In the Energy Settings dialog, these settings affect:
- Energy Analysis for Autodesk® Revit® performed using conceptual masses or building elements
- Revit's room or space based gbXML export
- Heating and cooling load calculation in Revit MEP
See Determining Heating and Cooling Loads.
Building Type
Select the building type that most closely reflects the planned usage of the model. This setting is a default for the entire project.
The building type includes assumptions about the typical schedule of the building based on usage. For instance, a retail store is assumed to be open more hours per year than an office building, and so it uses more energy.
When preparing for an energy analysis, you can use the Building Operating Schedule option to override the default schedule for the specified building type. You can also override the space assignments for specific zones.
Ground Plane
Specify the level to use as the ground plane reference for the building.
During analysis, spaces below this level are considered to be underground. They do not include glazing, and the underground walls can use a different construction than above-ground walls.
| Ground Plane = Level 1. The mass model includes glazing on all levels. | Ground Plane = Level 2. The mass model removes glazing from Level 1. |
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For a building where the ground floor is partially underground (for example, built into a slope), use the level with the most exposure as the ground plane. The differences in the resulting energy analysis are typically fairly minor.
Location
Specify the location of the project and select the appropriate weather station using the Internet Mapping Service option. In addition to affecting weather information, the location impacts the carbon content of the electricity supplied to the project.
On the map, the project location is marked with a red pin 
. To choose the desired weather station, select it in the list or on the map. The selected weather station displays on the map with an orange pin 
. Other weather stations display on the map with blue pins 
.
Weather stations include “actual year” virtual weather stations and typical year weather stations (TMY2 and other formats) based on 30-year averages of weather data, typically taken from airport locations.
When choosing a weather station for the project, consider the following factors:
- Distance: When you select a weather station that is close to the project location, the weather data will usually represent the actual weather at the building site more accurately. Proximity is especially important in an area that may have complex terrain or micro climates. Autodesk provides virtual weather stations no more than 8.8 miles (14 km) from any project location. Revit shows the distance of the closest set of virtual stations, TMY2 Stations, and California Climate Zone stations.
- Elevation: The elevations of the project and the weather station should be similar. If the project is located in a valley, it would inappropriate to choose a weather station that sits on a mountain peak or on the other side of a mountain. Use the Google™ Map interface to view the locations of available weather stations in a terrain, satellite, or hybrid view.
- Land features: If the project is near a large body of water, an inland weather station will not represent the project’s weather. Choose the closest weather station representative of the project’s land and water features.