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Anonymous Poster

What Good Building Simulation Software is Available?

05/18/2010 3:36 PM

I'm looking to find building simulation software that will model heating/cooling loads, energy usage, taking into account the usual factors of wall/glass/roof/floor construction, internal loads, weather data, etc.

I'd like some free software that is designed for engineers, and is easy to use.

I've used Trace 700, and it's fairly easy to use, but not cheap.

I've tried eQuest briefly, but it has a limited number of pre-selected building elements that do not match the construction I want to use. I need to be able to input wall u-values, weight per square foot, etc, instead of being forced to select a framing type that doesn't match what I want to build. I can calc the u-value and wall/roof mass manually.

Know any software that's free or cheap, easy to use, that will do the trick? Looking for residential use right now, not commercial or industrial.

But I will want to do commercial or industrial later. What works well for those?
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peterg7lyq
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#1

Re: What good building simulation software is available?

05/18/2010 5:53 PM

Google

3d building design software free

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=3d+building+design+software&sourceid=ie7&rls=com.microsoft:en-gb:IE-SearchBox&ie=&oe=&rlz=1I7DKUK_en-GB&redir_esc=&ei=rgvzS6HYMKH80wSF2PmaDQ

http://www.envisioneerexpress.com/
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cwarner7_11
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#2

Re: What Good Building Simulation Software is Available?

05/18/2010 11:45 PM

I would suggest Googling "free HVAC design software". You get a number of hits, some of which are free trials...
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chrisg288
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#3

Re: What Good Building Simulation Software is Available?

05/19/2010 2:25 PM

http://www.retscreen.net/ang/home.php

Chris
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peterg7lyq
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#4

Re: What Good Building Simulation Software is Available?

05/20/2010 2:46 PM
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Anonymous Poster
#5

Re: What Good Building Simulation Software is Available?

08/31/2010 11:58 PM

There is a free new version of eQUEST (v3.64) recently approved by the CEC for Title-24 compliance (California's new energy code). If you don't need the wizard, you can always skip out of it into detailed mode and edit the u-values directly. Check out Energy Design Resources to download and for tutorials and design guides that will help. For new construction and official HERS ratings, we use EnergyPro 5.1 which has some cool new features like actual weather data normalization (so you can do bill calibration). If all you need is a quick estimate of the most cost effective efficiency measures recommended for an existing home, EnergyCheckup is the way to go. For a free residential tool, you might try Home Energy Saver too, but it's never run smoothly (buggy) for me.
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