Hi All,

We currently use TAS for energy modelling and Radiance for daylight
simulation.

Virtually every architect that we work with provides us with 3D models,
but we seem to spend a lot of time re drawing models or fixing 3D models
to be able to work with the software that we use. The ultimate goal for
us would be to use one model for daylight and energy models, but I
haven't found that quite that simple as most software requires varying
drawing techniques.

Has anyone got any suggestions on the kind of software that they use
that could help out with the goal of ours?

We would like to investigate energy plus compared to TAS. Is there an
energy plus preprossor that could export models for radiance as well. I
have sent quite some time trying to do this with ecotect, but ecotect is
not the best software for importing 3D models as it doesn't take IFC
files or even dwg's.

I would be interested in investigating how well sketchup could be the
intermediate pre-processor. I have seen some radiance models that have
come from sketchup direct from an architectural model and they look
great. Has anyone used sketch to provide and energy plus model?

Thanks in advance.

Regards

Ross Harding