[Bldg-sim] simulation software

Jeff Haberl jeffhaberl at tees.tamus.edu
Sat Dec 29 10:29:48 PST 2007


FYI. 

Whatever package you use, gaining the type of experience needed to do a reliable job usually takes 2 to 5 years. Especially with "custom" systems that are not easily modeled with fixed schematic programs. 

In addition, one should know what the programs is doing. All too often there are posts to the different sites where it is clear the user does no want to take the time to read the manual. 

At our university we teach DOE-2 from the BDL. This takes a whole semester to cover all commands. After the student takes the class, I'm told it takes them another year or two to build a library of their own files that they ca use to assemble an input. EQUEST is then the program of choice by the students as it is based on DOE-2. In the future we will be teaching EP. 

Using any GUI or REVIT is one or two levels above the basic code. This can be very tempting -- but it requires the user to do their own checking to see if the outputs make sense. Obviously, having on-line help is useful but it cannot replace experience. 

All too often I see posts where someone says that this is their first time to simulate something...this is good...and I applaud anyone who tries to learn this on their own. 

But a reasonable person must ask would you want your heart surgeon to be operating for the first time on you? 

Certainly, any paid simulation job should also be approached with similar respect...these are just calculations, based on algorithms and assumed configurations. If you can't tell what is being simulated, then you're better off using a spreadsheet or rule of thumb. 

Finally, any simulation should be reviewed by another knowledgable person who makes the original coder explain what they are doing, check answers, etc., and the performance of the building monitored (as budget allows) to see how the simulation performed.  

Jeff 
BB 8=!  8=)  :=)  8=)  ;=)  8=)  8=(  8=)  :=')  8=)  8=)  8=? BB

Jeff S. Haberl, Ph.D., P.E.............................jhaberl at esl.tamu.edu

Professor......................................................Office Ph: 979-845-6507

Department of Architecture.......................Lab Ph: 979-845-6065 

Energy Systems Laboratory.......................FAX: 979-862-2457 

Texas A&M University..............................77843-3581

College Station, Texas, USA.......................URL: www-esl.tamu.edu

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----- Original Message -----
From: bldg-sim-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org <bldg-sim-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org>
To: bldg-sim at lists.onebuilding.org <bldg-sim at lists.onebuilding.org>
Sent: Tue Dec 18 09:41:15 2007
Subject: [Bldg-sim] simulation software

hi,

 we are planning to use EQUEST or TRACE 700 for energy simulation. 

 Is eQUEST an approved software by USGBC (in Texas)?

Where can we get training in DFW (Dallas Fort Worth) area?

 Which one is easier, faster? Trace 700 or eQUEST?

or do you know other simulation software (preferable free) that we can
utilize in our LEED design projects and we can get training in DFW area?

thanks

Ardas

 
 
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