Concept to Completion Design Tools for Sustainable Buildings

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The project aims to create an easy to use integrated building design software tool for SME’s to encourage the development of low impact buildings in the UK.The toolset includes a BIM system whereby a house can be designed in the system’s CAD module and feedback given on financial and carbon costs, and sustainability indicators such as u-values, SAP, embodied/operational CO2 and Code for Sustainable Homes. Designs can be created using either the software’s own material assemblies, or whole house templates, both of which can be modified, for the quick and easy creation of designs to specific ratings. The software contains an extensive on-line database of construction products, created as part of the project, comprising information on cost, physical properties, usage and wastage factors, embodied CO2.Outputs include indicative SAP ratings, SWMP estimates, 2d drawings, 3d visualisations, customer quotes, materials schedules, SMM7/NRM bill of quantities. Customisable charts provide comparisons of performance against benchmarks and best practice, or against other designs in the system.The software facilitates users’ exploration of design options, comparing the affect of design variations on both cost and sustainability indicators, thus encouraging innovation, sensitivity analysis of designs, and the consideration of different construction materials and methods prior to build.