Re: [EnergyPlus_Support] graphical user interface for EnergyPl

Dear Forum,

I agree with the previous comments from Andy and Alaa.

Â· Designbuilder always has a comment line to identify the zone referred to by the 5 digit zone name

Â· I make sure Iâ??ve got the DB-assigned names identified correctly

Â· Then fill out a table in Excel showing the DB name and a new name that I intend to use

Â· The Excel table also has formulae which build up Search and Replace commands for Visual Basic to execute in Microsoft Word

Â· I paste the formulae into a Word VBA module and then run the macro assigned to the moduleâ??s subroutine

If that sounds like a lot of work ? it is for only 3 or 4 zones. If there are more zones and you are comfortable using VBA macros, it works very well and avoids editing errors.

Iâ??m happy to share the spreadsheet and macros. If anyone is interested, please send a private message.

The Building Performance Team
James V. Dirkes II, P.E., LEED AP
1631 Acacia Drive NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
616 450 8653

From: EnergyPlus_Support@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:EnergyPlus_Support@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Andy Tindale
Sent: Friday, October 22, 2010 4:12 AM
To: EnergyPlus_Support@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: RE: [EnergyPlus_Support] graphical user interface for EnergyPlus

DesignBuilder v3 will have much improved the readability of zone and surface names using the user-defined names, made unique where necessary. The new version will be released early in 2011.

In the meantime there is a short article on how to map from the numeric zone names used in IDF back to the zones in the DesignBuilder model at:

http://www.designbuilder.co.uk/supportdesk/index.php?_m=knowledgebase&_a=viewarticle&kbarticleid=42&nav=0,7

As mentioned by Alaa, the key is to open the IDF file in a text editor and check the comments.

Andy Tindale

DesignBuilder

From: EnergyPlus_Support@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:EnergyPlus_Support@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of alaa kandil
Sent: 22 October 2010 07:57
To: EnergyPlus_Support@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [EnergyPlus_Support] graphical user interface for EnergyPlus

To change the names I open the idf file in a text editor, design builder uses weird numbers but it shows the original name in a remark. idf editor doesn't show the remark, then finally i use "find and replace command to replace the zone name with the name i want. This method is annoying though when you have to move forward and backward between design builder and E+. It also can cause problems if the same numerical zone name was used for another input variable.

Alaa Kandil
Calgary, Canada

From: "Suh, Won-Jun" <qqq000feel@xxxxxxxx>
To: EnergyPlus_Support@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Thu, October 21, 2010 9:26:42 PM
Subject: RE: [EnergyPlus_Support] graphical user interface for EnergyPlus

Dear James.

How do you deal with the zone names in DesignBuilder?

As you know, every zone names in DB has a weird numbers(ex, 12345, 14283, 21124, 23694, ?..)

Do you take any actions to that zone names?

And I also want to know about your spreadsheet, can you tell me something more about that?

Best regards.

Swj.

From: EnergyPlus_Support@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:EnergyPlus_Support@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of James V Dirkes II, PE
Sent: Friday, October 22, 2010 12:45 AM
To: EnergyPlus_Support@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: RE: [EnergyPlus_Support] graphical user interface for EnergyPlus

Dear Steven,

Thereâ??s not too much to choose from (yet), but check out Open Studio (a Sketchup plugin youâ??ll find on the Energy Plus web site) and DesignBuilder (http://designbuilder.co.uk). I use DesignBuilder and like it for geometry and materials. I add in schedules and HVAC using a spreadsheet tool that I developed. It holds an HVAC system library and speeds up that part of the modelâ??s input.

Neither Open Studio nor DesignBuilder is much help for non-simple HVAC systems, but geometry and materials become much simpler than trying to do it in E+ IDF Editor. Youâ??ll have to spend some learning curve time on the HVAC side. (DesignBuilder has promised a more comprehensive HVAC interface in early 2011.)

I know Bentley Systems has an E+ interface called (I think) HEVAComp, but I know little about it.

The Building Performance Team
James V. Dirkes II, P.E., LEED AP
1631 Acacia Drive NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
616 450 8653

From: EnergyPlus_Support@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:EnergyPlus_Support@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of beaglhead7
Sent: Thursday, October 21, 2010 11:09 AM
To: EnergyPlus_Support@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [EnergyPlus_Support] graphical user interface for EnergyPlus

I am an engineer working for a company that specializes in energy auditing and modeling buildings to recommend energy conservation opportunities. I am used to using eQuest and am just beginning to look into using EnergyPlus for modeling purposes. Can anyone tell me the best graphical interface to use for EnergyPlus, and what its strengths and limitations are? How much longer does it take to model a typical building in EnergyPlus as opposed to modeling in eQuest?

Thanks,

Steven