[Bldg-sim] [EnergyPlus_Support] I need advices for choosing a GUI

Nick Caton ncaton at smithboucher.com
Thu Oct 29 14:41:25 PDT 2009


The current version of free sketchup (as of this month I believe) does
not support .dwg importing, actually.  If you continue using any older
version - it shouldn't lose this functionality (keep your installation
files).  The Sketchup development team has been clear on their intent to
continue .dwg and other proprietary format file support in the Pro
version.  

 

**A moment on my soapbox**

 

Our office took this as a cue to recognize that the free version of
Sketchup is explicitly intended for educational/trial purposes, however
powerful it may be - not for professional design use.  Our office
purchased a Pro license in response to ensure continued support of
import/export of .dwg and other formats we use.  I'd encourage others on
bldg-sim to consider this carefully.  The cost:benefit ratio of the free
version of Sketchup, for many of us, is pretty extraordinary.  To top it
off it's actually fairly inexpensive as far as professional design tools
go. 

 

**Stepping off the soapbox**

 

On a Sketchup-related note - I haven't mentioned this on [bldg-sim] yet,
but Sketchup-savvy users using a version with .dwg export support can
actually export their models into AGI32 for photometric and rendering
lighting/daylight studies after a little work in CAD to ensure a clean
import.  I might write up an illustrated guide or post the full scoop
here at some point in the future, but for those interested in learning
immediately I'll just say to head over to the AGI32 forums to find a
lengthy post (intended to troubleshoot other AGI32-specific issues)
where I composed a pretty decent outline of the process to start.

 

~Nick

 

 

 

NICK CATON, E.I.T.

PROJECT ENGINEER

25501 west valley parkway

olathe ks 66061

direct 913 344.0036

fax 913 345.0617

Check out our new web-site @ www.smithboucher.com 

 

From: bldg-sim-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org
[mailto:bldg-sim-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org] On Behalf Of Kevin Kyte
Sent: Thursday, October 29, 2009 2:43 PM
To: Jackson, Alan; EnergyPlus_Support at yahoogroups.com
Cc: bldg-sim at lists.onebuilding.org
Subject: Re: [Bldg-sim] [EnergyPlus_Support] I need advices for choosing
a GUI

 

Free sketchup is not going to support dwg importing for much longer.

 

________________________________

From: Jackson, Alan [mailto:ajackson at klingstubbins.com] 
Sent: Thursday, October 29, 2009 1:09 PM
To: EnergyPlus_Support at yahoogroups.com
Cc: bldg-sim at lists.onebuilding.org
Subject: Re: [Bldg-sim] [EnergyPlus_Support] I need advices for choosing
a GUI

 

In what sense?

 

If you mean it doesn't have every single capability of modeling like the
IDF or Text editor would, yes. But nothing does. It's hard to keep up
with the E+ developer cycle ;-)

 

If you mean it doesn't run off Energyplus 3.0. It does.

 

I don't use it because it's too expensive. I prefer OpenStudio and the
IDF Editor/Textpad because you have access to all the capabilities that
E+ has to offer, but it took me years to become even semi comfortable
(read: confident) with modeling through a txt file. 

 

Either way maybe this should be moved over to BLDG-SIM. 

 

Alan Jackson, LEED AP
KlingStubbins

 

From: EnergyPlus_Support at yahoogroups.com
[mailto:EnergyPlus_Support at yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Emanuele Naboni
Sent: Thursday, October 29, 2009 1:03 PM
To: EnergyPlus_Support at yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [EnergyPlus_Support] I need advices for choosing a GUI

 

  

Yes, but Hevacomp does not have the capabilities of EnergyPlus.

 

-- 
Emanuele Naboni

per l'Italia: 346.4133337
from US: +39.346.4133337
skype: emanuelenaboni
MArch, PhD Building Science, LEED AP, EU licensed architect

Please consider the environment before printing this email.

2009/10/29 Jackson, Alan <ajackson at klingstubbins.com>

  

You should look into Hevacomp which is being revamped for the US. 

 

Alan Jackson, LEED AP
KlingStubbins

 

From: EnergyPlus_Support at yahoogroups.com [mailto:
EnergyPlus_Support at yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Josh K
Sent: Thursday, October 29, 2009 12:00 PM
To: EnergyPlus_Support at yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [EnergyPlus_Support] I need advices for choosing a GUI

 

  

Hello;

My feeling is that their currently is not a *perfect* GUI for
EnergyPlus, especially if you're interested in interoperability (ie IFC,
gbXML, etc). Designbuilder seems to be getting closest in this regard,
but when I tested it a while ago I found the modelling interface to be a
bit clumsy and restrictive. OpenStudio is not bad, but still needs a
little work to be practical for every day use (for instance, to my
knowledge there is currently no good way to specify a heat transfer
surface's adjacency conditions). I currently use ECOTECT, which had a
lot of promise when I started using it three years ago but has
progressed exactly zero since then. I don't know much about the other
system you mention.

To summarize: the three you mention will all probably work for you, and
each have their own advantages and disadvantages. If you're specifically
interested in IFC compatibility, I'm not sure about the status of
DesignBuilder in this respect, but neither OpenStudio nor ECOTECT
currently have this capability. 

Josh

On Thu, Oct 22, 2009 at 7:14 AM, bcavallier <
bruno.cavallier at femto-st.fr> wrote:

  


Hello,

I want to learn EnergyPlus but I need a GUI. As it is a new activity for
me, I would like to find the better couple [E+/GUI] regarding my needs.
I am mainly interested in building energy simulation, particularly on
the topics of energy efficiency and the smart use of solar energy for
solar passive designing. I saw a lot of software on the web : Google
Sketch Up with Openstudio, Designbuilder (well described at Harvard),
Ecotect...

How can I make the best choice? My choice will use the IFC standard. I
saw another software : Digital Project of Gehry Technologies which is
based on Catia (Dassault Systemes) that works with IFC standards, but
has anyone made simulation with [E+/this soft]?

Could you give me advices, please...

Best regards

B.Cavallier




-- 
Josh Kjenner, P.Eng., LEED AP
Manasc Isaac Architects Ltd.
10225 100 Avenue :: Edmonton, AB T5J 0A1
780.429.3977




-- 
Emanuele Naboni

per l'Italia: 346.4133337
from US: +39.346.4133337
skype: emanuelenaboni
www.emanuele-naboni.com 
sustainable design consultant - consulente per la sostenibilita' di
tecnologie, edifici e citta'
MArch, PhD Building Science, LEED AP, EU licensed architect

Please consider the environment before printing this email.

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