With Revit and Insight, D/P/S saves a client $2.5 million over a 30 year period with net-zero building solutions

Overview

Dekker/Perich/Sabatini (D/P/S) is a New-Mexico-based architecture firm with a focus on green design and evidence-based principles. As the importance of decreasing greenhouse emissions becomes urgent, the expertise of firms like D/P/S is more important than ever. Energy experts at the firm are focused on slowing down the effects of climate change by aiming for net-zero, energy-certified building designs.

Though the firm is hopeful for positive changes, rethinking design and prioritizing efficiency has its challenges. Clients are often concerned that energy efficient design solutions are cost prohibitive. D/P/S tackles this hurdle through education. By using Autodesk® Revit® and Autodesk® Insight during the design phase, D/P/S can conduct a thorough analysis of the site and the building shape to maximize both energy efficiency and cost. With these tools, D/P/S demonstrates to clients how much money they can save with net-zero solutions—occasionally saving its clients millions of dollars.

Challenge

According to The World Green Building Council, buildings emit almost 40 percent of total greenhouse emissions. To address this significant statistic, energy efficient building designs are more essential than ever. Architecture firms like D/P/S embrace this design challenge whole-heartedly—but getting everyone on board isn’t always simple.

Like many new inventions or products, the high-costs of efficient design solutions initially presented a significant barrier to entry. The common perception is that clients will experience a monetary loss if they choose efficient solutions, such as solar power. D/P/S realized that demonstrating to clients and other stakeholders the impact these solutions could have on the bottom line would be essential.

Solution

Fortunately for D/P/S, awareness continues to increase around the importance of green energy. More often, clients make efficiency an early priority during the planning phase. This creates an opportunity for the firm to demonstrate tangible benefits seen by choosing energy efficient building solutions—including significant monetary savings.

Using Revit and Insight, the team can analyze the condition of a site alongside potential shapes and sizes of the building. This analysis helps maximize energy efficiency and demonstrates potential cost savings. D/P/S can now show clients exactly how building priorities could affect the final outcome while revealing savings opportunities the client may not have even considered.

“Often clients will say, ‘Oh, we can’t afford window shades.’ But with the help of these tools, we can show them how much money is left to install high-priority shades at the lowest cost for the greatest amount of utility savings.”

- Luc Wing, Building Analyst, D/P/S

Success

With Autodesk solutions, D/P/S recently performed an energy calculation for a client, providing a benchmark number based on current utility rates. With energy efficient solutions in place, the client will save an estimated $2.5 million over the course of 30 years. This number does not take into account inflation and the natural increase in utility costs. With that in mind, the client will likely save significantly more money.

D/P/S was recently working on a multifamily housing complex that included solar paneled roofing. Using solar solutions drove utility costs down, making the units much more affordable for low-income tenants. In another instance, a client decided that removing the shading systems in their building was a good way to cut costs. A Revit analysis of solar insulation and daylight-illuminance showed that not only did the client have room in the budget, but also could save money on future utilities by installing the shading system.

The ability to show clients the tangible benefits of adopting green solutions is invaluable for the commitment D/P/S has to efficiency in design. By using renewable energy sources, the buildings we power could contribute to 43 percent of emission reductions globally by 2030—something D/P/S is working hard to achieve. 

“It’s not about a single building saving the world; it’s the whole collective. I believe we all can get there within the next 10 years.”

- Aaron Ketner, Energy Specialist, D/P/S

Read more about D/P/S using Autodesk solutions to design net-zero buildings on Redshift.

Learn how to conduct your own energy analysis with the Revit and Insight Workflow.