Why Create Different Alternatives in TRACE 700?

TRACE 700 allows users to create and compare multiple design alternatives within a single project. This feature offers significant advantages for building performance analysis and optimization. But why create different alternatives in TRACE 700? This article outlines the key reasons and provides a step-by-step guide on how to create them.

Understanding the Need for Alternatives

Creating multiple alternatives enables engineers to explore various design options and assess their impact on energy efficiency, cost, and overall building performance. This comparative analysis facilitates informed decision-making and leads to optimized building designs. TRACE 700 offers two primary scenarios for creating alternatives:

Scenario 1: Combining Alternatives from Different Files

This scenario allows users to select individual alternatives from separate TRACE 700 project files and combine them into a new project. This is useful for comparing distinct design options developed independently or for consolidating preferred alternatives from various projects into a single file for comprehensive analysis.

Steps:

1. Close any open project files.
2. Go to File > New > New File Based On.
3. Name the new file and click Open.
4. Select the existing project containing the desired alternative and click Open.
5. Choose the specific alternative to import.
6. TRACE 700 will create a new file with the selected alternative as Alternative 1.
7. To import additional alternatives, press CTRL + ALT + B, select the source file, and choose the desired alternative. Repeat this process for each additional alternative.
8. After importing all alternatives, close and reopen the new project file to reset settings.

Scenario 2: Merging Inputs from Different Alternatives

This scenario merges inputs from different alternatives in separate files to create a single, new alternative. This is beneficial for combining specific design features from different options into a hybrid solution.

Steps:

1. Follow Steps 1-3 from Scenario 1.
2. Select both project files to be merged using the CTRL key and click Open.
3. Choose whether to merge plant data.
4. Select the alternative from the first file.
5. Select the alternative from the second file to merge with the first.
6. Close and reopen the new project file.

Conclusion

Creating different alternatives in TRACE 700 is crucial for comprehensive building performance analysis. By leveraging these capabilities, engineers can optimize designs for energy efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and overall performance, leading to better building solutions. Utilizing the outlined steps for both combining and merging alternatives allows for a streamlined workflow and facilitates informed decision-making in the design process.