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 | |
|---|---|---|
| Building Life-Cycle Cost (BLCC) | 5.3-17 | 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. |
| Energy Escalation Rate Calculator (EERC) | 2.0-17 | 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) | 7.0 | 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. |
| 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. |
