Nemetschek Allplan software solutions are stepping up to meet current trends in ecological design and construction. In addition to the European Commission's program for improving energy efficiency and the use of renewable resources, called Green Building, there is also increasing demand from investors and private clients for sustainable construction in order to meet current concerns regarding climate change, CO2 emissions and ever scarcer raw materials.
"The world is entering a new age of design and construction. Increasing costs for raw materials and climate change are forcing us to rethink our approach. It is therefore vital to consider the entire building lifecycle from the earliest stages of building design", says Peter Mehlstäubler, Managing Director of Nemetschek Allplan GmbH.
Energy-saving and resource-saving design and construction processes must therefore be included more consistently in the design process for public and private buildings. For this reason, Nemetschek Allplan and ESS-EDV Software Service are currently developing solutions with which architects and engineers can determine buildings' energy requirements and create energy performance certificates. The Allplan 3D planning and design software reaches a new level of Building Information Modeling (BIM). As well as quantities and costs, users can also derive data for evaluating energy efficiency from the virtual building model.
Nemetschek Allplan is also working with Weto on a solution that combines solid construction with timber construction. Wood is being used increasingly due to its low carbon footprint and has increased market share in recent years. The integrated timber construction solution from Nemetschek and Weto is intended to help users to design their projects to meet environmental criteria cost effectively and to high quality levels. The first joint solutions with Weto AG will be available from early 2009.
With their knowledge of materials and construction techniques, engineers also play an important role in developing intelligent energy designs for buildings of all sizes. With clever design decisions, they can apply raw materials much more sparingly, improving sustainable usage of buildings and reducing environmental impact. These requirements need consistent solutions that include and connect as many partners in the process as possible. With Allplan Engineering, users can transfer individual components to the Frilo structural analysis software or even a complete building model to the Scia Engineer structural analysis software. This enables them to optimize building dimensions and reinforcements. This is an important precondition for reducing the amount of building materials used and determining which materials are most environmentally friendly.
About Weto AG
Weto AG, based in Tittling in Bavaria, Germany has been a well-known provider of timber construction software since 1992. 3D-CAD/CAM programs based on the latest technology enable full roof truss and timber construction processing, providing a compact solution for beamwork, timber frame, post-and-lintel, half timber and block house construction. Its strengths lie both in three-dimensional work, as well as in perfect handling due to its user-friendly design. Weto software is currently used in around 8,000 installations in 8 languages in 35 countries. The Weto Group includes Weto AG, Weto A-Systems GmbH, Weto Ingenieurbüro für Hoch- und Tiefbau GmbH and Weto Nord GmbH&Co.KG. For further information, see www.weto.de.
About ESS-EDV Software
ESS-EDV Software Service based in Austrian Villach develops CAD-/CAE-Software for heating, air condition, ventilation, plumbing and electrical as well as energy certificate and energy simulation and has been a strategic development partner of Nemetschek since 1998. For further information, see www.klima2000.co.at.