EnergyPlus 2.0.0-home power system modeling

21st April 2007

U.S. Department of Energy announced release of a new version of its freely distributed program for modeling the flow of energy and the repetitive power inputs in buildings called EnergyPlus 2.0. This program is an interesting tool for amateurs to do everything themselves. Using this tool, developers can model the heating, air conditioning, ventilation, lighting and other functions of this kind. The model allows to calculate, for example, how natural ventilation may affect heating and the associated costs. According to the Department of Energy (DOE), the new version now can be used in roofs with green space, materials with phase transition (eg, heat plaster), and also other sets of tools of building control. The EnergyPlus 2.0 does not have its graphical interface, input and output of information is carried out through text files. Nevertheless, there are other producersâ€™ solutions to eliminate this deficiency. In its current form, the EnergyPlus 2.0 produces large amounts of results: roughly estimated construction cost, the average cost of electricity, the loss of energy (including heat), as well as the comfort of the building and insulating materials, and use of heating and air conditioning equipment. To enter the raw data, you can use a generator of input files, which is available on the programâ€™s website. To generate such a file, you need to specify the area of the object's type, the number of occupants, as well as average power consumption. In more detailed mode one can add such details as glass equioment, specific types of heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. After entering the data a needed file must reach users via e-mail