Is AIM Works a replacement for HAP, TRACE, or IES VE?

Not for hourly energy modeling. HAP, TRACE 3D Plus, and IES VE are validated energy-simulation suites — if you need 8,760-hour simulation or ASHRAE 90.1 Appendix G compliance modeling, use one of them. AIM Works covers the design workflow around that: scope-driven project setup, peak loads, ASHRAE 62.1 ventilation, equipment selection, hydronic/steam/gas piping and duct sizing, compliance scoreboards, and deliverables — with an AI co-pilot that drafts and an engineer who approves.

Can AIM Works work alongside an energy modeler?

Yes. The zone, load, and ventilation numbers you develop in AIM Works — documented in the calc package and equipment schedules — give the energy modeler a clean, cited starting point.

Does AIM Works do heating and cooling load calculations?

Yes — peak heating and cooling loads using the ASHRAE Radiant Time Series (RTS) method by default, with clear-sky solar geometry and a cooling-season month sweep so each zone is reported at its own peak month and hour. CLTD/CLF and a simplified method are also selectable, all altitude-corrected. These are design-day peaks — it does not run 8,760-hour energy simulations.

How much does AIM Works cost compared to HAP, TRACE, or IES VE?

AIM Works Starter is $99/month and Professional is $249/month, cancel anytime, with a 14-day free trial and no credit card required. HAP, TRACE 3D Plus, and IES VE are sold as annual per-seat or modular licenses — check each vendor for current pricing.

How AIM Works compares

HAP, TRACE, and IES VE are energy-modeling suites. AIM Works is the AI-assisted workflow for the design work around them. Here's an honest look at where each fits.

Straight talk first: if you need 8,760-hour energy simulation or ASHRAE 90.1 Appendix G compliance modeling — for LEED, a utility incentive, or a code submittal — use Carrier HAP, Trane TRACE 3D Plus, or IES VE. They are mature, validation-tested simulation engines, and AIM Works doesn't do that job. AIM Works covers the design workflow around it: scoping the project, running peak loads and ventilation, sizing equipment and piping and duct, checking compliance, and producing deliverables — with an AI co-pilot that drafts while you approve every change. The two kinds of tools work well together — the design basis you build in AIM Works becomes the documented starting point for the energy model.

	AIM Works	Carrier HAP	Trane TRACE 3D Plus	IES VE
Built for	End-to-end mechanical design workflow	Load calcs + hourly energy modeling	Load calcs + hourly energy modeling	Advanced building-performance simulation
Peak heating / cooling loads	Yes — ASHRAE RTS default with clear-sky solar + cooling-season month sweep (each zone at its own peak month/hour); CLTD/CLF selectable; altitude-corrected	Yes	Yes	Yes
8,760-hour energy simulation	No — by design	Yes	Yes	Yes
LEED / 90.1 Appendix G energy modeling	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
AI design co-pilot (drafts; engineer approves every change)	Yes	—	—	—
Scope-driven project template (proposal → workspace)	Yes	—	—	—
Hydronic, steam & gas pipe sizing + duct sizing	Yes — Darcy-Weisbach hydronics (4 loop topologies), Spitzglass gas, equal-friction duct	—	—	—
ASHRAE 62.1 ventilation (multi-zone)	Yes — 62.1-2019 §6.2.2 + §6.2.5; Ev from load-calc airflows	Yes	Yes	Via modules
Deliverables: Basis of Design narrative, equipment schedules, calc package, PDF report with airflow diagram + P&ID schematics	Yes — calc package carries a per-module maturity register + provenance	Reports only	Reports only	Reports only
Runs in the browser	Yes — nothing to install	Windows desktop	Windows desktop	Desktop
Free tools	60+ free calculators	—	—	—
Pricing	$99/mo Starter · $249/mo Pro · cancel anytime · 14-day free trial	Annual per-seat license	Annual per-seat license	Modular annual license (quote)

Comparison reflects publicly available information as of July 2026 and is offered in good faith — capabilities and pricing change; verify with each vendor before purchasing.

Respect where it's due

Each of these tools is genuinely good at its job. Here's what they're for — and how AIM Works fits alongside.

Carrier HAP

The workhorse for load calculation and hourly building energy analysis. Deep system modeling, LEED and 90.1 Appendix G workflows, decades of field use.

With AIM Works: scope the project, run design loads and ventilation, and size the plant and piping; hand your zone and load basis to HAP when the project needs an energy model.

Trane TRACE 3D Plus

Trane's successor to TRACE 700 — 3D geometry, load and energy simulation, economics, and Appendix G compliance modeling in one desktop suite.

With AIM Works: keep the day-to-day design workflow, deliverables, and equipment selections in AIM Works; hand the model to TRACE when a full energy study is in scope.

IES VE

The deepest simulation platform of the three — dynamic thermal simulation used worldwide for performance-driven design and green-building compliance. A specialist's tool with a learning curve to match.

With AIM Works: most projects never need VE-grade simulation. For the ones that do, do the mechanical design in AIM Works and bring in VE (or a consultant who runs it) for the performance modeling.

So when is AIM Works the right tool?

When the job is designing the mechanical systems — not modeling annual energy. If most of your week is scoping projects, running peak loads and 62.1 ventilation, selecting equipment against 90.1 efficiency floors, sizing hydronic loops and ductwork and gas piping, checking code compliance, and turning all of it into a Basis of Design, schedules, and a calc package — that's the workflow AIM Works was built around, with an AI co-pilot that drafts while you stay in control. You enter the design basis once and everything downstream stays consistent. Results cite the method behind them — RTS, 62.1 §6.2.2, 90.1 efficiency tables — plus an honest maturity label (validated, advisory, or reference), and every output is advisory until a licensed PE reviews and stamps it.

Try the workflow side free

14-day free trial. No credit card required. Keep your energy modeler — AIM Works plays nice.

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HAP is a product of Carrier Corporation. TRACE and TRACE 3D Plus are products of Trane Technologies. IES VE is a product of Integrated Environmental Solutions Ltd. All trademarks belong to their respective owners. AIM Works is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by any of these companies.