DesignBuilder
Building energy simulation platform built on the EnergyPlus engine, adding a 3D modeling GUI with HVAC design, daylighting (Radiance), CFD airflow analysis, and LEED/BREEAM compliance workflows.
Hidden Pricing
3.2 /5 composite score
Best EnergyPlus GUI for a solo engineer pursuing LEED, BREEAM, or ASHRAE 90.1 compliance -- adds 3D modeling, HVAC, daylighting, and CFD to the free EnergyPlus engine with a 30-day evaluation; opaque pricing (download-a-PDF, no inline rates) makes solo budgeting uncertain; value capped at 2.
Rubric Scorecard
| Criterion | Score | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| Maturity | 4/5 | Founded 2004, UK-based; EnergyPlus-powered with Radiance daylighting and built-in CFD module; supports multi-objective optimization and lifecycle cost analysis; 30-day free evaluation available. |
| AEC Specificity | 4/5 | Covers HVAC system design and modeling, daylighting analysis, thermal bridging, CFD ventilation studies, and ASHRAE 90.1/LEED/BREEAM compliance workflows -- notably broader than load-only HVAC tools. |
| Integration | 3/5 | EnergyPlus engine underneath; standard BEM file formats; ASHRAE 90.1 compliance analysis; modular architecture with separately licensed add-ons for CFD and optimization. |
| Value / Pricing | 2/5 | No inline pricing on vendor website; prices provided only as a downloadable PDF; ConTechFinder directory independently reports starting around $1,200/year; value capped at 2 per opaque-pricing rule. |
| Evidence | 3/5 | ConTechFinder construction software directory listing confirmed; no Capterra or G2 listing found; founded 2004 with documented EnergyPlus engine history. |
How we verified this: we checked DesignBuilder against its live site and an independent source — contechfinder.com. Nothing on this page is listed from memory. See how we review.
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