Architype Ecobuild and the Launch of Rapier ? the new Cost Energy and Carbon Lifecycle Analysis Tool ? Written by Ben Humphries

So Ecobuild came and went.? We were delighted that ?fabric first? was more on people?s lips than renewables and all left feeling like Passivhaus has entered the mainstream.? We had a great response to Jono?s talks about our newly certified Passivhaus schools, Elrond?s talk about the benefits of BIM in the design of Passivhaus buildings and Ben?s presentation of our recent OJEU design competition for a new exemplary low carbon building for University of East Anglia.

Ecobuild was also the forum for us to disseminate our 2 year TSB funded RAPIER project and we were delighted with a full-house evening session to hear more about this exciting venture.? We received a fantastic response from architects, engineers, cost consultants, developers and investors, who were all excited about our software tool.

Developed by a consortium of four companies ? Architype, BDSP, Greenspace Live and Sweett Group, RAPIER rapidly produces cost, energy, and carbon lifecycle analysis of new build projects from early concept stage.? Capturing the combined expertise of four industry leaders in sustainability, the tool provides immediate results, graphic clarity, depth of information and ease of use ? you can use it on an iPad or even a smartphone!

Much like Alan Turing's enigma code breaker machine, RAPIER rapidly decodes and solves the once complex relationship of lifecycle carbon and cost. Rapier solves lifecycle carbon to the PAS 2050 standard using Architype's in-house designed lifecycle embodied carbon tool and BDSP's Fast Solving Energy Modeller Suntool for operational energy. This process is harmonised with lifecycle cost analysis using Sweett Group's tool, designed to ISO 15686-5.

Our plan this month is to complete the TSB funded period of development and then start a cycle of releases, with an Alpha launch at the end of June, a beta launch at the end of September and a full commercial release at the end of 2012.? Using gbXML as its BIM language, each release will include more and more functionality. By the commercial release we hope to have full interoperability with Sketchup and also a retrofit plug-in.? Upstream BIM tool interoperability will follow.

The TSB were delighted with how far we?ve come with the application, and many in the audience told us that this was the tool that they have been waiting for.? We?re really pleased that we?ve already had a number of SMEs, a research institute and a top five contractor sign up to be alpha testers.

We believe that RAPIER has the potential to revolutionise low impact building design and invite you to join the ride.

If you would like any further information about our tool please

Source: http://www.architype.co.uk/Architype_Ecobuild_and_the_Launch_of_Rapier__the_new_Cost_Energy_and_Carbon_Lifecycle_Analysis_Tool__Written_by_Ben_Humphries--post--24.html

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