Re: [EnergyPlus_Support] 100% newbie trying to take a crash course without, uh, crashing.

[Josh K <jeemang@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hi John;

It's definitely doable but I'm not sure if it's worth the effort required to familiarize yourself with the workings of EnergyPlus -- unless of course you plan on continuing to use it. For this project, in my opinion, it would be somewhat akin to swatting a fly which a sledgehammer (or however that saying goes). 

I might try taking a look at something like HOT2000, RETScreen, or some combination thereof.

Josh

On Mon, May 11, 2009 at 9:38 AM, jon_belmont <jon_belmont@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Perhaps I'm biting off way more than I can chew over the course of the next couple of days... I'm a grad student trying to use EnergyPlus/OpenStudio/Google Sketchup to construct a basic model of a single-family split-level residential home. I don't need to get any more sophisticated than basic floor plan, occupancy, fenestration, and HVAC (i.e. telling the engine what type of boiler/central AC/Hot H20 I've got). I think I can do the floor plan and fenestration in SketchUp if I understand this system correctly.

My goal is to get output from the simulation in terms of utility consumption, which I can then bounce off of utility bills to validate the model. Once that is done, I can then project cost savings and break-even times for a few improvements (like installation of PV, thermal curtains, higher efficiency heating/cooling appliances, etc)

Is this doable for a total novice??? It looks like constructing the geometric model will not be too complicated (I have experience with other 2d/3d CAD software like Pro/Engineer), but I am concerned about my total lack of experience with the other input aspects of EnergyPlus. Is there another 3rd Party UI I could download that would help with the HVAC/occupancy/electric loading side of the input model?

Thanks in advance for any help or advice you can provide!

-Jon Belmont

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

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