Question-and-Answer Resource for the Building Energy Modeling Community
Get s tarted with the Help page
Ask Your Question

Question about OpenStudio and EnergyPlus proceeding [closed]

asked 2018-10-27 13:26:16 -0600

UilissonGFM gravatar image

updated 2018-10-27 13:49:38 -0600

Hello guys! I just started working with simulations and I have a question: From what I've studied and understood, the way I'm doing is geometrically modeling my structure in Sketchup, along with the openstudio plugin and defining the thermal zones. The question is: Will i continue to use only Openstudio to perform assignment of loads, HVAC systems and other calculations? Or do I just do the part of the thermal zones and then I go to the EnergyPlus program and allocate what you need? For the videos and tutorials that i saw, most do everything within the openstudio, from the geometric modeling to obtaining the results of the simulations.

edit retag flag offensive reopen merge delete

Closed for the following reason the question is answered, right answer was accepted by UilissonGFM
close date 2018-10-31 11:58:00.457265



You can do all of that in the OpenStudio Application.

__AmirRoth__ gravatar image __AmirRoth__  ( 2018-10-27 13:49:33 -0600 )edit

I was with this trouble. So EnergyPlus is just for running the simulation (with the .idf file generated by openstudio) so I can check the results separately?

UilissonGFM gravatar image UilissonGFM  ( 2018-10-27 14:00:42 -0600 )edit

1 Answer

Sort by » oldest newest most voted

answered 2018-10-28 17:21:01 -0600

The answer is you can use either. They both have their own advantages.

OpenStudio is an Object-Oriented Application Program Interface (API) for EnergyPlus, and also has a Graphical User Interface (GUI). It incorporates user scripts in the Building Component Library which can make some processes much easier to do, though there are still EnergyPlus objects, particularly HVAC systems, that are present in EnergyPlus but not yet OpenStudio. Reference @mdahlhausen's answer here:

You are correct that OpenStudio uses EnergyPlus. But you can also use EnergyPlus directly. It may be a bit less user-friendly for most people, but it does include access to every object. It does not have interaction with the Building Component Library.

I would recommend using OpenStudio if you are a new user. Then if there are features that you find you would like to use that are not available in OpenStudio, you can either write a script to use them in OS or move over to EnergyPlus.

edit flag offensive delete link more


@Anna Osborne Brannon Thanks for your help! I'm sorry if I keep insisting on the question, however I'm working on the openstudio to do the simulation of the electrical consumption of a building (a medical clinic) and I have doubts if only with openstudio I can do the loads part, HVAC and lighting systems or I will have to do some separate part in EnergyPlus. That is even though I have certain doubts, for not having found much support material. If you can suggest me any, I would be very grateful!

UilissonGFM gravatar image UilissonGFM  ( 2018-10-28 20:30:56 -0600 )edit

If you find the OpenStudio tutorials, API, and EnergyPlus I/O reference and Engineering reference insufficient, there is also a textbook "Building Energy Modeling with OpenStudio."

mdahlhausen gravatar image mdahlhausen  ( 2018-10-29 00:15:58 -0600 )edit

Hey @mdahlhausen, thanks for supporting. Did u know Tell me where can i found this book in PDF version for Free? Or online version?

UilissonGFM gravatar image UilissonGFM  ( 2018-10-29 00:21:10 -0600 )edit

It's published through an academic publisher. They are ruthless about taking down any free versions that get out. So no free version exists.

mdahlhausen gravatar image mdahlhausen  ( 2018-10-29 10:46:08 -0600 )edit

@UilissonGFM, you can do all of the loads, HVAC, and lighting systems in OpenStudio. The only exception is if you have some specialised HVAC system or controls that is not available in OpenStudio, but all typical systems are available.

Anna Osborne Brannon gravatar image Anna Osborne Brannon  ( 2018-10-29 17:44:26 -0600 )edit


Question Tools

1 follower


Asked: 2018-10-27 13:26:16 -0600

Seen: 167 times

Last updated: Oct 28 '18