I think it is safe to say that the Eplus engine is the way of the future. However, you have to be a rocket scientist in order to operate the idf editor. Any thoughts on the best Eplus interface. Design Builder is pretty good, but has limitations. It is also really expensive and a foreign company. Since Eplus is funded with US tax dollars, does anybody know of a good US based interface?
Be Sustainable -- Never let today use up tomorrow!.
Yeah, I see your point. Design Builder is sharp, but limited. It looks like the future eplus interface is Google Sketchup (with a plugin called openStudio).
It is a bit buggy and a hassle to install (3 total installs each requiring signups) but it is Free, and super powerful and not too difficult to start, though very difficult to master.
I have tried both designbuilder and sketchup and designbuilder is by far easier to handle; easier to zone, assign materials, analyse. My problem right now though is I am having problems exporting the file from designbuilder V3 to EnergyPlus 7 because I want to simulate PCMs which you cant do with designbuilder. It keeps thinking I am using E+ version 6. Any ideas? ( i have uninstalled and installed 3 times)
OpenStudio is the way to go. You will still have to do some IDF work though.
As far as interface for constructing the geometry is concerned there are a number of options including BIM's, my personal preference being DesignBuilder primarily because of its development around E+ simulation engine and also stability.
But still there is no replacement for IDF Editor if one wants to fully utilize the capabilities of E+, and I'm saying this after having experience with DesignBuilder, Open Studio, Simergy, etc. I agree with Brad that IDF Editor isn't easy to master, but it isn't rocket science either. The flexibility provided by the idf editor interface is unmatchable. No other interface provides such control to modify the linkages of nodes, branches, etc.
Just imagine modeling complex systems like co-generation or tri-generation system on any interface other than IDF editor, its just impossible. Not being proficient with the idf editor interface can limit the capability of the E+ user to only 15-20% of the potential on offer.
I have used both designbuilder and sketchup and designbuilder .Both are by far easier to handle, to zone, assign materials, and analyse.I felt that SketchUp even more intuitive, added tools for power users, and made it easier to find and share models with the world.