WUFI® Passive Version 3.3 is Finally Here!

The Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics (IBP) has released WUFI Passive v3.3 to facilitate modeling for compliance with Phius 2021 standards!

Now, project teams can select Phius CORE 2021 and Phius ZERO 2021 to align with updated source energy factors, renewable energy offset options, targets and reporting for overall source energy use.

The new version of the software includes new functionality for existing versions of PHIUS+ 2018, too, including Core and Source Zero, which previously required a few reporting workarounds.

Downloading the Updated Version

WUFI Passive users who have purchased the software can update their version for free by logging into the WUFI Web Shop. Follow the download instructions and make sure your WUFI-DB application file is in the same folder as the ‘Install_WUFI_Passive_3_3’ application file when you begin the download.

If you would like to keep version 3.2, you can download version 3.3 in a different location so it will not overwrite your existing version. 

• Determine the location of your WUFI Passive v3.2 Application
• Create a new folder beneath that titled ‘WUFI Passive v3.3’
• During the download process, a popup screen will prompt that ‘Setup will Install WUFI Passive into the following folder’ – this is where you select the [Browse…] button to pick your new folder.

Otherwise, download as usual.

What You Need to Know

• Files created or saved in version 3.3 cannot be opened in version 3.2.
• The window input screen is slightly different. In the new version, if creating a new window from inside the model, there’s two extra clicks to get you to what you’re used to. First click ‘Uw/Frame factor detailed calculation’, then select the button that appears on the right for [Edit frame/glazing data]. See below.

• Climate Data import of excel files is currently down, but text files work. For now, you may import .txt (text) which can be downloaded from the same place as the Excel files: https://www.phius.org/climate-data-sets
• You may now model more than one unique renewable energy system per project. Under Systems>Device/Equipment list, you can select more than one renewable energy device if the project is using a mix of offsets, such as on-site rooftop solar + RECs.
• The Renewable Energy Utilization Factors are locked in to align with the specific certification criteria protocol selected at the ‘Case’ level. Note: In order to use the ‘PV Utilization Calculator’ built into the software, you must select the appropriate climate zone under ‘Localization/Climate’ > Localization.

Next Steps

If you have been working in version 3.2 on a Phius 2021 CORE Project…

It is highly recommended (but not required) to update to the new version to avoid workarounds in version 3.2. 

Once you update the software, you can open your older model in version 3.3. 

Step 1: Go to ‘Case x’ > General > Certificate Criteria and select Phius CORE 2021

Step 2: Go to ‘Localization/Climate’, Localization tab and select your climate zone so the utilization factor is calculated automatically for projects using on-site PV.

Step 3: Go to ‘Localization/Climate’ > Source Energy/CO2 Factor tab and select the appropriate country. You will notice that the built in factors for Source Energy Factors for grid electricity have been updated.

Your Source Energy target, renewable energy offset options and accounting will be updated accordingly.

If you have been working in version 3.2 on a Phius 2021 ZERO Project…

It is highly recommended (but not required) to update to the new version to avoid workarounds in version 3.2. 

Once you update the software, you can open your older model in version 3.3. 

Step 1: Go to ‘Case x’ > General > Certificate Criteria and select Phius ZERO 2021

Step 2: Go to ‘Localization/Climate’ > Source Energy/CO2 Factor tab and select the appropriate country. You will notice that the built in factors for Source Energy Factors for grid electricity have been updated.

Your Source Energy target, renewable energy offset options and accounting will be updated accordingly.

If you have been working in version 3.2 on a PHIUS+ 2018 Core Project…

It is encouraged to update to the new version to avoid workarounds in version 3.2.

Once you update the software, you can open your older model in version 3.3. 

Step 1: Go to the Case > General > Certification Criteria and select PHIUS+ 2018 Core 

Step 2: Go to Localization/Climate tab and select your climate zone.

Your Source Energy target, renewable energy offset options and accounting will be updated accordingly.

If you have been working in version 3.2 on a PHIUS+ 2018 Source Zero Project…

It is encouraged to update to the new version to avoid workarounds in version 3.2.

Once you update the software, you can open your older model in version 3.3. 

Step 1: Go to the Case > General > Certification Criteria and select PHIUS+ 2018 Source Zero

Your Source Energy target, renewable energy offset options and accounting will be updated accordingly.

If you have been working in version 3.2 on a PHIUS+ 2018 or PHIUS+ 2015 Project…

You may update your software, but the functionality in those certification modes will remain the same.