In 1995, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) began planning for a new generation of building simulation tools. As part of this planning activity, DOE created an inventory of DOE-sponsored tools in early 1996. By mid-1996, this work had evolved into a web-based directory with information on 50 software tools. Today, the directory contains information on more than 125 tools from around the world. To inform the simulation tool planning efforts, DOE sponsored workshops in August 1995 and June 1996, inviting energy simulation developers and users. After the two workshops, DOE began defining the structure and capabilities of a new building energy simulation tool by building on experience with two well-known programs: DOE-2 and BLAST. Development of the new program, EnergyPlus, started in early 1996 and release is planned for 2000. EnergyPlus is intended to replace both DOE-2 and BLAS T. EnergyPlus will include innovative simulation features including variable time steps, built-in and external modular systems integrated with a heat and mass balance-based zone simulation, interzone airflow, and new ground heat transfer modules. This paper describes the structure of the web-based tools directory, the results of the two workshops, the capabilities and structure of EnergyPlus, and DOE' s future plans for building simulation tools development.

AUTHOR: D. B. Crawley, L.K. Lawrie, C. O. Pedersen, R. J. Liesen, D. E. Fisher, R. K. Strand, R. D. Taylor, F. C. Winkelmann, W. F. Buhl, A. E. Erdem, Y. J. Huang
CITATION: Thermal Performance of the Exterior Envelopes of Buildings VII
KEYWORDS: December, Florida, 1998
YEAR: 1998