Whole-Building Energy Modeling: Reducing Modeling Time With the OpenStudio 0.8 User Interface and the Building Component Library Presented by the Building Technologies Program Nicholas Long, NREL and David Goldwasser, NREL June 28, 2012

Key Questions We Want to Answer Today What is OpenStudio? A building energy modeling application suite Software for rapidly creating new analysis and design tools Who are the users? Building design and analysis practitioners Architects and engineers Students Researchers and analysis/design tool producers What is the Building Component Library? A repository of reusable building components and measures An integrated resource for OpenStudio What does the OpenStudio workflow look like and how can it help you? Demo of our newest version 0.8.0

Who Is Partnering with OpenStudio? CRADAs concept3D (simuwatt mobile audit and PV assessment/design tool) Xcel Energy (design assistance program) Partners SketchUp (Now owned by Trimble) Collaborators PNNL (Asset Rating Tool) LBNL and Bonneville Power Administration (Radiance Integration) CEC, AEC, and L’Monte Services (Title 24 Compliance Engine) EEB Hub (CONTAM Integration) NRCan (Optimization tools and Canadian code compliance) More

Who is Using OpenStudio? Note: email service domains are filtered out of these results

Analysis Tools for Market Transformation OpenStudio is: An application suite and software development kit (SDK) Free to use Free for rapid development of new applications Available now for PC, Mac, and Linux Beginners Broad Market Penetration User Expertise Experts Deep Energy Impact Web Interfaces SketchUp Plug-In & Visual Applications Analysis Functionality OpenStudio EnergyPlus Radiance http://openstudio.nrel.gov

Rapid Geometry and Space Assignment and Zoning with SketchUp Draw Floor Plan Extrude Add Fenestration Draw envelope in minutes Render by Boundary Condition Render by Space Type Render by Zone Render by Story Credit: David Goldwasser / NREL Quickly assign constructions, loads, and schedules via templates and specify zones Credit: David Goldwasser / NREL

BIM Interoperability via OpenStudio gbXML Import from BIM OpenStudio Space Type Boundary Conditions Constructions Stories Credit: Dan Macumber / NREL BIM/BEM interoperability creates a seamless and efficient workflow for architects and engineers Also supports CEC Title 24 SDD format gbXML Export from OpenStudio

Geometry Tools for Retrofit Modeling Credit: David Goldwasser / NREL SketchUp offers additional tools for quickly capturing existing geometry

Addressing Usability Barriers Solicited feedback on OpenStudio applications from: Members of AIA A&E firms RMI Educators Researchers Typical feedback: Want a single application with clear workflow Don’t make me have to understand all the underlying mechanics It should be eQuest-like in its simplicity Provide access to detail if I want it, but don’t force me to turn all the dials Enable extensibility via scripting to get at everything EnergyPlus can do Synthesized user requirements into a new workflow-centric application that complements the SketchUp Plug-In Used the OpenStudio SDK to rapidly implement this new application Work began in January 2012 Software was publicly released March 27, 2012

The New OpenStudio Application Define Resources Workflow Review Results Credit: David Goldwasser / NREL

Defining Construction Resources Drag and Drop Library Resources Credit: David Goldwasser / NREL

Templated HVAC Systems for Rapid Modeling Pick a System Add Your Zones Done Credit: David Goldwasser / NREL

Drag and Drop HVAC System Models …or customize your own Credit: David Goldwasser / NREL

High-Level Simulation Summary Credit: David Goldwasser / NREL

Radiance for Daylighting Analysis The same model can also be used for detailed daylighting analysis with Radiance No need to maintain two separate models OpenStudio Model for EnergyPlus or Radiance Radiance Output Credit: Rob Guglielmetti / NREL

Energy Modeling Outcomes Addressing Reliability Barriers Making good progress on intuitive workflows, usability, and reducing time to build energy models with templates What about reliability and repeatability? Good tools foster good process Input data remains a serious issue for modelers Garbage In = Garbage Out  Quality In = Quality Out Solution: Centralize and standardize input data and seamlessly link these data to modeling and analysis tools Templates Usability Energy Modeling Outcomes Consistent Inputs Fast Low-Cost Reliable

The Building Component Library (BCL) http://bcl.nrel.gov Credit: Marjorie Schott / NREL Credit: Marjorie Schott / NREL

Measures – Automated Analysis Credit: Marjorie Schott / NREL Credit: Marjorie Schott / NREL Measures are a new type of BCL content that contain the logic needed to consistently apply energy conservation measures to an energy model They can be applied singly or part of a parametric/optimization analysis

Procedural Modeling with Measures Credit: Alex Swindler / NREL Measures can be used to procedurally create or modify models In this example we automatically generate a family of small office buildings with varying footprint, floors, window-to-wall ratio, constructions, etc.

Demo

Conclusions OpenStudio simplifies energy modeling for integrated building design and retrofit. OpenStudio helps tool users and developers. The Building Component Library is an integrated resource that makes it easy to find reliable input data. OpenStudio is being adopted by users and tool developers. http://openstudio.nrel.gov

Thank You! nicholas.long@nrel.gov david.goldwasser@nrel.gov Questions? Credit: Orthan Veli Kazanci Credit: Nick Fernandez, PNNL GSA Heartland Region Building Model Thank You! nicholas.long@nrel.gov david.goldwasser@nrel.gov http://openstudio.nrel.gov