Integrated Environmental Solutions (IES), a provider of integrated performance analysis software for sustainable building design, was ranked as the most "architect friendly" building performance simulation software in a recent academic survey.
The survey lists the IES <Virtual Environment> as number one out of ten different simulation tools evaluated. It was ranked first by 85 per cent of respondents.
The study sampled the US architect community that had a prior interest in green building and energy performance, surveying architects, designers, LEED APs, architecture educators and students of their views on the 10 major tools in use within the USA market.
It compared a variety of different elements including flexibility of use and navigation, provision of quick energy analysis to support decision making, graphical and 3D representation and results and input and accuracy and ability to simulate complex cases.
According to the study paper "The strength of IES VE lays in its user friendly graphical user interface and its template driven approach. The tool offers default values and templates that facilitate quick entry and supports a progression in thermal performance analysis from getting quick answers in early design to detailed analysis in later design phases."
