For low-density housing, our studio produces designs/drawings with multiple design options for the same house/unit. When submitting to the city/municipality for permit, we need to provide the window to wall ratio calculations. These calculations are crucial to demonstrate that the energy efficiency design of a house complies with the building code using the prescriptive method. This calculation in Ontario is governed under two main programs. First being, EEDS (Energy Efficient Design Summary) and second being, Energy Star. The objective of both these programs is to ensure all new homes being constructed meet the energy code according to SB-12 Package of the Ontario building code.
Currently, Revit does not allow creating a schedule of walls and hosted opening elements (window & door) together. Due to this, the primary challenge we faced was the manual, labor-intensive process of calculating wall and opening ratios for EEDS submissions. In Revit, team members had to manually create filled regions on each elevation to calculate areas, then input these values into tables for calculation.
This process is not only time consuming and labour intensive, but also introduced a high potential for human error, especially given the number of design options we manage. As a result, maintaining accuracy and efficiency while meeting regulatory requirements became a significant hurdle.
The developed solution automates EEDS (Energy Efficiency Design Summary) calculations by integrating directly with the building model, addressing key challenges like manual data entry and potential errors. Team members can select walls and openings (doors, windows) directly from the model, and the script automatically calculates the wall-to-opening ratio. This eliminates the need for manual calculations, ensuring accurate and consistent results.
The script then inputs these values into a pre-designed Revit table (family), streamlining the workflow by keeping all data within the Revit environment. This integration reduces the need for external spreadsheets or documents, making collaboration smoother and reducing the chances of errors.
By automating data collection and input, the solution significantly speeds up the EEDS calculation process, allowing teams to meet energy efficiency requirements faster. It also ensures compliance with the Ontario Building Code by providing accurate and up-to-date data, reducing the risk of costly revisions due to non-compliance.
Overall, this solution improves efficiency, accuracy, and compliance while reducing manual labor and errors, addressing the core challenges of traditional EEDS calculations.
