Bombyx / Hive

Bombyx and Hive are Rhino Grasshopper tools for the assessment of embodied emissions (LCA) and energy. The combination of both tools offers a powerful, integrated workflow for architects and engineers to evaluate both operational and embodied emissions during the early stages of design.

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Embodied emissions of a building as calculated by Bombyx tool in Rhino Grasshopper

Embodied emissions of a building as calculated by Bombyx tool in Rhino Grasshopper

Bombyx + Hive

Tools Websites:

Corresponding Authors:
- Dr Alina Galimshina (Bombyx), galimshina@ibi.baug.ethz.ch
- Dr Christoph Waibel (Hive), waibel@arch.ethz.ch

Publications:
- Basic, S., Hollberg, A., Galimshina, A. & Habert, G. "A design integrated parametric tool for real-time Life Cycle Assessment - Bombyx project". In: IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environment 323 (2019)
- Hollberg, A., Kaushal, D., Basic, S., Galimshina, A. & Habert, G. "A data-driven parametric tool for under-specified LCA in the design phase". In: IOP Conf. Ser. Earth Environ. Sci. 588 (2020).
- Waibel, C., Thomas, D., Elesawy, A., Hischier, I., Walker, L., Schlüter, A. "Integrating energy systems into building design with Hive: Features, user survey and comparison with Ladybug and Honeybee tools". In: Building Simulation 2021. https://doi.org/10.26868/25222708.2021.30526

Energy flow calculated by the Hive tool in Rhino Grasshopper

Energy flow calculated by the Hive tool in Rhino Grasshopper

Early-stage LCA and energy tools

Bombyx is a parametric life cycle assessment (LCA) tool that operates within Grasshopper in Rhino3D, utilizing the Swiss KBOB database for materials and energy carriers. It enables users to assess the environmental impact of design choices in the conceptual phase, focusing on embodied emissions.


Hive complements this by augmenting the parametric workflow with capabilities for operational emissions accounting. It simplifies the analysis of energy efficiency, comfort, and emissions without overwhelming the user with technical details. Hive integrates solar analysis, energy demand assessment, and renewable energy system evaluations (e.g., BIPV), allowing designers to see the performative consequences of their decisions in real-time.

Together, Bombyx and Hive provide a holistic approach to LCA, ensuring that both embodied and operational emissions are accounted for seamlessly in the design process, without disrupting creativity or workflow.

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