IESVE Python API has been updated to enable users to:

• Set the building rotation
  • An example script can be found via VE scripts > vegeometry > set_building_orientation.py
• Get and set the VE model weather file location
  • Scripts can be found via VE scripts > velocate> show_location_and_weather.py> write_location_and_weather.py

• The re-introduced translucent shade feature enables users to model such translucent surfaces as glass brise soleil. Meshes or lattice shading devices can also be modelled.
• Three modelling methods are available: 
  • Construction - Transmission values are brought through from the construction and accessed as per IESVE 2019
  • Annual - A single transmission value is used for every month. 
  • Monthly - The transmission values vary on a month-by-month basis. 

• Import into the IES VE software via the Start page > New Project > Create from BIM file.
• Improved gbXML Export

• Updates to SunCast to provide optional hourly solar results, as per BR 209 2022
• Updated APSH method to use hourly solar results
• Updated APSH method to include cloud data 
• New SunCast options dialog for users to set solar w/m2 and okta thresholds for APSH method
• Updated table output to show compliance with annual & winter threshold tests. Users can toggle between annual, summer, winter

• New “In-use” active filtering option available for:
  • BTM templates 
  • BTM gains
  • Model browser: space grouping schemes
• ModelIT key-in “Open” extended to include internal openings 
• A number of Python API updates:
  • Expanded chilled water loop
  • Expanded hot water loop
  • Room query data added
  • Expanded heat transfer loop
  • HVAC systems added

• Rule changes primarily HVAC related
• Other changes include: 
  • The space fraction and radiative fraction used in the standard model are now based on recessed LED fixtures rather than Fluorescent
  • Update to CBECC export to include internal partitions between zones
  • Crank case heater properties in the proposed and standard model 
  • Boiler draft type in the standard model
  • Boiler efficiency in the standard model

• Updates to ASHRAE 90.1 2019 PRM solution to allow for compliance with the 8th Edition of the Florida Energy Code (2023)
• New reporting has been added into the ASHRAE 90.1 2019 navigator which includes updates specific to the 8th edition e.g. mandatory provisions

• New navigator to cover the National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings 2020
• The new navigator includes:
  • HVAC prototype library and HVAC and SHW equipment performance updates
  • Compliance report added with new tiered performance  
  • New infiltration values and a new adjustment methodology
  • Updated envelope performance
  • Building area and space by space LPDs updated
  • Space by space LPD method for atriums has been revised
  • Interior and exterior lighting updates  

• New NCC 2019 Section J comfort navigator is accessible via the Australia Compliance section of the IESVE Navigators
• Upon selection of ‘NCC 2019 Section J comfort’ the navigator workflow is displayed
• The user provides CLO and air speed settings for spaces 
• The navigator uses PMV Ashrae 55 adaptive and air temperature to assess NCC 2019 section J comfort compliance
• The navigator generates a spreadsheet report
• VE2023: California Title 24-2022 Compliance
• VE2023: California Title 24 - Solar Access Roof Area (SARA)

• VE2023: EU Navigator

• Under the VE Compliance (UK & Ireland) application, the latest ‘Part L (2022) – Ireland (Factor update)’ option is present in the Regs dropdown menu.
• The ‘Part L (2022) – Ireland (Factor update)’ includes the electricity factors update within iSBEMie_v5.6.
  • From Primary energy 2.08 kWh/kWh, CO2 0.409 kgCO2/kWh
  • To Primary energy 1.75 kWh/kWh, CO2 0.224 kgCO2/kWh
• IES will continue to support the old ‘Part L (2022) – Ireland’ route, iSBEMie 5.5h.
  • Warning dialog is displayed in the user interface upon selection of the ‘Part L (2022) – Ireland’ route.

• Document “User Guide to Section 63 (S63) Assessments for Scotland using iSBEM” includes a section on Automatic triggers for prescriptive measures (Appendix A)
• Further guidance has been issued on the logic for triggering S63 prescriptive measures
• Prescriptive measure updates include:
  • Central time heating control
  • Hot water storage insulation
  • Roof insulation

• Grid point values are now displayed within RadianceIES
  • Multiview feature in ModelViewer 2 
  • For multi-floor visualisations grid values on floors concealed by the view angle are also hidden for clarity

  • VE2023: Daylighting – Seasonal Foliage

• VE2023: Central Plant Heat Pumps (CPHP)
• VE2023: Heat Pump Equipment Sizing
• VE2023: Heat Pump Water Heater (HPWH) for DHW
• VE2023: Auxiliary Downstream Heating Equipment

• A table of contents (TOC) has been added to both room loads and system loads reports 
  • The TOC includes the section splits - space loads and ventilation, zone loads, room loads, etc.
• The room and zone loads report has been updated to cater to the situation when no HVAC file exists:
  • "Supply (design)" airflow values are calculated based on Room Loads + Space Data inputs as per the Room Loads Spreadsheet
  • Both "Ventilation (requirement)" and "Exhaust (requirement)" volume flow rate is included and based on these values from Space Data

• Central Plant Heat Pump (CPHP) and Simple Air-to-Water Heat Pump (AWHP) are added as a selectable Auxiliary Heat Source types downstream of the primary equipment set on the HWL. 
  • Both are alternatives to the hot water boiler and part-load heat source AHS types previously provided in IESVE 2023 Feature Pack 1.
• Auxiliary Heat Source (AHS) connections and icons for all AHS equipment types are now displayed on the ApacheHVAC waterside graphic representation. 
• Import button added to AHS dialog: 
  • The Import button allows users to load an existing instance of the selected model type (HW Boiler, PLC, or CPHP) from another HWL, same as that on the equipment set tab of the HWL dialog.

• The logical AND connections between cooling airflow and cooling coil controllers previously included to address unnecessary coil operation have been replaced with a default configuration matching that of the most common AHUs
• A checkbox option is provided to “Turn off AHU cooling coil when no rooms or zones require cooling or dehumidification” (unchecked by default)
• This engages an optional On-Off control for the AHU cooling coil to prevent it cooling to an otherwise pre-determined setpoint or maximum reset (e.g., cooling mixed air to 55°F or reset SAT setpoint of 60°F) when there is no demand for cooling or dehumidification. The result is a reduction in reheat energy
• Optional feature within ApacheHVAC

• When selected under Output Options for ApacheSim, detailed ApacheHVAC controller outputs are available in VistaPro
  • Sensed and controlled variables, on-off status, etc.
• Improved HVAC component grouping in VistaPro browser tree:
  • Clearer re: populated branches and multiplexed components
  • Ability to simultaneously select components or controllers across selected multiplex layers and outside of any multiplex

Heat Transfer Loop (HTL) is available as source for pre-heating of HWL or DHW using the explicit heat tranRecover heat rejected to HTL by water-to-air heat pumps, using that heat to pre-heat cold DHW or, via intermediary HP, to pre-heat the HWL returnsfer model or simplified water-to-water heat pump

• New “In-use” active filtering option available for:
  • BTM templates 
  • BTM gains
  • Model browser: space grouping schemes
• ModelIT key-in “Open” extended to include internal openings 
• A number of Python API updates:
  • Expanded chilled water loop
  • Expanded hot water loop
  • Room query data added
  • Expanded heat transfer loop
  • HVAC systems added

This provides a controllable means of incrementally oversizing the zone design airflows and system equipment serving those zones based upon Unmet Load Hours (UMLHs) for individual zones.

• Users can “right-size” by starting with no oversizing, or can choose to provide incremental additional oversizing as needed.  
• Supply airflow for zones for wherein UMLHs are already below the set limit remain unaffected.  
• The interface provides full control over maintaining or resetting initial oversizing factors, as well as the oversizing increments applied.
• The “soft maximum” setting gives users the opportunity to abort the process when a set number of iterations has been reached. This is a valuable time-saving feature whenever there are other aspects of the model driving the UMLHs, and thus incremental oversizing is not reducing them below the user-set limit. 
• This powerful new sizing tool is available both within the HVAC Wizard and directly from the ApacheHVAC toolbar.

• Surface area is calculated to allow advanced coils to more accurately model heating and cooling effects dependent upon loop water temperature and flow rate.
• This feature allows coils to use the greatest reset (coolest on HWL and warmest on CHWL) water temperature for their design sizing condition, resulting a larger coil surface area to meet the same load.
• As it does not change coil design heating or cooling capacity (kW or kBtu/h), just the coil dimensions, this new functionality is included by default. It is easily disengaged if desired.
• This is particularly advantageous for Baseline models wherein the CHWL or HWL are required to use an outdoor-temperature-based SWT reset, which often conflicts with core-zone loads in large buildings wherein these loads are mostly independent of outdoor conditions.

• Sample UK National grid Carbon Factors shipped as part of the VE install set
• The sample data is provided in Free-From Profile (FFP) as shown opposite in ApPro
• Via the Energy Source and Meters dialog a user can assign these FFP files as hourly Carbon Emissions Factors (CEF)
• VE2023: Energy Meters – Hierarchy Management
• VE2023: Hourly Carbon Emission Factors & Hourly Source Energy Factors

BTM: Improved BTM refresh rate, when opening the BTM dialog, moving between templates and selection of tabs

• Improved user assignment of meters and sub-meters
  • Same tree structure as per meter management
• Improved user management of meters and sub-meters
  • Tree structure allows different levels of hierarchy
  • E.g. Mixed Use: Retail / Sub-leases / Apartment(s) / etc. 
• Editing Meters:
  • Natively: Add / New / Copy / Paste
  • Externally: Import / Export to file (XML or CSV format)
  • Schema tree exported as image (PNG file)

• New “In-use” active filtering option available for:
  • BTM templates 
  • BTM gains
  • Model browser: space grouping schemes

• New MEPworx export navigator is accessible via the Partners section of the IESVE Navigators
• Upon selection of ‘MEPworx export’ the navigator workflow is displayed
  • MEPworx export saves the model peak heating and cooling loads date in CSV format files that can be loaded by MEPworx
•  VE2023: Miscellaneous
  • VE-Navigators re-grouped
  • KIVATM ground heat transfer: Initial zone warm-up temperature option
  • New Navigator added to export heating & cooling loads to MagiCAD
  • MagiCAD script called that exports heating & cooling load data to a CSV file that MagiCAD can import

A number of updates have been implemented making the VE faster and easier to use.

• Model View: Improved model view rendering times across different applications
  • Software defaults to OpenGL 3.0
  • Substantial speed improvements 
• Browser tree: Improved browser tree refresh rate
  • Adding space – up to 47% speed improvement
  • Removing space – up to 10% speed improvement 
  • Undo – up to 60% speed improvement

The VE project archives have been updated to .zip file format (previously in CAB format).