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Streamlining Green Design

Green Building Studio, Inc. . The USGBC estimates that LEED®-certified http://usa.autodesk.com/ building designs are estimated to increase building valuation, decrease building vacancy, and Environmental Problem improve retail sales by 40 percent. The International Energy Agency estimates that existing are responsible for more than SBIR Technology Solution 40 percent of the world’s total primary energy With support from the EPA’s Small Business consumption and up to 30 percent of global Innovation Research (SBIR) Program, Green emissions. In addition, buildings Building Studio, Inc., developed a web-based consume 20 percent of the world’s available modeling tool to streamline the design of water, a resource that becomes scarcer each year, sustainable buildings. The Green Building Studio® according to the United Nations Environment web service helps designers and architects analyze Programme. Therefore, the need to design water use in a building, eligibility of the LEED® buildings that minimize energy use and conserve daylight credit, potential at the water is critical throughout the world. To maximize building site (using photovoltaic panels and wind impact and reduce costs, it is important for energy), and the natural ventilation potential of the architects and building designers to incorporate building. It also provides the ENERGY STAR score, sustainable elements up front in their designs detailed weather data, and the potential for rather than including them as an afterthought. achieving carbon neutral building operation. The Recent concern over the impacts of global climate system supports not only commercial structures, change has caused many governments to modify but also single- and multi-family home types. regulations, requiring buildings to reduce fossil fuel use and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 50 Green Building Studio web-based energy analysis percent with the goal of becoming carbon neutral. software provides design alternatives analysis, so users can examine building alternatives to bolster In 2000, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) energy efficiency. In addition, the software summarizes developed the Leadership in Energy and natural ventilation potential, comparing the (LEED®) rating system, which hours required to mechanically cool the building provides building designers, owners, and operators versus the hours required to use outdoor air to cool with a framework to identify and implement the building naturally. Carbon emission reporting practical and measurable green building design, encompasses almost every aspect of the building, construction, operations, and maintenance while supplies data on qualification for solutions. LEED® certification provides independent the LEED® daylight credit. verification that a building was designed and Application of the Green Building Studio tool can built using strategies to conserve energy and water, be accomplished in less than one day. Traditionally, be healthier and safer for occupants, reduce harmful analysis has been separate from the , lower operating April 2013 building design workflow, but Green Building Rosa, California, GeoPraxis, Inc., was founded Studio has made it an integral part of the Building in 1998. Initial research and development work began in Information Modeling (BIM) process. 1999, and a production version of the Green Building Studio web service was Commercialization Success released in April 2004. GeoPraxis, Inc., was With support from the EPA’s SBIR program, Green renamed Green Building Studio, Inc., in 2005. Building Studio developed and enhanced its web-based On Earth Day in April 2008, Microsoft recognized energy analysis software tool to streamline Green Building Studio as one of its five the design of sustainable buildings. By 2008, more Gold Ingenuity Point award winners. In this than 6,000 users had registered for Green Building worldwide contest for independent software Studio’s web service to assess their building’s vendors (ISVs), winners are chosen from energy, water, and carbon emission performance. entrants around the world that submit solutions The assessment, which previously took up to several to address needs in education, health care, and weeks, can be completed in minutes and at . lower cost using today’s leading BIM tools. In 2008, Autodesk, Inc., a world leader in 3D Autodesk’s acquisition of Green Building design, engineering, and entertainment software— Studio’s assets was completed in May 2008. including AutoCAD® software—purchased the Autodesk is a leader in 2D and 3D design Green Building Studio web service, integrating it software for the manufacturing, building and into the Autodesk® family of solutions. construction, and media and entertainment With a significant percentage of the world’s buildings markets. Since its introduction of AutoCAD software designed in some aspect by using Autodesk in 1982, Autodesk continues to develop the software, the acquisition of Green Building broadest portfolio of 3D software for global Studio brings this tool to a much larger market markets. Customers across the manufacturing, and provides it far greater visibility. Autodesk® , building, and construction industries use Green Building Studio® technology can be Autodesk’s BIM software, Green Building Studio, to help licensed either as a subscription entitlement to create sustainable buildings and qualifying Autodesk products and suites, or as identify cost-effective ways to a stand-alone web service. Acquisition of reduce environmental impact Green Building Studio enables Autodesk to land improve performance. enhance its focus on green building and LEED® certification while advancing sustainability as one of its core values.

Company History and Awards The Green Building Studio web service was developed by GeoPraxis, Inc., supported by funding through the EPA’s SBIR program and grants from the California Energy Commission Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) Program, the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, and Pacific Gas and Electric Company (Energy Design Resources Program). Based in Santa