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EnergyPlus Simulation Software
U.S. Department of Energy Building Technologies Program These tools are developed and provided through third-party vendors. Contact the vendors for pricing and availability. DrawBDL DrawBDL allows users to visually review the building geometry in EnergyPlus and DOE-2 input files. DrawBDL can export the DOE-2 surface data in EnergyPlus IDF format-useful for those users who wish to convert their DOE-2 input files into EnergyPlus input files. EcoTect EcoTect from Square One couples an intuitive 3D design interface with a comprehensive set of performance analysis functions (visualization, solar and daylighting analysis, shadows and shading, lighting design, thermal performance, UK building regulations, ventilation, and acoustic analysis) with interactive information displays. It also can export an EnergyPlus IDF file. EP GEO and EP SYS NaturalWorks has developed two spreadsheet-based interfaces that can complement the simple interface tools that are included in the standard EnergyPlus installation. EP GEO: A simple spreadsheet that uses a set of simple macros to create rectangular building geometry, windows, shading, infiltration, internal gains and temperature control (using 'purchased air'). Rectangular zones can be automatically created in an idf file by simply entering zone height, width and length. An offset in zone origin can be used to insert multiple zones in an existing file. EP SYS: This spreadsheet allows for creation of Purchased Air, Fan Coil And Variable air Volume systems in a large number of zones. The list of zones in an existing IDF file can be automatically imported and individual zones selected for insertion of one of the three basic types of systems available in the tool. Green Building Studio Green Building Studio is a web-based service provided by GeoPraxis, Inc . which gives 3D-CAD users quick, reliable, and free estimates of a building's energy costs during the early stages of conceptual design. Green Building Studio is powered by GeoPraxis' IDEA Server building energy simulation management software that incorporates DOE-2 and EnergyPlus into this solution. Key to the integrated interoperability exhibited in GBS-compliant 3D-CAD applications is the Green Building XML schema (gbXML), an open XML schema of the International Alliance of Interoperability's aecXML Group. Green Building Studio creates an EnergyPlus IDF file. DrawEzPlus and EzPlus-Parm
DrawEzPlus
is a 3-D geometry rendering tool that displays the geometry imbedded in an
EnergyPlus file. Users can toggle between line and surface (fill)
presentation modes, and can select to draw any mix of key building objects —
floor, walls, roof, windows, and attached and detached shading. TSe+ TSe+, the first of a suite of tools to manage data for EnergyPlus is now available free of charge from Taylor Systems Engineering. TSe+Mat provides an interface to the materials datasets that come bundled with EnergyPlus and allows the user to add them to a personal database to maintain and modify for later use. Future tools under development include TSe+MatGlz (for materials and glazings) and TSe+Con (for constructions).
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