Overview

What is IES-VE?

IES-VE is commercial software for simulating the energy and environmental performance of buildings. The software is available here.

What is Python?

Python is a general purpose programming language which can be used for automation, data analysis and may other functions. The beginners guide to Python is here.

What is an API?

An Application Programming Interface (API) is where a software application provides an interface for other software.

What is the IES-VE Python API?

The IES-VE software has an interface which allows Python scripts to control and automate the IES-VE project. This interface can be seen in the IES-VE software via the menu items: Tools/VE Scripts.

The “IES-VE Python API” is the unique set of Python classes and methods which can be used in this interface to control and automate the IES-VE project.

Why learn the IES-VE Python API?

Using Python in IES-VE, you can:

  • automate making changes to the model, such as changing the properties of all the windows at once.

  • automate simulation runs, such as running 100 simulations as part of a parametric analysis.

  • automate the analysis and presentation of results, such as creating unique graphs and tables and exporting these to Word or Excel.