Sketchup is a pretty amazing product, especially since you can download the non-pro version for free.  It's utilized by millions of people to do 3D modeling with especially loyal followings in the engineering, architecture and construction industries for obvious reasons.  

SketchUp was originally created by @Last Software.  Their team got to know Google while developing the Google Earth Plugin for SketchUp, which allows crowd sourced construction and mapping of 3D buildings and non-flat earthly features.  They had been selling their product for $500 a pop, but Google decided to release a free version along with the now...

Or do you just think LEED modeling is a pain in the ass? Maybe you find it easy, but for some reason you are still getting comments from LEED reviewers?

I've been teaching TRACE 700 + LEED for over 4 years now, and I have never met someone who didn't have more to learn (though I've met about 200 people who think they knew everything!)

LET'S FACE IT: You Don't know what you don't know

By popular demand, we have completed a "step by step" LEED + TRACE 700 course. It's a course unlike any other - we dive right in. Plus, we have a massive cheat sheet to help you stick to the "process". See, that's the key with LEED modeling - have a process, but the process needs to have some flexibility....

Disclaimer: We know that many of the really good modelers are already doing this! If you are already up to date on this, at least check out some of our recommendations

Regardless of your software preference (maybe you use both), you have probably already said this to yourself, "Why the heck isn't there an undo button?" 

Or maybe you are sick of not being able to run TRACE 700 files on a network?

So what's the solution. You have no doubt heard of "cloud computing" right? This is where your files are stored online somewhere and then backing it up is their problem. To be honest, a lot of cloud computing sucks because of speed issues and lack of user friendliness.

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Check out this map that shows a near building level energy analysis of New York City. The map also estimates the heating, cooling, electricity and hot water use of each block.

The map represents the total annual building energy consumption at the block level (zoom levels 11-15) and at the taxlot level (zoom levels 16-18) for New York City, and is expressed in kilowatt hours (k Wh) per square meter of land area. The data comes from a mathematical model based on statistics, not private...