August 2025 News

Join Us at the IBPSA World Building Simulation Conference 2025 in Brisbane!

We’re excited to be sponsoring the IBPSA World Building Simulation Conference, hosted by IBPSA Australasia and AIRAH from 24–27 August 2025 in Brisbane, Australia. If you’re attending, make sure to stop by our booth and say hello. We’ll be on hand throughout the event to answer your questions, discuss upcoming features, and hear your feedback.

Learn how DesignBuilder can make your modelling faster and easier!

DesignBuilder’s fully-integrated interface for EnergyPlus, Radiance, and CFD allows you to perform all major types of building simulation quickly and easily, eliminating the need to import and export between different software and models.

We’re also hosting a dedicated workshop on Thursday, 28 August, right after the conference. This free session is ideal for new and experienced users who want to explore how to get the most out of DesignBuilder’s latest tools and capabilities. We will be showcasing how DesignBuilder can significantly improve your modelling workflow and productivity. You can register here to attend the workshop.

We look forward to seeing you in Brisbane!

Unable to attend the conference? Reach out to us at info@designbuilder.com to arrange a call so we can discuss your requirements and find the best solution for you.

CIBSE Building Simulation Awards 2025 & Webinar

Submissions for the CIBSE Building Simulation Awards 2025 are now open! We’re delighted to once again be sponsoring this prestigious event, recognising outstanding achievements in the field of building simulation.

In previous years, DesignBuilder’s talented users and their innovative projects have been very successful in these awards.

So with 2025 submissions now open, we encourage all DesignBuilder users to showcase their expertise and innovation by participating in the CIBSE Building Simulation Awards. Your success in the past two years has been inspiring, and we can’t wait to see the ground-breaking projects and amazing young modellers that will emerge this year! You can find out more about the Awards and submission process here.

To support the awards, we will be delivering a webinar on “Advanced Tools to Optimise Performance and Impact”:

DesignBuilder is a powerful, all-in-one simulation tool that goes beyond standard modelling. Advanced features like parametric analysis, optimisation (using genetic algorithms), runtime scripting, and flexible detailed HVAC modelling, help you deliver better results – faster and more cost-effectively. With a single DesignBuilder model, you can:

• Optimise compliance ratings for UK and Ireland Certification (EPC, Part L, TM52/59/Part O etc.).
• Optimise real-world performance throughout design stages, modelling to standards like TM54, NABERS UK and DfP, BREEAM, LEED, and ASHRAE 209.
• Optimise operational efficiency in existing buildings using TM63, ASHRAE Guideline 14, and IPMVP.

This session will guide you through each modelling stage – compliance, design, and operation – showing how DesignBuilder’s high-productivity tools enable better decisions and outcomes. You’ll also get access to free resources to help you get started. Register now to join us live on 10th September 2025.

Early Access to DesignBuilder v2025.1

Have you signed up for the DesignBuilder v2025.1 Beta yet? If not, there’s still time to get involved!

DesignBuilder v2025.1 introduces several significant advancements. We’re inviting experienced users to help us test the upcoming release and provide your feedback. Your expertise and feedback are crucial in helping to ensure a robust release that meets the evolving needs of building performance simulation. As a Beta tester, you’ll gain early access to this new release and play an important role in shaping its final form.

To join the DesignBuilder v2025.1 Beta program, please contact our Support Desk who will provide eligible users with a download link for the Beta release. Your feedback is invaluable as we finalise DesignBuilder v2025.1. We appreciate your continued support and look forward to working with you to help us meet your needs.

Try It Out: Speed up Your Scripting Workflow

If you’ve ever worked with DesignBuilder scripts, you know that accurately identifying attribute names is an important part of the process. While the API documentation provides a comprehensive list, there’s a more intuitive way to find this information without leaving the DesignBuilder interface.

A Simple Trick to Find Attribute Names Instantly

DesignBuilder includes a handy feature that displays attribute names in tooltips when you hover the mouse cursor over input fields in the model. To activate this time-saving setting, follow these simple steps:

• Go to the Tools menu
• Open Program Options
• On the Interface tab, tick the checkbox to Show attribute names in tooltips

Once enabled, simply hover your mouse over any input, such as a heating setpoint, wall construction, or lighting level, and the attribute name will be displayed in a popup tooltip. This makes it easy to include exact attribute names directly into your scripts without switching back and forth between the UI and the documentation.

This simple trick can dramatically speed up your workflow and reduce errors in your scripts. Whether you’re automating model changes, extracting data, or developing DBERL EnergyPlus runtime scripts, having direct access to the correct attribute names is a real time-saver.

You can find more information on scripting in our Extensibility Tools User Guide.