[Equest-users] eQUEST v3.65 build 7163 released Mar 18 2014

[Matt Hein]

Sketchup was purchased by Trimble years ago.
Their purchase agreement with Google required the maintenance of a free
version. You can download Sketchup 8 (free, non-Pro version) from here:
http://www.sketchup.com/download/all
The GUI for energy plus that interfaces with Sketchup is called OpenStudio
and is being actively developed by NREL. (Also free).
https://openstudio.nrel.gov/

To respond to the original question/comment about eQuest 3.65 -- I haven't
updated to the latest build. Thank you for bringing the revisions the my
attention.

- Matt Hein



On Saturday, March 29, 2014, Bruce Easterbrook <bruce5 at bellnet.ca> wrote:

>  I'm a little disappointed to hear Sketchup is no longer free.  I was
> planning on doing some experimenting/learning with energy plus and from
> what I know sketchup was an integral part of the new graphical front end
> for that program.  It doesn't do the energy efficiency movement much good
> if the free analysis engines require $5,000 to $10,000 in associated
> software to use them.  This is fine for the power users because they have
> this software already and use it extensively throughout their normal
> business.  Google has made some other moves in this area by buying Nest and
> shutting down another free monitoring/control system they had in their
> stable.  It does make it tough for the little guy to need a $4,000 AutoCad
> seat to get a basic 2D DWG footprint to start an eQuest analysis.  Then M$
> comes along with a new OS and with a little collusion your $4,000 program
> is obsolete.  Luckily DWG is no longer proprietary.  DraftSight is a free
> 2D DWG program released by Dassault.  Now they aren't entirely benevolent
> either as it is a lead in to their SolidWorks 3D but don't look a gift
> horse in the mouth.  It is great, stable and supported with free updates.
> There is a version that runs on Linux.  It will give you a free DWG
> footprint to get started in the eQuest wizards and keep you out of the
> proprietary software wars.
> I suppose I should conclude this with 4 pages of legal boilerplate
> identifying all the trademarks mentioned, legal disclaimers, economic
> disclaimers, etc, etc, etc.  That stuff makes my head hurt.  I need to get
> back to engineering and trying to make our planet a safer, better place.
> So basically, a free tip in the running battle of conflicting business
> models.  BTW support ends for XP April 8, 2014.
> Bruce Easterbrook P.Eng.
> Abode Engineering
> On 28/03/2014 2:44 PM, Chris Baker wrote:
>
>  I have not used equest until about 2 weeks ago but I've experimented
> with some of the other platforms and equest is by far the most reasonable
> to work with.
>
>
>
> The older release of version 3.65 was a little buggy but those have since
> been worked out from what I've seen so far.
>
>
>
> But I will say that it depends on what your existing design files are
> (Autocad or Revit).
>
>
>
> If you have your project already drawn up in revit there is a revit add-on
> that  you can install for energy plus that will recognize windows, zones,
> building shell, etc.. (you have to specify each with the add-on).   You
> then export a file to energy plus and continue the energy modeling process.
>
>
>
> There is also an add-on for "Sketchup" that does the same thing.  If you
> already have a 3d model in revit, sketchup is unnecessary.  If you have a
> 3d model in Autocad, you can export that to sketchup, then use the sketchup
> add-on to specify the shell, zones, windows and doors, you would then use
> the add-on to create the file for energy plus.
>
>
>
> Sketchup (which is by google) would require you to draw the building in 3d
> from scratch if you don't have a 3d model drawn yet.. I wasn't happy with
> that.
>
>
>
> Plus, sketchup is no longer FREE as it was in the past.  The newest
> version of the Sketchup allows you to install and use the energy plus
> add-on.  However, Sketchup now has a brief trial period after which you are
> required to pay a few hundred dollars to purchase the software (which you
> would likely only use once for the purpose of exporting to energy plus).  I
> didn't like that either!
>
>
>
> Thus, If you have a 3d model or BIM drawn up in Autocad, energy plus is
> probably the easiest way to go.  Otherwise, eQuest is probably the best
> alternative.
>
>
>
> eQuest is very straightforward and easy to use.  It does have its quirks!
> But any issues I've had were quickly resolved through this usergroup.  And
> this is my first time doing the energy modeling.
>
>
>
> Chris Baker
> CCI CAD Drafter
>
> Fort Wainwright, Alaska
>
>
>
> *From:* equest-users-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org [
> mailto:equest-users-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org] *On Behalf Of *Demba
> Ndiaye
> *Sent:* Thursday, March 27, 2014 2:42 PM
> *To:*
>
> _______________________________________________
> Equest-users mailing listhttp://lists.onebuilding.org/listinfo.cgi/equest-users-onebuilding.org
> To unsubscribe from this mailing list send  a blank message to EQUEST-USERS-UNSUBSCRIBE at ONEBUILDING.ORG <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','EQUEST-USERS-UNSUBSCRIBE at ONEBUILDING.ORG');>
>
>
>

-- 
- Matt Hein
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.onebuilding.org/pipermail/equest-users-onebuilding.org/attachments/20140329/73534e1d/attachment-0002.htm>