Integrated Environmental Solutions (IES) has announced the creation of a Climate Energy Index system for its Virtual Environment software.
This new index provides designers with a tool to assess the character of any climate and the potential it has to affect building energy usage. It allows designers and architects to analyse climate data for any location during concept design stages in a building independent manner, helping to identify the theoretical energy needed to maintain occupant comfort.
The IES Climate Energy Index assists in both the masterplanning and concept design stages to understand what passive and low-carbon design strategies make the most sense. Building simulation results can also be compared with this Index to give a measure of design performance against potential given the climate.
The Index is a measure of the potential energy required to maintain air quality within a comfortable occupant zone, and is split into heating, cooling, humidification and dehumidification requirements. It can be applied generically for 24 hour use or to suit the occupancy patterns of a building.
