[EnergyPlus_Support] Re:ECOTECT VS DESIGNBUILDER

[troy Harvey <taharvey@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Having used both here is my perspective:
Designbuilder is tightly coupled to E+, the GUI is a direct interface  
for E+ methods. Ecotect is *very* loosely coupled, basically it is an  
export only feature. So it's not useful for much other than geometry  
construction, and ecotect's modeling features, while faster than  
Designbuilder, are much more archaic.

Ecotect on the otherhand has *all* manner of analysis features, that  
designbuilder completely lacks. Designbuilder is a simulation only  
program.

With Designbuilder you can simulate a building, and see how it  
operates, but you are in the dark as to how to make it better without  
lots of iterative simulations - which is very slow to do in a  
thorough manner (especially because both E+ and DB are such slow  
performers, together they can be sometimes unbearable). Ecotect gives  
you lots of analysis features, so you are can make engineering  
assessments of how to improve a building. But then it leaves you cold  
without a built in certified or accurate simulation option (a la E+).  
And unfortunately, neither program shares 3D files well, so you have  
to double your work load.

If only we could merge the two companies!

Troy Harvey




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



The primary EnergyPlus web site is found at:
http://www.energyplus.gov

The group web site is:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EnergyPlus_Support/

Attachments are not allowed -- please post any files to the appropriate folder in the Files area of the Support Web Site.

EnergyPlus Documentation is searchable.  Open EPlusMainMenu.pdf under the Documentation link and press the "search" button.
 
Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EnergyPlus_Support/

<*> Your email settings:
    Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EnergyPlus_Support/join
    (Yahoo! ID required)

<*> To change settings via email:
    mailto:EnergyPlus_Support-digest@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
    mailto:EnergyPlus_Support-fullfeatured@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
    EnergyPlus_Support-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
    http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/