Honeybee supports detailed daylighting and thermodynamic modeling that tends to be most relevant during mid and later stages of design. Specifically, it creates, runs and visualizes the results of daylight simulations using Radiance, energy models using EnergyPlus/OpenStudio, and heat flow through construction details using Berkeley Lab Therm/Window. It accomplishes this by linking these simulation engines to CAD and visual scripting interfaces such as Grasshopper/Rhino and Dynamo/Revit plugins. It also serves as an object-oriented Application Programming Interface (API) for these engines. For this reason, Honeybee is one of the most comprehensive plugins presently available for environmental design.
Honeybee allows full customization of point-in-time illuminance simulations.
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Claculate all annual daylight metrics (DA, cDA, UDLI, ASE) and parse results down to the hour.
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Perform detailed image-based glare studies to obtain metrics such as Daylight Glare Propability (DGP).
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Run high-accuracy solar radiation studies that account for light reflection and can model concentration of solar energy from parabolic mirror surfaces.
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Run illuminance simulations with IES light fixture definitions to ensure that electric lights are properly sized for given tasks. This can also be used to estimate outdoor light pollution.
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Perform detailed annual energy simulations to calculate End Use Intensity (EUI) and estimate annual utility bills.
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Calculate peaks loads and size HVAC systems. Quantify the impact of strategies on the size/cost of HVAC systems.
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Understand your model results down to the detail by coloring zones and zone surfaces with results.
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Don't just see WHAT your energy use is. Understand WHY it exists and what is driving it with energy balance graphics.
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Use energy model results to spatially map thermal comfort, plot results on psychrometric/adaptive comfort charts, and perform a variety of other thermal comfort visualizations.
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Use energy model results to spatially map both indoor and outdoor microclimates.
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Model a wide range of passive strategies including natural ventilation, earth tubes, evaporative cooling towers, high thermal mass spaces, ventilation chimneys, vented double-skin facades, and virtually any shading geometry.
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Model a wide range of HVAC strategies including radiant slabs, chilled beams, VRFs, ground sourced systems, heat recovery, custom ventilation schedules, and optimize all of your supply temperatures with parametric studies. If you still find this list limited, you can model virtually any HVAC system using Honeybee's support for OpenStudio measures.
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Calculate the region where exterior shade is most desirable to decrease cooling energy use while not affecting heating energy use.
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Model the heat flow through construction details and calculate assembly U-values of windows with different framing details.
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Visualize line of dewpoint in construction details and assess condensation risk from energy model surface temperature results.
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