Rapid Energy Modeling

Buildings are key to achieving climate stabilization, representing roughly 40% of global energy consumption and 25% of global carbon emissions. In addition, energy efficiency retrofits represent a massive latent market, projected to reach an estimated worth of $400 billion by 2030 in the U.S. alone. To respond to these twin environmental and market demands at scale and speed, the building industry needs to respond quickly and cost-effectively.

To this end, Autodesk developed a workflow using Autodesk software* for rapid energy modeling that leapfrogs traditional energy modeling and building audit techniques. Rapid energy modeling is a streamlined process that involves moving rapidly—and with minimal data—from image capture of building exteriors through simplified simulation to building energy analysis. To study the workflow, we applied it to 6 of our own facilities across 3 continents.  

Our research suggests that rapid energy modeling enables building energy assessments with a smaller budget and shorter time frame, and can thereby help increase the number of existing buildings that undergo assessment and energy upgrades. We expect property owners and managers, home buyers, tenants and landlords, designers and architects, auditors, and energy consultants to benefit from such a workflow.

We concluded that rapid energy modeling, in only a few hours and with minimal data, can be a:

• Shortcut to estimating actual energy performance
• Screen for high potential buildings for renewable energy generation and carbon reductions
• Stepping stone between basic building benchmarking and detailed audits
• Tool to assess and communicate return on investments for priority buildings
• Fuel for creation of high-quality green jobs with highly transferable skills

More Resources

Read the Rapid Energy Modeling full report or the executive summary for detailed information on this new workflow.

	Rapid Energy Modeling Full Report (pdf - 12600Kb)
	Rapid Energy Modeling Executive Summary (pdf - 1623Kb)

View the presentation Rapid Energy Modeling of Existing Buildings Using Digital Pictures, presented at the Greenbuild 2009 conference.

*The workflow used in this study included:

• Autodesk® ImageModeler™** software to build a 3D wireframe from digital pictures of building exteriors
• Autodesk® Revit® Architecture software to create a simple building information model
• Autodesk® Green Building Studio® web service to conduct whole building analysis

**Autodesk ImageModeler is available to customers who purchase a license of the following Autodesk software products with Autodesk® Subscription: Autodesk® 3ds Max® 2010, Autodesk® 3ds Max® Design 2010, Autodesk® Maya® 2010, Autodesk Revit Architecture, Autodesk® Retovit® Structure, Autodesk® Revit® MEP, AutoCAD® Map 3D, AutoCAD® Civil 3D®, AutoCAD® Architecture, AutoCAD® MEP.