Autodesk announced the winner of the covenant award of Inventor of the Year. Last year the winner was Sean Dotson's company RND Automation and the year before that was our very own client Dynamic Structures which currently graces the box media of the Autodesk Manufacuting Portfolio of softare. This year the winner went to the UK based company Green Structures which participated in the Autodesk Clean Engery program for software (they basically get it for free). The winner was chosen by the Manufacturing community through a public voting process. Looks like being green is still quite an awesome thing to vote for. Kermit would be proud.
Green Structures uses a fair amount of manufacturing design software as well as building products. Perhaps their most significant usage of software comes from the analysis side with Autodesk Simulation to perform building cooling analysis with Revit models as well as Inventor models. See below for the full press release.

Autodesk Names Green Structures as Inventor of Year for 2011
Green Structures Speeds Development of Innovative Heat Recovery System
SAN RAFAEL, Calif., March 8, 2012 — Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK) has named Green Structures as the Autodesk Inventor of the Year for 2011 for developing the Ventive energy-efficiency system that is ideal for building retrofits.
Members of the Autodesk manufacturing community from around the world chose the U.K.-based company by voting on the community website. Green Structures uses Autodesk Inventor software and a range of other Autodesk Digital Prototyping solutions to transform the way energy systems are planned, designed, constructed, maintained and operated within the built environment. The company was originally named Autodesk Inventor of the Month December 2011.
As a member of the Autodesk Clean Tech Partner Program — an initiative that provides Autodesk Digital Prototyping software to emerging and established clean tech companies — Green Structures is an innovator in passive heat recovery ventilation and thermal energy storage systems.
Thomas Lipinski, founder, managing director and CTO of Green Structures said, “With access to the same world-class Autodesk professional software as some of the United Kingdom’s largest manufacturers, we have strengthened the quality and professionalism of our design process. It is an honor to receive this award and be recognized for our work by the Autodesk Manufacturing Community.”
The firm’s Ventive heat recovery ventilation system works with existing chimneys to channel air and heat. This system contrasts with current mechanical heat recovery ventilation systems, which require that complex ductwork be installed throughout an entire building. Ventive can be installed in less than 30 minutes, providing a far faster and less expensive alternative for retrofitting buildings with the latest green technologies.
Green Structures relies on Autodesk Inventor, as well as Autodesk Ecotect Analysis software, Autodesk Simulation Multiphysics software and Autodesk Revit Architecture software in its product design and development. Access to Autodesk design and simulation technology provided a more controlled environment to test designs, helping to make the design process less costly, faster and with less guesswork.
Autodesk Simulation Software Saves Time and Money
Green Structures accelerated the prototyping process for its Ventive heat recovery ventilation system through the use of Autodesk Simulation software to digitally simulate wind tunnel tests and perform heat transfer analysis, saving on physical testing costs of approximately $1,550 (£1,000) per day. Autodesk reseller Envisage helped provide training and support to enable Green Structures to more quickly implement Autodesk Digital Prototyping software in the design process.
Robert “Buzz” Kross, senior vice president, Design, Lifecycle and Simulation at Autodesk said, “We join the Autodesk Manufacturing Community in congratulating Green Structures for its standout application of Autodesk software to transform energy systems.”
About the Autodesk Inventor of the Month Program
Each month, Autodesk selects an Inventor of the Month from the users of Autodesk Inventor software, which takes manufacturers beyond 3D to Digital Prototyping. Winners are chosen for engineering excellence and groundbreaking innovation. For more information about the Autodesk Inventor of the Month Program, contact us at IOM@autodesk.com.
About the Autodesk Clean Tech Partner Program
The Autodesk Clean Tech Partner Program supports the efforts, innovations and environmental advancements of clean technology pioneers, providing world-class software to design, visualize and simulate their ideas through Digital Prototyping. Clean tech companies in North America, Europe, Singapore and Japan are invited to apply to receive up to $150,000* worth of software for only $50. Access to a collection of Autodesk industry-leading software includes up to five licenses of Autodesk Product Design Suite Ultimate, AutoCAD Revit Architecture Suite, Autodesk Simulation Mechanical, Autodesk Inventor Publisher and Autodesk Vault Professional software. Get more information.
About Green Structures
Green Structures is a UK-based clean technology company working within the built environment to develop commercially attractive low-carbon building solutions. For additional information, visit www.greenstructures.co.uk.