[Bldg-sim] comparing different energy simulation software

Tue Apr 7 13:22:53 PDT 2009

Hello Yangang,

Crawley et al have compared 20 different enregy simulation softwares. The report can be found at the link below; I am not sure if there has been a follow-up study since.

Crawley D., Hand J., Kummert M., Griffith B. (July 2005). ‘Contrasting the capabilities of building energy performance simulation programs’, version 1.0, United States Department of Energy, University of Strathclyde and University of Wisconsin. 
http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/tools_directory/pdfs/contrasting_the_capabilities_of_building_energy_performance_simulation_programs_v1.0.pdf 

It's not a comparison of building performance using various software, if that's what you're looking for. It's a comparison of features of  different programs.

Regards,
Ratnalee Patil
Graduate Student
Concordia University
Montreal, Canada

------------------------------

Message: 7
Date: Tue, 7 Apr 2009 13:40:14 +0100
From: "Yan Xing" <yx at kinetic-aiu.com>
Subject: [Bldg-sim] comparing different energy simulation software
To: <bldg-sim at lists.onebuilding.org.>
Message-ID:
    <083E292271CA184AA1A373BB3BB443310F9239 at SBSSERVER.factory.local>
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Hi,

I wondered has anyone come across latest research on comparison of
different energy simulation software with actual buildings performance.
I would be very appreciate your replies and happy to summarise and share
findings at a later stage. 

Many thanks 

Yangang Xing

Sustainability Toolkit Developer

yx at kinetic-aiu.com

Kinetic AIU Limited

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Message: 8
Date: Tue, 7 Apr 2009 08:59:37 -0500
From: Ramana Koti <ramana.koti at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Bldg-sim] [Sbse] GHG reduction targets for architectural
    offices
To: Bill Bordass <bilbordass at aol.com>
Cc: "sbse at uidaho.edu" <sbse at uidaho.edu>,    Bldg-Sim
    <bldg-sim at lists.onebuilding.org>
Message-ID: <ECABCA33-E57F-4695-AA3E-0313619AE4F1 at gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"; Format="flowed";
    DelSp="yes"

Bill - the 10% was just an example to help understand the format in  
which I was looking for an answer, not to be taken literally.

Look forward to any other information you might find.

Hal - thanks for your detailed reply, will write to you once I review.

Ramana.

Sent from my iPhone

On Apr 7, 2009, at 12:27 AM, Bill Bordass <bilbordass at aol.com> wrote:

> Dear Ramana
>
> Why do you want a target of this kind - and certainly such a modest  
> one as 10%?
>
> Surely the challenge we face is: How low can we go?  Get firms  
> competing to do that.
>
> And no offsetts or other subterfuges allowed please.  You do these  
> to compensate for what you have done, not to make it disappear.
>
> We need radical change in the way we do things, not nips and tucks  
> round the edges.  As my colleague Rod Bunn says:  What we've got  
> used to, we're not entitled to.
>
> One cardinal rule: try not to go in an aeroplane.  It is about the  
> fastest way anyone can pollute the atmosphere legally.
>
> I know a firm that has done quite comprehensive accounting.  I'll  
> see if they have anything to say.
>
> With good wishes
>
> Bill
>
> Bill Bordass, the Usable Buildings Trust, c/o10 Princess Road,  
> London NW1 8JJ, England
> Phone and fax 020-7722 2630, International +4420 7722 2630
> bilbordass at aol.com, www.usablebuildings.co.uk
>
>
>
> On 7 Apr 2009, at 04:01, Ramana Koti wrote:
>
>> Thanks Teri. I did not frame my question right.
>>
>> I was actually referring to setting reduction a target after a  
>> complete greenhouse gas accounting exercise (including operational  
>> energy, transportation to and from work, work related long distance  
>> travel, material recycling etc). I'm looking for an answer like 10%  
>> reduction over yr 2001 baseline by 2015.
>>
>> Ramana.
>>
>> On Mon, Apr 6, 2009 at 5:42 PM, Terri Meyer Boake <tboake at uwaterloo.ca 
>> > wrote:
>> Ramana
>>
>> I am just going by those posted on the 2030 web site and would  
>> extrapolate "office" in general.
>> http://www.architecture2030.org/2030_challenge/targets.html
>> http://www.architecture2030.org/downloads/2030_Challenge_Targets_National.pdf
>>
>> best
>>
>> Terri
>>
>> Ramana Koti wrote:
>> All,
>>  Is anyone familiar with any prevalent greenhouse gas emission  
>> reduction targets specific to architecture/design firms in the US?
>>  Sorry for the cross postings.
>>  Thanks,
>>
>> RAMANA KOTI  Assoc. ASHRAE LEED? AP
>> Sustainable Building Analyst
>>
>> ELEMENTS division of BNIM architects
>> 106 West 14th Street Suite 200
>> Kansas City Missouri 64105
>>
>> d 816.783.1635 f 816.783.1501
>> bnim.com <http://bnim.com> | elements.bnim.com <http://elements.bnim.com 
>> >
>>
>> --- 
>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> SBSE mailing list
>> SBSE at uidaho.edu
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>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>
>
> =
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Message: 9
Date: Tue, 7 Apr 2009 08:55:58 -0600
From: Ery Djunaedy <erydjunaedy at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Bldg-sim] illuminance data in TMY2 file
To: "Horowitz, Scott" <Scott.Horowitz at nrel.gov>
Cc: bldg-sim at lists.onebuilding.org,
    radiance-general at radiance-online.org
Message-ID:
    <a590350904070755q3db0d12fx6801756b80594f47 at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Scott,

Thanks for the info. I know that the solution can be as simple as that.

This data is of course important only for the (annual) daylighting
calculation. Daysim is using this data. I suspect even EPlus or eQuest
will use this data for daylight control.

Thanks,

Ery

On Mon, Apr 6, 2009 at 5:10 PM, Horowitz, Scott <Scott.Horowitz at nrel.gov> wrote:
> Hi Ery,
>
> I don't know if this was also a problem with TMY2 or if you meant TMY3,
> but TMY3 files have the problem you observed. See the notice listed on
> this website:
>
> http://rredc.nrel.gov/solar/old_data/nsrdb/1991-2005/tmy3/
>
> For what it's worth, certain simulation engines (like EnergyPlus) don't
> use that data from the weather file.
>
> Hope that helps,
>
> Scott
>
> --
> Scott Horowitz
> National Renewable Energy Laboratory
> 1617 Cole Blvd.
> Golden, CO 80401
> 303.384.7560
>
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: bldg-sim-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org [mailto:bldg-sim-
>> bounces at lists.onebuilding.org] On Behalf Of Ery Djunaedy
>> Sent: Monday, April 06, 2009 4:27 PM
>> To: bldg-sim at lists.onebuilding.org; radiance-general at radiance-
>> online.org
>> Subject: [Bldg-sim] illuminance data in TMY2 file
>>
>> All,
>>
>> Attached is the illuminance (global horizontal) for Boise, ID, from
>> TMY2 data. Note the valley in the graph on the left bottom corner
>> which is caused by the very low illuminance values for January (the
>> values are in the hundreds, compared to tens of thousand in February).
>> I know for a fact that in Boise January is not (much) darker than
>> December or February.
>>
>> Furthermore, the corresponding radiation data do not have that dip in
>> January. The illumination values are calculated based on the radiation
>> data, right? So if there is nothing wrong in the radiation data, is
>> this related to the model used in converting radiation data into
>> illumination values?
>>
>> I also checked another site in Idaho, it has the same dark January.
>>
>> Any thoughts?
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Ery
>

------------------------------

Message: 10
Date: Tue, 07 Apr 2009 10:04:42 -0500
From: "Michael J. Witte" <mjwitte at gard.com>
Subject: [Bldg-sim] Upcoming EnergyPlus Training Events
To: bldg-sim at lists.onebuilding.org
Message-ID: <49DB6B8A.5030809 at gard.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

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===================================

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---------------------

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---------------------

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---------------------

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---------------------

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------------------------------

Message: 11
Date: Tue, 7 Apr 2009 13:27:53 -0500
From: "Jeremy Poling" <jpoling at epsteinglobal.com>
Subject: Re: [Bldg-sim] [Sbse] GHG reduction targets for
    architecturaloffices
To: "Peter Papesch" <papesch at me.com>
Cc: sbse at uidaho.edu, Terri Meyer Boake <tboake at uwaterloo.ca>,    Bldg-Sim
    <bldg-sim at lists.onebuilding.org>
Message-ID:
    <88DC4C3C646DD5119B0D0002A537FD6814CA66E4 at madison.corp.epstein-isi.com>

Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Peter

I fully agree - thanks for contributing your far better wording!

My e-mail address has changed.
Please update your records using the information provided below.

Jeremy R. Poling, LEED AP
Senior Sustainability Analyst
Strategic Services

Site Solutions | Operations | Sustainability

EPSTEIN
Architecture
Interiors
Engineering
Construction

600 West Fulton Street
Chicago, Illinois 60661-1259

D (312) 429-8152
F (312) 559-1217
C (312) 504-5905
jpoling at epsteinglobal.com <mailto:jpoling at epsteinglobal.com> 

www.epsteinglobal.com <http://www.epsteinglobal.com/> 

We are proud to announce that our collective companies, A. Epstein and
Sons International, Inc., Interior Space International, annex|5 and neXt
wayfinding + design are now simply known as Epstein.

Epstein is a firm believer in sustainability. We ask that you please
consider the environment before printing this e-mail.

________________________________

From: Peter Papesch [mailto:papesch at me.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, April 07, 2009 11:34 AM
To: Jeremy Poling
Cc: Ramana Koti; Bldg-Sim; sbse at uidaho.edu; Terri Meyer Boake
Subject: Re: [Bldg-sim] [Sbse] GHG reduction targets for
architecturaloffices

Hello, Jeremy:

Thanks for focusing our discussion in this manner. I completely concur
with your call for further specificity, but would like to frame it as
follows:

Climate change has changed all the rules that humans play by. Therefore
we need to re-arrange our paradigms, which means all games that we
engage in (and professions) need to be re-formulated and re-formatted
"in terms of" climate change. Aesthetics, architecture, food production,
politics, economics, building sector, transportation ... all. 

Peter

On Apr 7, 2009, at 1:04 AM, Jeremy Poling wrote:

I've been doing some research on this topic for a bit and have found
most of the reduction targets depend on who is mandating/reviewing the
CO2 reductions.  If the carbon reduction for the building is anticipated
to be a marketable reduction credit, then the Chicago Climate Exchange
will determine the baseline and the required reduction percentage per
year.  If you are participating in the World Wildlife Foundation's
Climate Savers program, the baseline will be different as will the
agreed-upon reduction requirements.  The U.S. EPA also is developing a
scheme as part of President Obama's plans to address climate change
through a cap-and-trade program.

I guess the best answer is - it depends on who you are providing the
benchmarking information to.  The Architecture 2030 Challenge is
commonly referenced because it does set specific percentage reductions,
and even though they are for the work product of architectural firms the
same goals would need to be true for the architects implementing them in
the interest of "walking the talk" so to speak.  Those percentage
reductions are referenced as "reductions over the current national
average for that building type" for the project.  In the US, that would
be the 2003 CBECS energy baseline.  The 2030 Challenge percentages are:

60% in 2010

70% in 2015

80% in 2020

90% in 2025

100% in 2030 (Carbon Neutral)

These are in reference to building energy use, but I would suggest that
to have a meaningful impact on climate change the same targets need to
be set for the other factors of your carbon footprint (transportation,
business travel, embodied carbon of material consumption and recycling,
etc.).

I'm not sure if this answers your question, but I'm not sure the answer
you are looking for is outside of your team.  If I was in your shoes, I
would sit down with my team and ask three questions:

1.    What do we believe is the smallest reduction we can commit to
and still have an impact?
2.    What is the largest reduction we can commit to accomplish within
our sphere of influence?
3.    What can we successfully replicate with our clients when they
ask us this same question?

I'd suggest that the answer to number 3 is probably somewhere between
the answers to 1 and 2 and close to the number you'll finally settle on.
I'm up for more discussion on this topic if you want - I'm passionate
and interested in this topic and continually frustrated by how many
different answers are out there and how political the issue has become.
Hope this helps!

Jeremy R. Poling, LEED AP
Senior Sustainability Analyst
Strategic Services

Site Solutions | Operations | Sustainability

EPSTEIN

________________________________

From: bldg-sim-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org
[mailto:bldg-sim-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org] On Behalf Of Ramana Koti
Sent: Monday, April 06, 2009 10:01 PM
To: Bldg-Sim; sbse at uidaho.edu
Cc: Terri Meyer Boake
Subject: Re: [Bldg-sim] [Sbse] GHG reduction targets for
architecturaloffices

Thanks Teri. I did not frame my question right.

I was actually referring to setting reduction a target after a complete
greenhouse gas accounting exercise (including operational energy,
transportation to and from work, work related long distance travel,
material recycling etc). I'm looking for an answer like 10% reduction
over yr 2001 baseline by 2015.

Ramana.

On Mon, Apr 6, 2009 at 5:42 PM, Terri Meyer Boake <tboake at uwaterloo.ca>
wrote:

Ramana

I am just going by those posted on the 2030 web site and would
extrapolate "office" in general.
http://www.architecture2030.org/2030_challenge/targets.html
http://www.architecture2030.org/downloads/2030_Challenge_Targets_Nationa
l.pdf

best

Terri

Ramana Koti wrote:

All,
Is anyone familiar with any prevalent greenhouse gas emission reduction
targets specific to architecture/design firms in theUS?
Sorry for the cross postings.
Thanks,

RAMANA KOTI  Assoc. ASHRAE LEED(r) AP
Sustainable Building Analyst

ELEMENTS division of BNIM architects
106 West 14th Street Suite 200
Kansas City Missouri 64105

d 816.783.1635 f 816.783.1501

bnim.com <http://bnim.com> | elements.bnim.com
<http://elements.bnim.com>

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