[BLDG-SIM] Building Simulation in the U.S.

[Mike Tillou]

I am fairly new to building simulation but my past experiences lead me to
believe that every end user is going to have different requirements and
expectations.  Rather than focusing on developing a tool with broad market
appeal, focus on creating a platform from which a number of different
end-user GUI's can be easily developed.   Data for a building should be
transportable between different end-use GUI's.  For example, a designer uses
one GUI to create building loads, the building owner then uses a different
GUI, with data from designer, to track energy use.

Energy Plus seems to be taking this approach and DOE2 has certainly been
used as an engine for less-technical GUI's (i.e. FEDS and CompareIT).  Maybe
the solution is figuring out where these programs are deficient in this
regard and using that as a starting place for a better building simulation
tool.

A tool that can be used as an engine, with easily adaptable GUI's and
transportable data would have appeal to a much broader market than just
consultants and researchers.

Just a thought.

-Michael Tillou, etc Group

PS: Consultants and researchers would no longer be needed if the program
were THAT easy to use.


-----Original Message-----
From: postman at gard.com [mailto:postman at gard.com]On Behalf Of Gowri,
Krishnan
Sent: Friday, June 08, 2001 11:59 AM
To: BLDG-SIM at gard.com
Subject: [BLDG-SIM] Building Simulation in the U.S.


Building simulation software development needs to come to grips with
balancing
the needs of users and improving accuracy.  You may have the most accurate
algorithm for calculation that requires modeling data which the user needs
to
look up the definition in a handbook - game over!!

Only when the software is developed from end-user perspective we can make an
impact on the proliferation and use of the simulation tools.  Otherwise only
the
consultants and researchers will continue to influence the development and
will
remain the users of such tools.

So the discussion may need to start in defining who are the end users of
these
tools and what are the reasonable expectations of these users.

- krishnan Gowri, PNNL

-----Original Message-----
From: Jason Glazer [mailto:jglazer at gard.com]
Sent: Friday, June 08, 2001 8:22 AM
To: BLDG-SIM at gard.com
Subject: [BLDG-SIM] Building Simulation in the U.S.


I don't disagree that a greater emphasis on producing
"friendly" building energy simulation software could
increase its usage as would greater training but are those
really the biggest problems?  If they are, are they
solvable?  What does "friendly" mean here?  If they are not
the biggest problems, what else is preventing every
building (or at least every large building) in the U.S.
from being designed with the aid of energy simulation
software?

I know I'm changing the topic but these are questions that
I ponder and I'd like to know other people's impressions.

Jason

On 8 Jun 2001, at 8:25, Mark E. Case wrote:

> We use simulation heavily for existing buildings' analysis
> and in support of new building design. We are currently
> working on both low energy design and LEED compliance
> analysis for new buildings, working directly for the owner
> as an adjunct to the design team. I am often concerned that
> the US DOE efforts on new simulation tools looses sight of a
> significant portion of the audience - practicing consultants
> and designers. While we want rigorous accurate tools they
> must also be user friendly. Not simple, because buildings
> are not simple, but friendly. Simulation would be used more
> frequently if it were. I think there should be as much
> emphasis placed on interface and speed as there is on
> mathematical modeling. There also needs to be significantly
> more training and outreach.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: postman at gard.com [mailto:postman at gard.com]On Behalf Of
> Chip Barnaby Sent: Friday, June 08, 2001 7:45 AM To:
> BLDG-SIM at gard.com Subject: [BLDG-SIM] Building Simulation in
> the U.S.
>
>
> Greetings --
>
> I am giving a talk next week at the eSim 2001 conference in
> Ottawa titled "Building Simulation in the U. S."  The idea
> is to give a 30 minute overview of simulation activity in
> the U.S.
>
> I've web searched and talked to many people, trying to make
> sure I don't miss anything that deserves mention.
>
> If you are involved in simulation-related work in the U.S.
> that you think should be covered (and I haven't already
> contacted you), please send me some brief info.  In
> particular, I'd like to get more info from people using
> simulation in design practice (or hear why you don't use
> simulation).
>
> I emphasize BRIEF -- the topic is large and the talk is
> short.  I will finish preparing my presentation on Mon., so
> send a few words and/or URLs today.  Thanks for any help!
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------
> Chip Barnaby                   cbarnaby at wrightsoft.com Vice
> President of Research Wrightsoft Corp.
> 781-862-8719 x118 voice 394 Lowell St, Suite 12
> 781-861-2058 fax Lexington, MA 02420
> www.wrightsoft.com
> ---------------------------------------------------------

=========================================================
Jason Glazer, P.E.  mailto:jglazer at gard.com  847 698 5686
GARD Analytics - http://www.gard.com/
1028 Busse Highway, Park Ridge, IL 60068
Building Energy Simulation and Analysis
List Administrator for 90.1, GPC18 and BLDG-SIM

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