Re: [EnergyPlus_Support] Energy Plus

[Linda Lawrie <linda@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

At 10:15 AM 12/21/2009, Nicholas Couture, LEED AP
wrote:
> 1)  Is
> this an energy modeling program by itself that the end user uses to input
> data and get results?

Yes.

>  
> 2)  After reading some of the basic concepts
> manual, it seems to me that this software is an engine that other
> software developers will use to develop their software around.  Is
> this true, and if so do you know any programs that are using Energy Plus
> as their engine.

It was designed that way but it also has input/output features.  So
it is a complete "package", just not a very
user-friendly/domain specific one.

One free interface is OpenStudio which is built on Sketchup (also can use
the free version). Another complete, though non-interactive (to an
extent) is the EnergyPlus ExampleFile Generator.

Design Builder and Hevacomp/Bentley both use EnergyPlus engines.
Other interfaces have been built to domains for input (mostly) and some
output rendering:
http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/energyplus/interfaces_tools.cfm

>  
> 3)  Is anyone using this program with success
> and how does it compare with other programs such as eQuest, HAP, or
> others?

Over the versions that have been released, we have approximately 100,000
registrations of the program (all platforms) and about 7,300 of the
current release (v4 - released in mid October).

A paper comparing and contrasting Energy Simulation Programs can be found
here:
http://www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/tools_directory/pdfs/contrasting_the_capabilities_of_building_energy_performance_simulation_programs_v1.0.pdf

As this paper was published in 2005, it is out of date (at least with
current EnergyPlus capabilities). 

The feature highlights from EnergyPlus releases can be seen here:
http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/energyplus/pdfs/featurehighlights.pdf

In addition you can see how EnergyPlus compares to other programs
(which have submitted their models) in our testing reports:
http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/energyplus/testing.cfm

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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 currently allowed but be mindful that not everyone has a high speed connection.  Limit attachments to small files.

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

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