Education and career
Over the years, IDA ICE has become firmly established at universities all over norther and central Europe and the whole world as a powerful tool for teaching, scientific work, and applied research in the fields of building physics, energy efficiency, indoor climate, and sustainable design.
It supports students in developing a strong understanding of building performance simulation and gives researchers a reliable platform for investigating complex questions related to building energy use, thermal comfort, HVAC systems, and climate-responsive design. Through this long-standing academic use, countless student projects, theses, and scientific publications have emerged, helping to shape a new generation of professionals with solid BPS knowledge.
The success of this development is closely linked to the commitment of universities and lecturers who recognized early on the value of simulation-based learning. Their work has not only strengthened teaching quality, but also contributed to a growing community of graduates and researchers who are well prepared to address the challenges of the built environment with analytical and practical expertise.
Below, we highlight some of the major university programs that work with IDA ICE. This is not a complete list, as the number of institutions is now far larger, but it provides an overview of some of the most established and visible academic programs.
Germany, Austria, Switzerland (DACH)
IDA ICE has played an important role in building performance simulation education and research across the DACH region for many years. What began as an early initiative at HSLU, where Prof. Gerhard Zweifel introduced the software in the late 1990s and helped bring it from Sweden via Switzerland to Central Europe, has since grown into a broad and lasting academic network. Today, more than 100 universities across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland use IDA ICE successfully in their educational and research activities.
Education and training
At the Berlin University of the Arts (UdK Berlin), IDA ICE is used in the teaching of the Bachelor’s and Master’s programs in Architecture. In the foundational courses of the Bachelor’s program, students begin with simple energy-related room analyses using ESBO Light and later use IDA ICE to perform cooling load calculations and lighting analyses based on a given building model.
In the master’s program, students work in project groups on a building design with varying themes in the seminar “Climate Design and Energy Efficiency” (MA Modul 02). This individual design is modeled in detail in IDA ICE and then optimized for both indoor climate and energy efficiency.
Research
At the Department of Building Physics and Building Technology (VPT) at UdK Berlin, IDA ICE is also being used in various projects to research energy-sustainable building systems and urban districts (more)
Education and training
In the Bachelor’s and Master’s programs simulations are an integral part of the curriculum. Through exercises, project studies, and master’s theses, students learn with scientifically sound methods to apply the calculation and simulation of building energy systems in a practical manner.
Education and training
- Master "Digital Energy Solutions" - Im Fach "Energy Consumers“ erhalten die Studierenden neben den Grundlagen zu Energieverbrauchern und der mathematischen Bewertung von Energielastprofilen mit IDA ICE einen Einblick in die Modellierung und Simulation von Gebäudeenergiesystemen.
Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts offers practical bachelor's and master's degree programs, innovative research, and over 600 continuing education courses for professional development. Main language is German, but the master's degree program in particular can also be completed in English.
Education and training
Building Performance Simulation (BPS) is taught in the following degree programs as part of undergraduate and graduate education:
Eine Hauptkompetenz des Instituts Gebäudetechnik und Energie ist die Simulation und Analyse von Gebäuden und Arealen. Hier werden BPS angewendet und weiterentwickelt.
One of the main areas of expertise of the Institute of Building Technology and Energy is the simulation and analysis of buildings and sites. BPS is applied and further developed.
University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland offers practical bachelor's and master's degree programs, many education courses for professional development and carries out applied research and development. The main language is German. The core modules of the master’s program are taught in English and students may choose between German and English for their project works. The master’s program can be completed entirely in English.
Education and training
Building Performance Simulation (BPS) is taught in the following degree programs as part of undergraduate and graduate education:
Research
One of the key areas of expertise at the Institute for Sustainability and Energy in Construction is the simulation, analysis and optimization of buildings and sites across a range of topics. Simulations are also used for building services components and hardware-in-the-loop testing. BPS is utilised, adapted as required and further developed.
Education and training
- Master "Angewandte Energietechnik" in Wels - Im Fach "Gebäudeoptimierung" werden interdisziplinäre und gewerkeübergreifende Methoden zur Bewertung und Analyse der Nachhaltigkeit von Gebäuden über ihren gesamten Lebenszyklus vermittelt. In Masterarbeiten wird die Verwendung von dynamisch thermischer Gebäudesimulation und CFD-Simulationen unterstützt.
- Master "Digital Energy Solutions" in Hagenberg - Im Fach "Energy Consumers“ erhalten die Studierenden neben den Grundlagen zu Energieverbrauchern und der mathematischen Bewertung von Energielastprofilen mit IDA ICE einen Einblick in die Modellierung und Simulation von Gebäudeenergiesystemen.
Finnland and Baltics
Scandinavia
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