ClimateStudio
Rhino and Grasshopper plugin for daylighting, annual glare, energy modeling, and PV analysis using a novel path-tracing Radiance engine.
Hidden PricingHard Lock-in
3.0 /5 composite score
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.
Solid
Rubric Scorecard
| Criterion | Score | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Value for the price | 3/5 | Contact sales Source → |
| Agent Friendliness | 3/5 | API: none |
| Ease of adoption | 3/5 | -- |
| Portability & lock-in | 3/5 | 3 file formats |
| Interoperability | 3/5 | 5 integrations |
Pricing
ModelContact sales
How we verified this: we checked ClimateStudio against its live site and an independent source — aecplustech.com. Nothing on this page is listed from memory. See how we grade. Verified 2026-07-18.
Evidence
File formats
| Format | Direction | Support |
|---|---|---|
| .rad | unknown | unknown |
| BSDF XML | unknown | unknown |
| IES photometric | unknown | unknown |
Integrations
Rhino Grasshopper Revit (CS Exporter) Radiance EnergyPlus
Sources
Alternatives in Energy Analysis
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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.
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See all ClimateStudio alternatives → ยท Compare all Energy Analysis tools →
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