As the architecture industry faces increasing pressure to reduce its environmental impact, the Autodesk AEC Collection offers a powerful suite of tools to support sustainable design. From early conceptual planning in Autodesk Forma to performance-based detailing in Autodesk Revit, architects now have a comprehensive workflow to model, analyze, and optimize eco-friendly buildings.

The Power of the AEC Collection

The Autodesk AEC Collection brings together industry-leading tools tailored for architecture, engineering, and construction workflows. For eco-friendly architecture, this toolkit provides integrated capabilities for:

• Conceptual design and feasibility studies
• Energy and daylight simulations
• Embodied carbon analysis
• Collaboration across disciplines
• Construction documentation with sustainability in mind

1. Early-Stage Planning with Autodesk Forma

Sustainability begins with informed site planning and massing strategies. Autodesk Forma empowers architects at the earliest stages with data-driven insights into environmental factors such as sunlight, wind patterns, noise, and more.

Forma’s Key Sustainable Features:

• Sun Path and Shadow Analysis: Understand how natural light will affect the site and optimize building orientation.

• Daylight Potential: Estimate interior daylight availability to reduce artificial lighting loads.
• Microclimate Simulations: Evaluate wind comfort and noise levels to enhance outdoor spaces.

2. Refined Design and Analysis in Revit

Once a solid concept is in place, Autodesk Revit becomes the primary platform for detailed design and performance analysis. Because it’s BIM-based, Revit allows architects to integrate sustainability considerations directly into the model.

Environmental Analysis Tools in Revit:

Sun Study

Revit’s built-in sun path tool visualizes how shadows move across a project throughout the day and year. This informs shading strategies, passive solar heating, and daylighting.

A complete sun study can also be done within Revit and additional analysis tools are available from the System and Analyze tabs within Revit, with regards to Shadows, Lighting and Sun.

Lighting Analysis (with Insight)

Using Autodesk Insight, designers can run real-time lighting simulations to ensure comfort and reduce energy usage.

• Assess daylight autonomy (DA) and spatial daylight autonomy (sDA)
• Identify areas of over-illumination or glare
• Optimize window placements and shading devices

Carbon Insight

One of the most exciting additions is Carbon Insight, which gives architects an early estimate of a building’s embodied and operational carbon. This empowers teams to make greener material choices and reduce the building’s long-term impact.

Energy Optimization

Revit and Insight work together to simulate building energy usage based on massing, orientation, systems, and materials.

• Evaluate HVAC efficiency
• Estimate annual energy costs
• Benchmark against energy codes

These insights help validate if a design meets LEED or other green building standards before finalizing construction documents.

3. Connecting Forma and Revit for Seamless Sustainability

Autodesk’s cloud-based ecosystem allows for interoperability between Forma and Revit, making it easier than ever to transition from planning to detailed design without losing sustainability insights.

For example, massing models from Forma can be directly imported into Revit with performance data intact. Teams can continue refining the design while building on earlier solar or daylighting analyses.

This seamless connection ensures environmental considerations stay consistent from concept through construction, rather than being retrofitted later.

4. Collaboration and Lifecycle Thinking

Beyond modelling and analysis, sustainability also depends on how teams collaborate and manage data over the building lifecycle.

With tools like Autodesk Docs and BIM Collaborate Pro, stakeholders can:

• Share sustainability goals and progress
• Track decisions on materials and systems
• Maintain version control on energy models
• Support green certifications through clear documentation

Moreover, Autodesk Construction Cloud enables continued access to building data post-occupancy, supporting operations and maintenance with sustainability in mind.

Pro Tips for Sustainable Architecture with the AEC Collection

Start with sustainability in mind – Use Forma for early-stage simulations to guide massing and orientation.

Analyze often, not just once – Don’t wait until late-stage design to run energy or daylighting simulations.

Iterate using Revit and Insight – Adjust systems, materials, and configurations based on real feedback.

Leverage the cloud – Connect Forma, Revit, and Insight for a continuous feedback loop across your team.

Stay informed – Autodesk frequently updates its sustainability tools. Keep an eye out for new beta features like carbon tracking dashboards or AI-based material selection.

Conclusion

Better Tools for a Greener Future

Eco-friendly architecture doesn’t have to be complex. With the Autodesk AEC Collection, architects, engineers and construction professionals can integrate sustainability into every design phase from the first sketch to the final construction drawing.

Whether you’re aiming for a net-zero building or simply want to make smarter material choices, the combination of Forma, Revit, and Insight gives you the tools to deliver better outcomes, for your clients and the planet.

Still looking for answers? Start a discussion with other professionals in your industry!