[BLDG-SIM] Hornet's Nest -- Policy for Public Investment in Energy Software

Jeff Hirsch Jeff.Hirsch at DOE2.com
Mon Jan 31 15:42:03 PST 2000


Charles asks:
I guess I do not understand why Hirsch and Associates is willing to invest its own resources in eQuest, when the SCE plan is to
offer it for free.

Answer:
Our main current business is the development of tools for this industry and the expert use of those tools in real building design;
the more the number of users of these tools grows, the more our tools are in demand, and the more our services are in demand for
both tool development and tool application.  We invest in "free" or "inexpensive" tools because we believe that such an investment
will help an emerging market grow, which in turn will increase the demand for our products and services; we take the "long" view
when deciding how to invest our dollars even though sometimes the daily pressures of paying our bills makes that choice difficult.
In any business, sustaining growth translates in sustaining market share growth; in this business the game is also market size
growth - the desired result requires "long view" investment. (Also, we REALLY enjoy what we do, so tend to want to do more than we
can find someone to pay us to do - within limits)

Also we do engines, interfaces, and specialized applications - we do not see a policy that allows public investment in engines but
not interfaces logical.  Again, the policy for public funding should be to do what is needed most, but in a way that enhances the
private sector not competes with it; use of public funding for enabling technology is almost always welcome, for products is ONLY
welcome if it is spend within the private sector through competitive awards.
---
Jeff Hirsch
James J. Hirsch & Associates
Building Performance Analysis Software & Consulting
12185 Presilla Road
Camarillo, CA 93012-9243 USA
phone: (805) 553-9000
fax: (805) 532-2401
email: Jeff.Hirsch at DOE2.com
web: http://DOE2.com



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