covetool

the automated building consultant

HOW TO USE COVE.TOOL PLUG-IN’S

REVIT, SKETCH UP, RHINO, & GRASSHOPPER

A guide to importing Building Geometry into the cove.tool web app

Cove Tool, Inc.

www.covetool.com
hello@covetool.com
+ 1 404 998 5846
 HOW TO USE COVE.TOOL PLUG-INS

REVIT ADEPT
Revit software structure allows cove.tool to
become integrated with your project as a unique
view in the Project Browser. As you move
further in the building design, you can easily
export geometry making running a cove.tool
model the easiest energy modeling software
you have ever used.

Download Avaliable at Autodesk App Store

5 THINGS TO KNOW IMPORTING

ABOUT COVE.TOOL WITH SKETCHUP

This guide will help you take your SketchUp

PLUG-INS
project through Rhino and into cove.tool.
SketchUp is supported by cove.tool, but does
not have a plug-in. Instead we export a .dwg to
Rhino to connect to the cove.tool web app.

Tutorials Avaliable at Cove.tool’s Vimeo Page

USING RHINO &

GRASSHOPPER
ABOUT COVE.TOOL PLUG-INS
The Rhino-Grasshopper plug-in is our most
exciting external tool. Cove.tool runs thousands
Cove.tool allows architects, engineers, contractors, and Cove.tool has created one of the fastest geometry imports of facade, massing, and glazing options easily,
owners to save money, comply with the latest energy codes, of any energy modeling software. The plug-in eliminates the helping expand your parametric capabilities.
and make effective design decisions. One of the things that need for model prep and has a growing library of participating
makes it unique is the ease with which anyone can operate modeling software. Download Avaliable at Food4Rhino.com
the energy analysis tool. One example is cove.tool’s plug-ins.

HOW IT WORKS
Our tool saves time by allowing one to export building inputting your building geometry values which will be the basis Cove.tool is the automated building consultant that parametrically optimizes design options for energy and
geometry to existing cove.tool projects in the cloud. The for the calculations. Most other tools require custom models cost performance in the early stages of the design process. Cove.tool is a unique automated energy modeling
software that integrates design, cost and performance. Its validated results, unique features, and robust web
plug-ins were created to work with the existing workflow to be created taking several hours depending on the extent of app interface give every project team the edge to make the best decisions sooner and more often. Try cove.
of architects, engineers, contractors, and owners, not how the analysis and complexity of building geometry. What cove. tool to save energy, time, money, and the environment.
energy modelers have made it work in the past. tool has done differently is create a tool which easily collects
Knowing what an energy model is doing helps to demystify building geometry data straight from your working 3D Model
the process. Energy models are simply a series of equations and exports the values into the cloud.
that calculate heat flow in and heat flow out of a building. Our cloud-based process without having to remodel makes
Cove.tool automates the process of setting up the model and
running optimizations to find the highest performance options
for least cost. The first step of setting up the equations is
this tool the easiest and fastest geometry export tool in the
industry. We have not found a project big enough, a file too
messy, or a building unresolved enough to break cove.tool.
1000’s
Hours Saved
1000’s
of Bundles Created
100+
LEED Points Earned
Millions
of Dollars Saved covetool

Plug-in Help Document www.covetool.com 3

 1
HOW TO USE COVE.TOOL PLUG-INS

AUTODESK REVIT CUSTOM

3D VIEWS

TO COVE.TOOL
Step1: Duplicate four 3D Views in your Revit’s Project
Browser. Name each view after four of the eight cove.
tool categories (Floors, Roofs, Walls, and Windows).
These views will remain your standard cove.tool
selection windows. As you update your project, these

2
viewports will follow suit and throughout the project’s
life, you will be able to go back and forth from Revit and
cove.tool to learn about your building’s current energy
performance.

BEFORE YOU BEGIN PREPPING A

Cove.tool’s modeling software plugins were created
to streamline the import of building geometry. With
energy analysis. Because the plugin imports information
instantaneously every time you change your geometry, VIEWPORT
our custom data collector, we find your project, you can reload the project and see the latest update of
Step 2: Enter any view. In these windows, you will set
collect the geometry, and export the correct values your building’s performance. Here is how you can use up views which only show objects in one cove.tool
into the cloud database to run a fast and accurate Revit to start a cove.tool project. category. Once open go to the VIEW tab at the top of
the Revit interface, and select the Visibility/Graphics
sub tab to open the Visibility/Graphics Overrides
Editor. In the Model Categories tab, deselect all Object
Types in the Visibility Column which are not objects you

3
want Cove.tool to import. Ex: A “WALL” import only
needs the objects from the “Walls visibility category,” as
would ROOFS need from Roofs, FLOORS from Floors,
and so on. For categories left checked, deselect the
subcategories as they are not relevant to cove.tool and
can slow down the geometry export.

BEFORE YOU BEGIN ERROR FREE FILTER AND

EXPORT VISIBILITY
Step3: Objects which may remain in the view after
Selecting the correct objects to import is important.
the Visibility/Graphics change may have to be hidden
One thing we are proud of is that our software can
manually. Jump back and forth using the Selection
detect when these objects are and are not in the
Filter Tool to identify unwanted stray objects and the
correct categories for import selection. This means that
Sunglasses “Hide Element” tab to purge these objects
no matter what stage your Revit model is in when we
from your viewport. Once the Filter tool has been
want “wall” data the plugin will only take values from
exhausted and a few more undesired objects remain,
wall objects. Because of cove.tool only uses values

4
manually select the objects and Hide the Elements. Use
from objects which directly affect a project’s energy
Left Click option like Select Similar Objects-In Viewport,
performance (i.e. walls, roof, skylights, floors, and
to make this step faster. Once complete, Apply Hide/
windows) and cuts out miscellaneous objects, it cuts
Isolate View and complete steps for the other windows.
the need for geometry oriented model prep.

SELECTING &
MODEL OBJECTS
PREP?
Step 4: Now that all your viewports are complete, begin
the geometry export process. Log in to your cove.tool
account to connect your project to our cloud network. If
you haven’t already, start a new project in our web-app
so that there is a project to link to when you “Switch
The Revit plug-in uses 3D views for its selection and Projects” in Revit. Go through each tab/category and
data export process. These steps will not impact the select the geometry.
building geometry at all, instead, the Revit plug-in will One category that may be tricky is the WINDOWS
require edits in viewport settings to make seamless import. Depending on the window type property, a
data collections. This process has yet to meet a building window object may be located in multiple visibility
large or complex enough it couldn’t handle, but here are categories. Also, note that the cove.tool WALLS import
4 steps you can take to make sure a geometry import in does not require interior walls, only exterior walls which
Revit, from beginning to end, takes 5 minutes or less. have an impact on thermal transfer.

Plug-in Help Document www.covetool.com 5

 HOW TO USE COVE.TOOL PLUG-INS

FROM SKETCHUP FROM RHINO TO

TO RHINO GRASSHOPPER

1 A
EXPORT
AS .DWG
From SketchUp, export your model to a .DWG format.
With cove.tool’s current process, you only need
your building for the plugin process so context and
LAUNCH
GRASSHOPPER
Use the command “Grasshopper” to launch the app,
open the covetool.gh file you should have downloaded
earlier from Food4Rhino. Be careful navigating the file.

2 B
populating blocks (people, furniture, vegetation, etc.) Cove.tool’s grasshopper file was custom engineered
are unnecessary for the Rhino portion and slow down to get the exact values from your project model. The
the exporting process. entire process is modelled and several tips are placed
around the file to keep you on track.

IMPORT TO START A NEW

RHINO PROJECT
Before importing the .DWG file into Rhino set Rhino Inside the Grasshopper file, there are only 3 areas
units to meters, this will be necessary once inside which require your inputs.
Grasshopper. Now import the .DWG file into Rhino. Step 1: Fill-in the login and password panels with your
Make sure your model is oriented to the correct cove.tool information. This will link your Rhino project
cardinal directions, you can check this by viewing your to the cove.tool cloud. Make sure you have started a
model in the “Top View” to see if your north façade is new project in the cove.tool web app before continuing.

3 C
facing project north (top of the screen). This is imported Step 2: Once logged-in, the project list will update to
as data collected from the plug-in will be inserted into show your cove.tool project history. Using the number
the correct equation by its cardinal positioning. that identifies the project you wish to link to the project
in cove.tool, correct the project selector to connect.

MESHES TO USING THE

SURFACES LOCKSOLVER
Once imported from SketchUp, the project geometry You are nearly ready to begin the building geometry
will be entirely made of mesh objects. Cove.tool’s export process. Before doing any more actions,
grasshopper plug-in will only select single surface right-click the Grasshopper plane and activate the
objects to export area data. In order to convert mesh “LockSolver.” LockSolver is a Grasshopper tool which
objects into single surface objects, use the following temporarily disables Grasshopper’s Solver, in other
two commands. First, “MeshToNurb” to create words, it freezes Grasshopper computing process so
polysurface copies of the mesh geometries and while while activated any new components, parameters, or
still highlighted delete the original mesh-objects. inputs added will not run immediately. Grasshopper
Second use “MergeAllFaces” command to weld many is infamous for its freezing and crashing, but keeping
polysurfaces into single-surface objects. Polysurfaces Lock Solver consistently activated while you work, and
that do not weld into a single surface object can be only disabling when you are ready for the information
converted to single surfaces by using the command to update, you should be fine and the entire process
“Explode”. will be quick.

Plug-in Help Document www.covetool.com 7

 HOW TO USE COVE.TOOL PLUG-INS

FROM GRASSHOPPER
TO COVE.TOOL 3 FLOOR
SURFACES
Repeat the same steps in roof surfaces for floor
surfaces with a new Brep. However you modelled the
floors (with thickness, or not) throughout your project,
the only surfaces you should select are planes which
best illustrate the combined floor surface area or your

4
entire project. Be wary of selecting multiple surfaces on
the same plane, as they may double-log surface areas
and will result in unrealistic calculations and results in
your cove.tool report.

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

SKYLIGHT
Now you are ready to begin the geometry import. plane and typing “Brep” (aka Boundary Representation).
To begin exporting geometry create Breps for the Each export is unique and the following will explore tips
following pills, “roof surfaces, floor surfaces, skylight and challenges for each category. Once all Breps are
surfaces, opaque wall surfaces, and window surfaces.”
Create Breps by double-clicking the grasshopper
completed and lines connected, disable the LockSolver
and jump to the cove.tool web app to see your results. SURFACES
Repeat the same steps in roof surfaces for skylight
surfaces with a new Brep. Not all projects have
skylights, so it is ok to leave this category empty by not
creating/connecting a Brep. This may give you an error

5
prompt in the Grasshopper code, but will not affect the

1
rest of the data exports, so there is no need to worry.
Go into the cove.tool web app and manually enter zero
in this category.

BEFORE YOU BEGIN BUILDING WALL

HEIGHT SURFACES
Obtain building height by right-clicking the building Repeat the same steps in roof surfaces for opaque wall
height pill and selecting the “Set one Line” prompt. surfaces with a new Brep. Because cove.tool is an early
Jumping back to your Rhino model, begin a line stage energy modeling software the only data we need
from the lowest point of your model and continue from your building geometry are the areas in which
vertically-locked to the highest point in your model. Heat Transfer occurs. Thus when selecting walls for the
The measurement will be automatically recorded and cove.tool plug-in, only exterior walls should be selected,
once the “LockSolver” is disabled, the information will everything interior is unnecessary for the types of
be updated in your cove.tool project summary. energy analysis and results cove.tool will generate. If
you have a project that has Fins or Overhangs, those do

2 6
not need to be exported as they have their own page in
the cove.tool app that are manually recorded.

ROOF WINDOW
SURFACES SURFACES
Using a new Brep pill, right-click the Brep and select the Repeat the same steps in roof surfaces for window
“Set Multiple Breps” prompt. Back in Rhino, select the surfaces with a new Brep. Similar to Opaque wall
single surface objects that best illustrate the combined surfaces, the window surface selection only pertains to
surface area that entails your projects entire roof areas on the exterior face of the project. Also, mullions
surface area. This includes all areas that are exterior and would, in theory, be included in the window selection
seal the areas below them, do not include cantilevers process and not in the wall surface category, however
as they have no energy impact on a building. Once because of their general size they tend to be minimal
selected, back in grasshopper connect the Brep pill to blips in the energy simulation results especially for an
the roof surface pill with a wire to complete the import. early-stage energy modeling software, therefore are
not necessary to export to cove.tool.

Plug-in Help Document www.covetool.com 9

 HOW TO USE COVE.TOOL PLUG-INS

ENERGY FEATURES TO DRIVE HIGH

PERFORMANCE DESIGN
CODES ARE Tools should empower teams by removing obstacles to sustainable project goals.

CHANGING WEB INTERFACE

Easy firm adoption with our clean
and rolling update interface.
REVIT PLUG-IN
Work with your existing model
and import geometry to get
rapid feedback as the design
progresses.
RHINO/ GRASSHOPPER
PLUG-IN
Use an energy model that
keeps pace with the parametric
workflow.
TOOLS.

The world is experiencing dramatic climate change as the levels of carbon rise in the atmosphere. As the temperature PROCESS. EARN LEED POINTS
Get the integrative process credit
SHARE RESULTS
Use the interactive results tab to
CLOUD BASED
Optimization is made on demand
differences between the poles and equator even out, more extreme weather events can take place and dependable weather
with Energy-Related Systems aid in decision making and share via internet connectivity, so your
patterns shift. Buildings account for 40% of those carbon emissions and 76% of electricity use in the United States. If we analysis during schematic design. with your clients. project can be larger and run
reduce building energy usage, we join the fight against climate change. faster all in the cloud.

SEE AMAZING SUPPORT

Our team of energy modeling
VALIDATED RESULTS
Every input behind the scenes is
TEAM WORKFLOW
Our Floating Licenses and
PEOPLE.

RESULTS.
experts is always there ready to validated using the ASHRAE 140 monthly webinars can get the
answer questions and add new methodology. entire team mastering energy
features. models.

By automating the simulation inputs and intelligently

interpreting the results for report creation, cove.tool reduces
the time to understand performance from 20 hours to just DATA. AIA 2030 CODE DATABASE FAST RESULTS
Our simulations are lightning fast
5 minutes. Good data equals good conclusions, apples to Manage energy reporting in real Our database of energy codes
time from one dashboard and includes California Title 24, allowing us to run optimizations
apples comparison can suggest possible solutions that can be in a minute or less.
upload results automatically to ASHRAE 90.1 (v. 2007, 10, 13)
explored further, sooner. the DDx Dashboard. and Canadian NECB (v. 2011, 15).

“We decided to rethink the whole process of selecting

building components and technologies by making it easy to
factor in the construction cost for each one. When rational
decision making is combined with good design the result is a
compelling architecture that is respectful of the planet and
costs less.” ARCHITECTS ENGINEERS CONTRACTORS OWNERS
DESIGN SMARTER WORK FASTER BUILD SUSTAINABLY SAVE MONEY
–
Patrick Chopson, Co-Founder of Cove.tool, Inc.

Plug-in Help Document www.covetool.com 11

 cost
energy
optimize
cove.tool

CONTACT

Address Mobile Online

Cove Tool, Inc. Phone: + 1 404 998 5846 Email: hello@covetool.com

50 Hurt Plaza SE, Suite 0655 Website: www.covetool.com
Atlanta, GA 30303
United States