of the design process.

This integrated suite allows you to evaluate HVAC performance, detailed solar shading, natural ventilation, occupant evacuation, rights to light/sunlight, internal and external airflows and code and regulation compliance.

The following Full <Virtual Environments> are available for purchase:

• <VE> Model Builder
• <VE> Thermal and Compliance
• <VE> Lighting and Daylighting
• <VE> Mechanical and Electrical
• <VE> Solar
• <VE> Value and Cost
• <VE> CFD
• <VE> Evacuation