Energy Analysis

Free, open-source EnergyPlus front-end from NREL with a SketchUp plugin, a Measures library for parametric analysis, and Radiance daylighting support.

C1 5/5 reflects the free license, C2 4/5 reflects CLI plus Python, Ruby, C++, and C# bindings, and C4 5/5 reflects OSM, IDF, gbXML, IFC, and epJSON workflows. Integrations include EnergyPlus, Revit, Radiance, URBANopt, and Rhino/Grasshopper via Honeybee; firm-size fit is solo to small-team.

SaaS whole-life-carbon data platform used by architecture and engineering firms to run rapid embodied, operational, refrigerant, and landscape carbon (LCA) assessments from concept through construction, benchmark portfolios, source low-carbon products via EPDs, and auto-generate AIA 2030 DDx compliance reports. Grew out of EHDD's in-house carbon tool (EPIC) and is separately licensed to power Autodesk Forma's Embodied Carbon Analysis feature.

A genuine free tier plus a documented REST API and native embedding inside Autodesk Forma make it an easy, low-risk way to add embodied-carbon assessment to early design, though the free tier caps out at 3 projects and paid pricing is quote-based.

Free open-source Grasshopper plugins for climate analysis, energy modeling, daylighting, CFD, and urban simulation, with a commercial cloud layer via Pollination.

C1 4/5 reflects the freemium model, C2 4/5 reflects the CLI plus Python and Pollination SDK surfaces, and C4 5/5 reflects HBJSON, gbXML, IDF, epJSON, .rad, IFC, and GEM workflows. Integrations include Rhino, Grasshopper, Revit, EnergyPlus, OpenStudio, IES VE, Radiance, and URBANopt; firm-size fit is solo to small-team.

Free, DOE-funded whole-building energy simulation engine with sub-hourly HVAC, lighting, and water modeling -- the engine under most commercial tools on this list.

C1 5/5 reflects the free license, C2 4/5 reflects CLI plus the Python and C APIs, and C4 5/5 reflects IDF, epJSON, gbXML, CSV, SQL, ESO, and ERR workflows. Integrations include OpenStudio, DesignBuilder, Ladybug/Honeybee, ClimateStudio, IES VE, eQUEST, and Simergy; firm-size fit is solo to small-team.

Cloud-connected building-performance and environmental-simulation platform from Ladybug Tools LLC, delivered as Rhino/Grasshopper and Revit plug-ins that build and run EnergyPlus, Radiance, and OpenStudio models from CAD/BIM geometry for daylighting, energy, and CFD analysis.

C2 4/5 reflects the documented REST API, Python SDK, and CLI, C5 5/5 reflects the Rhino, Grasshopper, Revit, EnergyPlus, Radiance, and OpenStudio ecosystem, and C4 3/5 reflects HBJSON, gbXML, IFC, IDF, and OSM coverage.

Cloud-based AI platform for early-stage urban design, massing, and microclimate analysis.

The energy placement is limited to Forma's cloud microclimate analyses inside the site-design workflow; C2 4/5 reflects the APS API, and C5 4/5 reflects the Revit, Civil 3D, Tandem, ArcGIS, and Zoneomics integration stack.

Whole-building simulation suite covering thermal, HVAC, daylighting, CFD, and compliance for LEED, BREEAM, and Passivhaus.

C2 3/5 reflects the VE and Apache Cloud API surface plus Python automation, and C5 4/5 reflects Revit, SketchUp, Pollination, and Rhino integrations. RF1 marks quote-only pricing, RF3 marks the proprietary GEM model format, and file exchange includes gbXML, IFC, and MIT.

Cloud-based building-performance analysis platform that automates energy modeling, daylight/glare analysis, embodied carbon, cost estimating, and LEED/code-compliance documentation for early-stage building design. Formerly "cove.tool," the parent company rebranded to "cove" (cove.inc) in January 2025 and now also offers an internal-only AI engine (Vitras.ai) as part of its own architecture practice, but the original cove.tool SaaS product remains live and independently purchasable.

A documented REST API and native Revit/Rhino-Grasshopper/SketchUp plugins plus open gbXML interchange make it a strong early-design energy/daylight/carbon analysis layer, but pricing is quote-only across every source checked.

AI-native cloud-based engineering simulation platform for CFD, structural, thermal, and electromagnetic analysis; 900k+ users; explicit data center cooling product.

Cloud CFD/simulation with data center cooling specialty: ASHRAE 90.4 + EN 50600 compliance workflows. Freemium model: Community (free, 10 sims) + Professional/Teams/Enterprise (quote). Browser-based, no install. C1 3/5 (freemium entry, paid tiers quote-based); C2 3/5 (Simulation API in enterprise; Python bindings for automation); C3 4/5 (instant cloud access, tutorials, community); C4 4/5 (standard physics outputs, multi-format export); C5 4/5 (Onshape, Autodesk CFD/Inventor, RhinoCAM, CFturbo, SOLIDWORKS integrations; 900k+ users). Distinct from single-purpose DC CFD (CoolSim) by multi-physics scope and BIM/CAD integration.

EnergyPlus-based building simulation software with a graphical interface for energy, daylighting, HVAC, CFD, and LEED/BREEAM compliance.

C2 3/5 reflects Python scripting, a C# API, and EnergyPlus EMS runtime scripting, while C4 4/5 reflects gbXML, IDF, and epJSON workflows. Pricing is published as a subscription, integrations include Revit, ArchiCAD, Grasshopper, MicroStation, and EnergyPlus, and firm-size fit is solo to small-team.

Cloud-based GPU-accelerated CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) software for data center cooling design and thermal optimization -- 100% browser-based, runs most simulations in under 1 minute, models 3D airflow, temperature distribution, PUE, and cooling unit placement; integrates with EcoStruxure IT Expert live monitoring data for design-to-operations validation; marketed exclusively to data center cooling engineers and designers by APC by Schneider Electric; SKU SFTWCFD.

C1 4/5 reflects published annual pricing at $5,380, and C3 4/5 reflects browser-based deployment for small-team to growing data-center workflows. C2 2/5 reflects no confirmed Design CFD API, and C4 3/5 reflects PDF export rather than broad model exchange.

SketchUp-integrated energy and daylighting analysis plugin that runs full annual EnergyPlus and Radiance simulations without leaving the modeler.

C1 4/5 reflects published tiered subscription pricing and a trial, while RF2 and C2 1/5 reflect a GUI plugin workflow with no API, CLI, or scripting surface. The integration surface is SketchUp and Revit, and RF3 reflects the proprietary core model format.

Rhino and Grasshopper plugin for daylighting, annual glare, energy modeling, and PV analysis using a novel path-tracing Radiance engine.

C2 3/5 reflects the Grasshopper-driven parametric surface, and C5 3/5 reflects Rhino, Grasshopper, Revit, Radiance, and EnergyPlus interoperability. RF1 marks contact-sales pricing, RF3 marks the proprietary core workflow, and supported exchange formats include .rad, BSDF XML, and IES photometric files.

Electrical power systems analysis and energy management platform used by AEC engineers to design, simulate, and commission electrical networks for data centers, hospitals, industrial facilities, and utilities -- covers load flow, arc flash, short-circuit, protective device coordination, and real-time SCADA; integrates bidirectionally with Revit and AutoCAD for BIM-linked electrical one-line diagrams; 80% owned by Schneider Electric since June 2021 while retaining independent vendor branding.

The energy placement is load, generation, demand, and power-quality analysis on the same electrical model. C2 4/5 reflects the documented REST API and Python automation, C4 3/5 reflects RVT, DWG, CIM/XML, and CSV exchange, and RF1 keeps C1 2/5 because pricing is module-based and quote-led.

Electrical power systems analysis suite (load flow, arc flash, short circuit, coordination); standard AEC electrical tool for Tier 3/4 UPS/generator design since 1972.

Power systems analysis suite: load flow, arc flash, short-circuit, coordination studies. Desktop (Windows) + cloud (MySKM) + mobile app. 50,000+ engineers worldwide since 1972; IEEE 1584-2018 arc-flash standards. Tier 3/4 UPS/generator design standard. C1 2/5 (RF1: no public pricing disclosed); C2 1/5 (GUI-only, no documented API); C3 4/5 (established 50+ years, training ecosystem); C4 2/5 (proprietary formats, limited data portability); C5 4/5 (IEEE compliance, integrates with electrical design workflows). Direct competitor to ETAP (already in catalog).

Physics-based CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) simulation and digital twin platform exclusively for data center design -- models airflow, thermal management, cooling systems (raised-floor, hot/cold aisle, liquid, adiabatic evaporative), power distribution, PUE, Scope 1/2/3 carbon footprint, and transient failure scenarios; includes 14,000+ intelligent vendor device models from 750+ manufacturers; formerly branded 6SigmaDCX by Future Facilities (founded 2004), acquired by Cadence Design Systems in July 2022 for ~$100M; named customers include HPE, Digital Realty, Equinix, and Kao Data.

The energy placement is data-center CFD and carbon or thermal analysis. C4 3/5 reflects CSV export and partial BIM import, and RF1 and RF2 keep C1 2/5 and C2 2/5 because pricing is contact-for-quote and no public REST API or SDK is documented, even though Pro-tier automation and an NVIDIA Omniverse extension are documented.

Cloud-based CFD platform for data center thermal and airflow simulation; Ansys Fluent-powered; drag-and-drop component library; raised-floor and in-row cooling modeling.

Purpose-built data center CFD SaaS (since 2005); Ansys Fluent backend. Drag-and-drop DC component library, raised-floor/in-row/failure-scenario modeling. Entry cost ~$8,500 (includes cloud-based virtual server). C1 2/5 (high entry cost, no per-seat transparency); C2 1/5 (RF2: no documented API/CLI); C3 3/5 (cloud-based, requires vendor guidance); C4 3/5 (proprietary output formats, limited interop); C5 3/5 (Ansys Fluent/Icepak integrations). 100% DC-focused, eliminates general CFD overhead.

Desktop HERS rating and residential energy code compliance software, RESNET-accredited for ANSI/RESNET/ICC 301-2022 with an NREL hourly simulation engine, supporting Energy Star, ZERH, and IECC compliance for single-family homes -- over 1,000,000 homes rated.

RF1 and RF2 keep C1 2/5 and C2 1/5 because pricing requires vendor contact and the desktop product has no public API, CLI, or MCP; C4 3/5 reflects PDF export plus partial XML export as a paid per-address add-on.

Water system modeling platform for networks, flood risk assessment, and hydraulic simulation; European competitor to Bentley OpenFlows.

Energy placement reflects MIKE SHE subsurface/thermal capabilities; same scoring as hydraulic-process.

Mission-critical power design + real-time operations platform; protects $100B+ in customer assets; named clients eBay, Bank of America, FAA, DoD.

Power design + live operations continuity platform (formerly EDSA Micro, rebranded 2011). Suite: Paladin DesignBase (CAD), Paladin Live (real-time), Paladin SmartGrid (campus). Design-to-live continuity unique vs design-only (SKM) or on-prem DCIM. C1 2/5 (RF1: no public pricing); C2 2/5 (no documented public API, OPC integration implied); C3 2/5 (enterprise focus, vendor-led); C4 2/5 (proprietary formats, limited export); C5 3/5 (electrical engineering workflow integration). Protects $100B+ in assets. Notable: eBay, Bank of America, FAA, DoD.