[Bldg-sim] custom weather file

holly wasilowski hollywas at yahoo.com
Mon Dec 13 09:38:34 PST 2010


Hi James,
I'm sure there are a lot of ways to convert between .epw and excel.  This is one 
way that works:
1.  Open your EPW as a CSV in Excel.
2.  Make the desired edits, such as plugging in your weather station data.  
(Even if you're not using EnergyPlus, the Auxiliary EnergyPlus Programs manual 
will explain the components of the EPW file.)
3.  Save the file as a CSV.  I usually save only the header first, deleting the 
body.  Then only the body, deleting the header.  Otherwise, you end up with a 
lot of extra commas in the header.  This method is quicker than deleting the 
commas.
4.  Then I open the files in Textpad or Notepad and combine the header and body 
and make sure everything looks OK.  Then save it. CSV or TXT format is fine.
5.  Then I manually change the file name from .txt or .csv to .epw.
6.  Then the EPW file works in EnergyPlus.  I'm assuming it would work in other 
programs as well.  As long as all the values are OK I haven't had any problems 
with conversions.

As an alternative, you can use the EnergyPlus Weather Tool to compile custom 
data into an EPW format.  

Hope this helps.
Holly
-- 
Holly W. Samuelson
Registered Architect | LEED AP
Doctor of Design Candidate in Sustainable Design 
Harvard Graduate School of Design






________________________________
From: "bldg-sim-request at lists.onebuilding.org" 
<bldg-sim-request at lists.onebuilding.org>
To: bldg-sim at lists.onebuilding.org
Sent: Sat, December 11, 2010 3:00:55 PM
Subject: Bldg-sim Digest, Vol 37, Issue 12

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Today's Topics:

  1. custom weather file (James Hansen)
  2. Re: custom weather file (Cheney)
  3. Re: custom weather file (David Eldridge)
  4. Re: heat gain of children? (Dr. Nader Chalfoun)
  5. EnergyPlus Training at IDL Boise Feb 14 - 16, 2011 (Ery Djunaedy)


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

Message: 1
Date: Fri, 10 Dec 2010 17:58:55 -0500
From: "James Hansen" <JHANSEN at ghtltd.com>
To: <bldg-sim at lists.onebuilding.org>
Subject: [Bldg-sim] custom weather file
Message-ID:
    <4A015401026CF44ABCC4D2A6A467AA18CFCEAD at EXCHANGE1.cadd_group.ghtltd.com>
    
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

I feel like I've seen this question asked before, but couldn't find it
in the archives.



Does anyone know if there is a tool that can extract a TMY file (or EPW
file) to excel, then allow adjustments to the excel spreadsheet, and can
then recompile back to TMY or EPW or BIN?



I basically need to make a custom weather file based on a weather
station.



Thanks, and sorry if this question has already been asked!



GHT Limited
James Hansen, PE, LEED AP

Senior Associate

1010 N. Glebe Rd, Suite 200

Arlington, VA  22201-4749

703-338-5754 (Cell)

703-243-1200 (Office)

703-276-1376 (Fax)

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





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Message: 2
Date: Fri, 10 Dec 2010 15:29:24 -0800
From: Cheney <chenyu73 at gmail.com>
To: James Hansen <JHANSEN at ghtltd.com>
Cc: bldg-sim at lists.onebuilding.org
Subject: Re: [Bldg-sim] custom weather file
Message-ID:
    <AANLkTi=hBuESkRsrA2_N496A30OQDJLQUJ=pbPP0BVrQ at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252"

Hi James,

I usually use Ecotect Weather tool to do what you mentioned
here. Alternatively, TAS can edit weather data directly in its module. My
experience is that try not to convert weather file into excel and compile
back since errors may occur easily in the process.

Regards,

Cheney

LinkedIN @ http://ca.linkedin.com/pub/yu-cheney-chen/27/637/72b



On Fri, Dec 10, 2010 at 2:58 PM, James Hansen <JHANSEN at ghtltd.com> wrote:

>  I feel like I?ve seen this question asked before, but couldn?t find it in
> the archives.
>
>
>
> Does anyone know if there is a tool that can extract a TMY file (or EPW
> file) to excel, then allow adjustments to the excel spreadsheet, and can
> then recompile back to TMY or EPW or BIN?
>
>
>
> I basically need to make a custom weather file based on a weather station.
>
>
>
> Thanks, and sorry if this question has already been asked!
>
>
>
> *GHT Limited
> **James Hansen**, PE, LEED AP*
>
> *Senior Associate***
>
> 1010 N. Glebe Rd, Suite 200
>
> Arlington, VA  22201-4749
>
> 703-338-5754 (Cell)
>
> 703-243-1200 (Office)
>
> 703-276-1376 (Fax)
>
> www.ghtltd.com
>
> * *
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Bldg-sim mailing list
> http://lists.onebuilding.org/listinfo.cgi/bldg-sim-onebuilding.org
> To unsubscribe from this mailing list send  a blank message to
> BLDG-SIM-UNSUBSCRIBE at ONEBUILDING.ORG
>
>
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Message: 3
Date: Fri, 10 Dec 2010 17:44:33 -0600
From: David Eldridge <dse at grummanbutkus.com>
To: James Hansen <JHANSEN at ghtltd.com>, bldg-sim at lists.onebuilding.org
Subject: Re: [Bldg-sim] custom weather file
Message-ID: <97621b97500855b20bb7bf8a048bd076 at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252"

Answer:              I?m not sure that you can unpack a bin file, but you
can go to NREL (or EnergyPlus?) webpages to get the original TMY, TMY2, or
TMY3 data which are all editable in a spreadsheet.  The EPW format is
already comma separated variable, so edit away!  The ?native? TMY format is
also editable in comma separated variable, although you?ll need to get the
dictionary from NREL?s page as well to interpret the values.



Use these instructions to recompile into the eQuest *.bin format.



http://doe2.com/index_Wth.html



Question:            Now that I answered one, I have a question for the
group:  using the EnergyPlus real-time weather utility ? it seems to be not
working lately?  Has this site moved, or is it currently inactive?



David



*
*



David S. Eldridge, Jr., P.E., LEED AP BD+C, BEMP, HBDP

*Grumman/Butkus Associates*

*
*



*From:* bldg-sim-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org [mailto:
bldg-sim-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org] *On Behalf Of *James Hansen
*Sent:* Friday, December 10, 2010 4:59 PM
*To:* bldg-sim at lists.onebuilding.org
*Subject:* [Bldg-sim] custom weather file



I feel like I?ve seen this question asked before, but couldn?t find it in
the archives.



Does anyone know if there is a tool that can extract a TMY file (or EPW
file) to excel, then allow adjustments to the excel spreadsheet, and can
then recompile back to TMY or EPW or BIN?



I basically need to make a custom weather file based on a weather station.



Thanks, and sorry if this question has already been asked!



*GHT Limited
**James Hansen, PE, LEED AP*

*Senior Associate*

1010 N. Glebe Rd, Suite 200

Arlington, VA  22201-4749

703-338-5754 (Cell)

703-243-1200 (Office)

703-276-1376 (Fax)

www.ghtltd.com

* *
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Message: 4
Date: Fri, 10 Dec 2010 17:29:47 -0700
From: "Dr. Nader Chalfoun" <chalfoun at email.arizona.edu>
To: Robert Gengelbach <rgengelbach at sustainablemech.com>
Cc: 'Cramer Silkworth' <silkworth at transsolar.com>,
    bldg-sim at lists.onebuilding.org
Subject: Re: [Bldg-sim] heat gain of children?
Message-ID: <20101210172947.himwelg68g4s8cks at www.email.arizona.edu>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1"; format="flowed"

A 5' 8" tall 154 lb male surface area is 19.6 s.f. (Du Bois) and
produces about 400 Btu/hr (117 W) at seated at rest.

Maybe you can do the math

Nader

Check my new online energy courses
http://www.hed-online.com

--------------------------------------------
Nader V. Chalfoun, Ph.D., LEED AP, CEA
Professor of Architecture and Environmental Sciences
Director: The House Energy Doctor Program
http://houseenergydoctor.arizona.edu
Chair: Graduate Masters Program on "Design and Energy Conservation"
Coordinator: Environmental Education Ph.D. Minor
Faculty on Global Change Ph.D. Minor

Address:
University of Arizona
College of Architecture and Landscape Architecture
1040 N. Olive St., Tucson, AZ 85721, U.S.A.
Phone: (520)621-6751    Fax: (520)621-8700


Quoting Robert Gengelbach <rgengelbach at sustainablemech.com>:

> In the Ashrae fundamentals handbook there is a table of heat gains from
> people at different activity levels  in the non residential heating and
> cooling loads chapter( Chapter 18 of the  2009 version).  Children should be
> calculated at 75% of the adult male heat gain value per that table, it has
> been in the ASHRAE handbook for years.
>
>
>
> cid:image003.png at 01C9AB43.F0BEE290
>
> Robert Gengelbach, PE, LEEDR AP BD+C
>
> Sustainable Mechanical Design Associates, LLC
>
> 89 Monroe Center NW
>
> Suite 302
>
> Grand Rapids, MI 49503
>
> P: (616) 776-9009
>
> F: (616) 776-9010
>
> C: (616) 570-2329
>
> www.sustainablemech.com
>
> rgengelbach at sustainablemech.com
>
>
>
> P Please print only if necessary
>
>
>
>
>
> From: bldg-sim-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org
> [mailto:bldg-sim-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org] On Behalf Of Cramer
> Silkworth
> Sent: Friday, December 10, 2010 11:09 AM
> To: bldg-sim at lists.onebuilding.org
> Subject: [Bldg-sim] heat gain of children?
>
>
>
> Hi All,
>
> Has anyone out there every come across data for the heat gain of children
> (for cooling load calcs)? I searched the ASHRAE handbooks but didnt find
> anything, just the usual numbers for adults in the thermal comfort chapter.
> My current thought is to use the adult numbers adjusted by mass, but if
> there's real data that'd be great. Any hints would be appreciated.
>
> -Cramer
>
> --
> Cramer Silkworth
> 212 219 2255 | silkworth at transsolar.com
> Transsolar Inc. | 134 Spring Street Suite 601 | New York, NY 10012
>
> Transsolar Climate Engineering
> Technical consulting for energy efficiency and environmental quality in
> buildings.
> New York - Stuttgart - Munich





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

Message: 5
Date: Sat, 11 Dec 2010 00:02:40 -0700
From: Ery Djunaedy <ery.mailinglist at gmail.com>
To: bldg-sim at lists.onebuilding.org,
    EnergyPlus_Support at yahoogroups.com,     sbse at uidaho.edu
Subject: [Bldg-sim] EnergyPlus Training at IDL Boise Feb 14 - 16, 2011
Message-ID: <4D032210.4000301 at gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252; format=flowed

  Apologies for cross-posting.

The complete announcement can be found here:
http://www.idlboise.com/node/149

The University of Idaho, Integrated Design Lab-Boise (IDL) is running a 
three-day EnergyPlus workshop in Feb 14 -16, 2011.

Objectives

The aim of this workshop is to equip designers and engineers with the 
technical skills to be able to perform building simulation using Energy 
Plus and understand how to use the tool as part of the Integrated Design 
Process. Note the emphasis on the Integrated Design Process, which means 
that the focus is on how to use simulation to design high performance 
buildings. This also means that the workshop will not focus on using 
simulation for compliance, be it code compliance or beyond-code 
compliance (e.g. LEED), however this type of simulation will be covered 
briefly.

We have received many inputs, comments and criticism from our survey. Do 
not forget to read the summary of these inputs in the EnergyPlus 
Workshop FAQ page.

Syllabus Summary

The workshop is designed in the form of a la carte menu such that 
participants can choose topics based on their needs and interests. Day 1 
and Day 2 is relevant to architects and mechanical engineers with little 
or no experience with Energy Plus. A mechanical engineer with a basic 
understanding of EnergyPlus will likely be interested in Day 2 and Day 
3. Of course there is no restrictions at all to take any single day or 
all three days however there will be very little time to address 
questions covered during a previous day. There is very little content 
overlap between days.

Day 1 is about the basics and nuts and bolts of EnergyPlus. The whole 
simulation process is introduced in a step by step manner, from geometry 
development to result analysis. The main tools described are the 
OpenStudio plugin for SketchUp as the geometry modeler and of course the 
EnergyPlus as the calculation engine. Other, more advanced, tools are 
also introduced, for example the use of scripts to run multiple 
simulations and result extraction. At the end of Day 1, participants 
will be able to develop an input file for and get results from basic 
EnergyPlus simulations.

Day 2 is about how to use simulation appropriately and how to 
communicate results within the integrated design process and for 
compliance purposes. The first section is how to use EnergyPlus to 
support integrated design processes for high performance buildings. 
Several passive design strategies will be discussed: daylighting, 
thermal mass, and night flush. This section focuses on loads analysis 
and detailed active systems are not included at this stage. This allows 
designers to get necessary information in order to inform passive design 
decisions. The second part of the day is how to use EnergyPlus for 
compliance, be it code compliance or beyond-code compliance. The 
division into these two main sections is intentional and highlights the 
different functions of building performance simulation. At the end of 
Day 2, participants will be able to develop a series of EnergyPlus 
simulations for performance analysis in support of passive design and 
the integrated design process as well as documenting the results for 
compliance purposes.

Day 3 is about HVAC systems definition. In the first two days, the HVAC 
system definition will rely on (two) HVAC templates available in 
EnergyPlus, an automated definition of HVAC systems. In day 3, the rest 
of the EnergyPlus HVAC templates will be discussed. Furthermore, manual 
development of HVAC systems without the template will be discussed. A 
number of examples are used: water source heat pump, ground source heat 
pump, and hybrid system.

Detailed syllabus can be found here: http://www.idlboise.com/node/150

Instructors

Main Instructor: Ery Djunaedy, PhD is a Research Scientist (Building 
Physics Specialist) at the IDL, University of Idaho Boise. He has 
degrees in the area of Building Physics/Science from the Institut 
Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia, National University of Singapore, and 
Technische Universiteit Eindhoven, Netherlands. His main interest is in 
building performance simulation, especially the building energy and 
airflow simulation. He has used advanced simulation tools like the 
energy and computational fluid dynamics simulations to design high 
performance buildings. He has taught building physics courses to 
architecture students in the Netherlands, the UAE and now in the US. He 
has been involved in various building design projects in Boise, Idaho 
and throughout the region since 2006 when he first joined the IDL.

Assistant: Jacob Dunn is a Research Assistant at the IDL, University of 
Idaho Boise. He is involved in energy efficiency research, building 
performance simulation, and passive design strategy implementation. He 
recently graduated with his Masters of Architecture from the University 
with the AIA Henry Adams Medal of Honor for his academic excellence and 
extracurricular involvement. During his fourth year of education, Jacob 
spent a summer abroad in Italy to study architecture and also had the 
fortunate opportunity to work at the ARUP office in London under the 
Foresight + Innovation and Incubation department. Jacob and a former 
colleague started their own business called ENlight Design LLC, which 
specializes in energy and daylight modeling for both commercial and 
residential projects. Jacob?s current involvement is split between his 
full time job at the IDL, running and managing his own consulting 
business, and staying active in the academic world of the IURDC and 
graduate architecture students in Boise, Idaho

Fee

The fee is based on the number of days participated:
One day: $250 per person
Two days: $450 per person
Three days: $650 per person

Registration and fee payment: via UIRSVP only (http://www.uirsvp.com)

Workshop Deadlines and Cancellation

The registration is reserved on a first-come first-served basis. The 
participants are encouraged to register early (and make payment) via 
UIRSVP website. Registration cannot be done by telephone or email. The 
registration will be closed at 5pm on January 28th 2011 or when the 
maximum number of participants is reached.

The IDL reserves the right to cancel this workshop due to insufficient 
enrollment on or before February 4th, 2011. In the event of workshop 
cancellation, all fees will be refunded. The IDL will not be held 
responsible for participants? nonrefundable travel expenses.

Participants that have registered and decide not to attend must submit a 
withdrawal request via email on or before 5pm, February 10th, 2011 to be 
able to receive a fee refund. No refunds will be given after 5pm, 
February 10th, 2011. Note that the refund process can take up to 8 
weeks, depending on the credit card issuing company.

Time and Location

Dates: 14-16 February 2011
Hours: 8.30am - 5.30pm
Location: IDL (new location), 314 S. 6th St., Boise, ID 83702.

Please email Ery Djunaedy (eryd at uidaho.edu) for more information on this 
workshop.


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

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