Tools
Welcome to the Tools section of the Whole Building Design Guide. These pages offer information on a variety of desktop or Web-based tools used in the building industry.
Click the 'Tool' heading to sort by ascending or descending order. In addition, narrow the list by selecting a tool category from the drop-down and clicking 'Apply'.
| Tool | Version | |
|---|---|---|
| Architectural Painting Specification Decision Tree | 1.0 | Manual for simplifying the specifying of paint systems for the multiple architectural substrates (both interior and exterior). |
| Athena Impact Estimator for Buildings | 5.2.01 | Software tool designed to evaluate whole buildings and assemblies based on internationally recognized life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology |
| Building Assessment Tool (BAT) | 1.0 | The BAT provides a means to collect, validate, and update the information needed for auditors to conduct Energy and Facility Condition Assessments in an organized database structure. |
| Building for Environmental and Economic Sustainability (BEES) | Online | The BEES software brings to your fingertips a powerful technique for selecting cost-effective, environmentally-preferable building products. |
| Building Life-Cycle Cost (BLCC) | 5.3-19 | The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) developed the Building Life Cycle Cost (BLCC) Programs to provide computational support for the analysis of capital investments in buildings. |
| COMcheck™ | 4.1.4 | Software allowing building design professional to determine whether projects meet the requirements of the IECC and ASHRAE Standard 90.1, as well as several state-specific codes. |
| Corrosion Toolbox | 1.0 | The Corrosion Toolbox contains several tools useful for evaluating environmental severity and compiling environmental data, including the ICCET, that were developed as part of the ESC study. |
| Energy Escalation Rate Calculator (EERC) | 2.0-19 | This tool computes an average annual escalation rate for a specified time period, which can be used as an escalation rate for contract payments in energy savings performance contracts and utility energy services contracts. |
| ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager® | Online | EPA's online energy management and tracking tool enables you to measure and track the energy and water performance of any building over time. |
| EnergyPlus™ | 9.0.1 | EnergyPlus™ is a whole building energy simulation program that engineers, architects, and researchers use to model both energy consumption and water use in buildings. |
| Facility Energy Decision System (FEDS) | 8.0 | The Facility Energy Decision System (FEDS) is an easy-to-use building energy efficiency software tool that quickly and objectively identifies energy efficiency improvements that maximize life-cycle savings. |
| Hourly Analysis Program (HAP) | 5.1 | HAP is a system design tool and an energy simulation tool in one package. |
| Life-Cycle Energy Performance Framework for Cities | 1.0 | The Framework provides policymakers a tool to look across building codes, incentive and utility programs, and post-occupancy/operations policies, to identify potential policies and triggers that can be deployed to impact building energy use. |
| Remedial Action Cost Engineering and Requirements (RACER®) | 11.4 | RACER® software is a Windows®-based environmental remediation/corrective action cost estimating software. |
| REScheck™ | 4.7.1 | Software allowing building design professional to determine whether residential projects meet the requirements of the IECC, as well as several state-specific codes. |
| RoofNav | Online | RoofNav is an online tool providing access to the most up-to-date FM Approved roofing products and assemblies. |
| Sound Insulation Estimator | 1.0 | Sound Insulation Estimator is a tool to aid in the selection of sound insulating materials and the approximate material and labor costs associated with installation. |
| SpecsIntact | 5.2 | A mature automated system for preparing standardized facility construction specifications used worldwide by NASA, NAVFAC and USACE. |
| Structural Load Data Tool for UFC 3-301-01 | 1.0 | This tool provides site-specific structural wind, snow, frost penetration, and earthquake loading data for DoD locations. |
| Sustainable Facilities Tool (SFTool) | Online | The Sustainable Facilities Tool (SFTool.gov) is an interactive website that shows users how to build, buy, and operate green. |
| TRACE 700 | 6.3 | TRACE 700 helps you compare the energy and economic impact of building-related selections such as architectural features, HVAC systems, HVAC equipment, building utilization or scheduling, and financial options. |
| Window Glazing Analysis Response and Design (WINGARD) | 5.5.1 | Developed for GSA by Applied Research Associates (ARA), Window Glazing Analysis Response and Design (WINGARD) calculates and graphically displays the response of window systems subjected to blast loads. |
Participating Agencies
