Product Updates

We have just released a new Beta version of Sefaira Concept. This release has taken a little longer than usual to get ready, but it has a lot of exciting new features for you. I’ll share some of them below. Be sure to log into Sefaira Concept to check all of them out!

Compare massings

By popular demand, our new release contains a feature which makes it easy to compare the sustainable performance of massings (building geometries) side-by-side. How so? Just create simple SketchUp models of the different shapes you are evaluating for your project, and upload them to Sefaira Concept. The software will then run a 24hourx365day dynamic thermal simulation and tell you how your massings compare. Great for figuring out which massing has the best passive performance, as it will answer the age old question: what is the most sustainable shape for my building, giving geography, climate and building use.

Other new features: you can also re-use massings on multiple projects, so if a particular shape worked well on one project, you can easily pick this out of the library and re-use it elsewhere.

How do you use this new feature?

Click on the building name and you will be able to add an extra massing. The software will automatically simulate the new geometries for you to allow for easy compare.

Renewables

You can now calculate the output of both building integrated photovoltaics and also roof integrated photovoltaics, in addition to the traditional roof mounted PV and roof mounted solar thermal. This gives you a powerful way to experiment with various renewable strategies strategies.

How do you use this new feature?

Once you have uploaded your building geometry, just go to the Renewables dimension and tweak the PV percentages to your heart’s content. Sefaira Concept will immediately perform a 24hourx365day dynamic simulation to let you know

• How much renewable energy you are producing
• How much renewable energy is consumed by your building / occupants
• How much renewable energy is exported back to the grid
• What benefit you derive from Feed-in-Tariffs (in geographies where these are available)

New Charts for Instant Analysis

Want to get a quick overview of where your building is losing or gaining energy, so you can optimise massing and envelope? New charts for Fabric Conduction Gain and Fabric Conduction Loss will rapidly tell you where energy is leaking in and where it is leaking out. New charts are also included to help you estimate the annual under- and over-heating of your basic design, so you can optimise it for comfort and energy use.

Reports

The reports generator lets you easily communicate the project performance with your colleagues, partners and clients etc.

New reports include: Fabric conduction gain and loss, Monthly energy uses and sources, Net renewable production, Annual water uses and sources and many more. The report also includes a full list of each strategy and all their values, and – as a bonus feature, you can drag and drop graphs in the report to customise the data and charts you include, and you can even export directly to pdf.

How do you use it?

Go to the reports dimension and drag, drop and print to pdf.

Concept comparison – new features

Our popular concept comparison feature lets you try multiple concepts and lets you compare their sustainability side by side. As of this release you can now see a list of all the strategies you have applied to your building, including the detailed settings and values for each strategy. Ideal when communicating with the engineers and consultants on your project.

Improved project page

With the new release it is easier than ever to manage your project team and access your projects. If you are working with a collaborative team, you can see exactly who updated the project and also get a full list of the buildings you are working on as part of your project.

What do I need to do to enjoy all these new features?

If you already have a Sefaira Concept Beta account, all you have to do is to log into the application. We’ve updated everything for you – no need to install anything. If you don’t already have an account, go to http://apps.sefaira.com/ and click ‘register’. We will then send you an email with registration details.

I hope you will enjoy this new release just as much as we enjoyed making it. Looking forward to your comments and feedback.

Best regards,

Peter Krebs

Chief Technology Officer

Sefaira