TRACE 700

How to fix the Weather file missing error in eQUEST

Mar 29, 2023

Weather File Missing Error eQUEST

(You'd already know this if you went through our eQUEST online training program!)
Typically, default eQUEST locations install automatically, but lately, they do not, which causes an error.

The error states: The following weather file is required to perform the simulation for the selected location but was not found.

We will present multiple solutions, but first, let's note that the error looks like this:

The following weather file is required to perform the simulation for the selected location but was not found.

The "install via internet" button will not work, but you can try it.

Solution Number 1: Download the weather file from the source

The easiest solution is to quickly download the file yourself and place it in the proper directory.

Step 1: Note the File type and the file name:

Here we see that the file type is TMY2, and the name is ALLENTPA.bin

eQUEST weather file missing

Step 2: From the image above, note the default directory

From the error message, next to the file name and TMY2, we can see that the default directory for this file is in the "...3-65-7175 Data" folder, then the TMY2 folder.

Step 3: Download the file from the source

So, to keep it simple, we simply need to place the weather file to TMY2 folder. The "Install from Internet" shows us the source  of weather files. Copy http://DOE2.com/Download/Weather and paste it into your browser, and that will bring up a page that looks like this. 

We already noted that we are looking at a TMY2 file, so we can click that folder.

In this case, all of the files are in one folder and sorted alphabetically. Scroll or do a Ctrl+F

Find the file, then Right-click the file and click "save as"

For most users, the eQUEST weather folder is in your documents folder. Locate your documents folder and then open the folder you noted in step 1. In this example, we note that it was located in folder ending in "3-65-7175 Data".

When you find "eQUEST 3-65-7175 Data", open it and located a folder called "Weather".

From the weather folder, open the folder we noted in step 1, which as "TMY2" in this example. You can see that I already have a number of weather files in my TMY2 folder. Your folder may or may not have any existing files in it. That does not matter.

You can then click save, to store the bin file in your TMY2 folder.

If everything was done correctly, your file will simulate without the "Weather file missing Error"

Solution number 2 is to avoid the "install" and use a custom weather file:

Step 1: Download the weather file. It has to be in .Bin format. eQUEST will not recognize a weather file in .epw or .TM3 etc.

Download an eQUEST weather file from any source. You can use http://DOE2.com/Download/Weather, but if you want to use a more accurate location, or a newer source of weather, you can do that too!

eQUEST course subscribers or community members on energy-models.com have access to thousands of extra .bin weather files for eQUEST? The benefit is that these files are more modern and thus account for climate change. Many of the weather files from DOE2 are sourced from the '70s. The bin files you can find here are mostly sourced from 2004-2018, which is as modern as you can get.

You can search for weather files here

In this example, we can search for the location.

Then scroll down and find a location on the map.

equest weather file map

Then click and download the zip file. You will have to extract it and then move the .bin file

Step 2: Save the weather file wherever you want, but we recommend the weather folder for eQUEST because it makes everything easier later

We will place it in the weather folder.

Step 3: When setting the weather in eQUEST wizard screen 1, select "Custom"

Click the "..." button and select your weather file.

From there, your model will not receive a weather file missing error or need to download weather from the internet.

OPTIONAL Step 4: If you are already in detailed mode 

Go to the Project and Site Module and right click the project and select "Properties"

Assuming you saved your weather file to the weather folder, you can simply copy/paste the weather file name.

When you click OK, eQUEST will prompt you to edit the Site properties. You will want to click yes, and the primary input you want to correct is the Altitude (which doesn't have to be perfect, but it will make an impact if the weather file is high altitude)

It's easier to enter this information in the wizards. However, if you are using Detailed mode, you can probably sort this part out.

If you want to learn eQUEST in a similar straightforward style, check out our eQUEST training program and learn how to bypass all of these time-consuming and frustrating errors!

Building Commision part 2 - A simple case study

Mar 24, 2023

In one case study, building commissioning saved a building owner 36% on an annual energy bill of $550,000. large commercial building in a major metropolitan area. The building was constructed in the 1980s and had not undergone any significant upgrades since then. The building owner was interested in reducing energy costs and improving tenant comfort, so they hired a commissioning agent to evaluate the building's systems.

The commissioning agent discovered several issues with the building's HVAC system, including air leaks and improperly calibrated controls. Additionally, the building's lighting system was outdated and inefficient, with many bulbs burnt out or dim. The agent recommended several upgrades to the building's systems to improve energy efficiency and occupant comfort.

The building owner decided to implement the recommended upgrades, which included installing a new, energy-efficient HVAC system, sealing air leaks, and installing new, energy-efficient lighting throughout the building. The commissioning agent oversaw the installation of the new systems and verified that they were installed and functioning correctly.

After the upgrades were complete, the building owner saw a significant reduction in energy consumption and costs. The new HVAC system was much more efficient than the old system, reducing HVAC and fan energy usage by nearly 40%. The new lighting system was also much more efficient, using 60% less energy while providing brighter, more consistent light throughout the building (and less maintenance hours spent replacing broken or burnt out bulbs)

In total, the building owner saved over $200,000 per year in energy costs as a result of the upgrades. Perhaps more importantly, the building's tenants reported a significant improvement in comfort and productivity, which led to higher tenant satisfaction and reduced tenant turnover.

Overall, this case study demonstrates a how building commissioning can save building owners significant amounts of money by identifying and correcting inefficiencies in building systems. In this case, upgrading the building's HVAC and lighting systems, the building owner was able to reduce energy consumption and costs, improve tenant comfort and satisfaction, and ultimately increase the building's overall value.

Building Commissioning and Energy modeling

Mar 24, 2023

Building commissioning and energy modeling are two complementary processes that work together to optimize building performance and achieve energy savings. Energy modeling is a computer-based simulation of a building's energy performance that can predict how different design choices will affect energy consumption. Energy modeling can be done remotely.

Building commissioning, on the other hand, is a process of ensuring that building systems are installed and functioning as intended. Commissioning often requires an onsite visit. When these two processes are combined, building owners can achieve even greater energy savings and ensure that their building is operating at peak performance. In this blog, we will explore how building commissioning works best with energy models, along with specific examples.

One way that building commissioning works best with energy models is by using energy models to identify potential energy savings opportunities. Energy models can be used to simulate the energy performance of a building and evaluate the impact of different design choices on energy consumption. This information can be used by commissioning agents to optimize building systems and ensure that they are functioning at their most efficient levels. For example, an energy model might show that a building will have a fast payback from a more efficient HVAC system, which could be installed during the commissioning process.

Another way that building commissioning works best with energy models is by using energy models to validate the performance of building systems. Commissioning agents can use energy models to verify that building systems are operating as intended and achieving their predicted energy savings. For example, an energy model might predict that a new lighting system will reduce energy consumption by 20%. During the commissioning process, the lighting system can be tested to ensure that it is indeed achieving this level of energy savings.

Energy modeling can also be used to evaluate the performance of the building after the commissioning process is complete. This can help building owners and managers to identify areas where further energy savings can be achieved. For example, an energy model might show that a building could benefit from the installation of solar panels to offset energy usage. This information can be used to prioritize future upgrades and maintenance to continue to optimize the building's performance.

Building commissioning and energy modeling are two complementary processes that work together to optimize building performance and achieve energy savings. By using energy models to identify potential energy savings opportunities, validate the performance of building systems, and evaluate the performance of the building after the commissioning process is complete, building owners can achieve even greater energy savings and ensure that their building is operating at peak performance. Specific examples of how building commissioning works best with energy models include optimizing HVAC systems, installing energy-efficient lighting, and evaluating the performance of solar panels. As such, building owners should consider both building commissioning and energy modeling as part of any construction or renovation project.

To learn how to perform energy models - look here

What is Building Commissioning pt 1

Mar 24, 2023

Building commissioning is a process that ensures that all building systems are designed, installed, and functioning according to their intended purposes. This process plays a crucial role in ensuring that buildings operate efficiently and sustainably, which ultimately saves money and energy. In this blog, we will use a few simple examples to illustrate the various reasons why building commissioning saves money and energy (and safety, and, and...)

(Sidenote: Try to find a commissioning agent based on a referral. You don't just want a box checker!)

One of the primary ways that building commissioning saves money and energy is by identifying and correcting design and installation issues early on before the problem is expensive to fix. Building commissioning agents are trained to detect any discrepancies or problems in the design and installation of building systems. These issues may include faulty wiring, leaks in the building envelope, and improperly installed HVAC systems (or missing safety systems that are required by code and will be very expensive to add post construction!) By identifying and correcting these issues early on, building owners can prevent costly repairs and retrofits later on. For example, a building that has been commissioned may identify an issue with the HVAC system's outside airflow that, if left unchecked, could cause premature failure of the system, such as frozen coils or overheated coils. Early detection saves significant costs and inconvenience.

Building commissioning also helps to optimize energy performance, thereby reducing energy consumption and costs. Commissioning agents are trained to identify inefficiencies in building systems, which they then recommend ways to improve the systems' performance. For example, a building may have a lighting system that is inefficient, using more energy than necessary, or perhaps too many or too few lights are installed. A commissioning agent may recommend installing energy-efficient lighting systems, such as LED bulbs, which reduce energy consumption and save money on utility bills. They also lower the cooling bill and sometimes the peak fan power! Similarly, a building may have an outdated and inefficient HVAC system, which can be replaced with a modern, energy-efficient one, saving money on energy bills with a beneficial life cycle return. A good agent may even know of incentives to help you pay for upgraded equipment.

Building commissioning can also help to ensure that systems are operating in a safe and reliable manner, thereby preventing accidents and damage to the building or equipment. Commissioning agents can verify that all systems are installed and operating as intended, identify potential safety issues and ensure that systems are reliable and functioning properly. For example, a commissioned building may have a fire alarm system that has been tested to ensure that it is functioning correctly. This testing can prevent fire damage to the building and save money on repairs. Even if there are no fires in the life of the building, if the design is not up to code, then the design can be updated during the install instead of an expensive retrofit.

In addition to these benefits, building commissioning can also improve the building's overall occupant comfort, which can have a significant impact on productivity and absenteeism. For example, a building that has been commissioned may have an HVAC system that provides consistent and comfortable temperatures throughout the building. This can lead to happier and healthier employees who are more productive and less likely to miss work due to illness.

Building commissioning is a crucial process that saves money and energy by identifying and correcting design and installation issues early on, optimizing energy performance, and ensuring that systems are operating in a safe and reliable manner. Specific examples of the benefits of building commissioning include reducing energy consumption and costs, preventing costly repairs and retrofits, and improving occupant comfort and productivity. As such, building commissioning should be considered an essential part of any construction or renovation project.

Energy Modeler Directory

Dec 21, 2022

The Directory is back and better than ever. 
We currently have 300 entries and growing. We hope to get to 400 before we launch the full pilot. 

There might be a small fee in the future to block spammers but right now, we are doing that manually, so you can get added for free.

Fill out the form here 

View the sample directory  - (In the future, you can click each company to view details, but currently the hyperlinks are deactivated)

What does this do for you?

  • Builds your Search Engine Rating in (Google, Yahoo, Bing, Yandex etc.)
  • Helps new energy modelers find alocalfirm
  • List your available services
  • Reach new audiences

We will be launching a demo of the first companies to register soon!

The directory is already showing a good turnout. Thanks to all who have signed up already!

7 Investments for Energy Modelers 2022 update

Oct 18, 2022

If you are reading this and you're on this website, there's a certainty that you have had computer issues interfere with your bottom line. Likely, you have wanted to smash your computer. Now, lately, many of you may not be fond of investing in the stock market - so why not invest in your workstation? If you are fortunate enough to work for a company that can upgrade your equipment, this is what I have found to be beneficial. 

1) Dual monitors. Large sized. 4k preferred

I like working on a laptop but I really don't understand how someone can work with less than two monitors. I just upgraded to three of these 4k 28" Samsung monitors - I was going to get an ultrawide monitor, but that doesn't really make sense for modeling, and the total cost was half of one of these monster gaming monitors (do you need a refresh rate of 240 hz for modeling? You might after you see one!)

4k is really important, as it allows reading of Full-sized architectural drawings. I can read construction plans on a large 4k monitor - which is nice, because you can't "ctrl+f" a paper copy. The 2nd and 3rd monitor allow me to read drawings and enter inputs simultaneously

2) A PCI solid state drive

In my tests, a solid state drive (or SSD) speeds up calculations, and also file transfer times. (make sure you enable TRIM, and disable auto-defrag! This should happen automatically with a PCI SSD). The added benefit: we all know that our energy models crash, and always at the wrong time. With a solid state drive, your computer can be restarted in under 1 minute.

The best solid state drives for typical users are PCI slot drives. If you aren't familiar with them, you should be, they are awesome! They are much smaller than typical 2.5" SSD's and when you upgrade them (for example, I moved from 512 GB to 2 TB) I now use the 512 GB drive as a flash drive - I use this adapter/case and it is the fastest and smallest portable drive I have ever used. It plugs in much more elegantly than a thumb drive without awkwardly breaking the USB connection on accident.

3) Maximize your ram

Use a 64-bit machine and use good RAM. This gets somewhat techy for a lot of us, but it boils down to allowing your energy modeling software to use the maximum amount of RAM it was built for (which 32 bit may not support!). Additionally, faster ram has given a slight edge when running complex models, but it's not really enough to justify the expense. For example 7200 Mhz Ram will give an edge over 3200 Mhz but unless you need it for other tasks, it probably won't justify the expense difference

4) A fast, multi-core processor

I've shown 30% improvement when running a large eQUEST file on an Intel core i7 3.40 ghz vs a core i9 3.40 ghz (Obviously it's not just the ghz that made the difference). While it does depend on the file, 30% is a lot of time when considering a large eQUEST LEED model, which runs 5 times. I also noticed that I can do other work during simulation with the more cores. Most energy-modeling software is single thread, which means it only uses 1 core of your CPU (even EnergyPlus, for the most part), so it's not always the most expensive processor that will run models the fastest, but rather a processor with a fast individual processor

I use multiple PCs when working on large projects and it seems there is a slight edge on Intel vs AMD. It's almost never worth it to get the "best" processor. If I'm working on an upgrade, I usually go with the 2nd or 3rd fastest option, but you can get a good idea of value by looking at the featured processors on Amazon

5) ASHRAE

ASHRAE has all the goods for you to produce quality energy models. Keep your membership active (I just hit the 5-year mark!) and make sure you have your own copy of ASHRAE Std 90.1, and the Std 90.1 user's manual.

With a solid history and phenomenal reputation - ASHRAE materials are a must. And you'll know that you are supporting the most important organization to energy modeling!

6) Automatic file backup

If I need to explain this one, you need to do a few more energy models and unless you are very lucky, you'll know why I mention this. Most of us use Dropbox. They have a solid free service - you can get bonus storage if you sign up through this link.

7) Ergonomics

This is swaying from the technical side of things a bit, and it might get a little pricey, but it is unhealthy to sit all day and taking a 15 minute break every hour is unrealistic, especially when submitting a LEED energy model.

A sit-and-stand desk is a good idea. Currently, I use an ergonomic monitor system, so I can stand and work at the same time (I simply use a podium and my wireless keyboard when standing). 

If you understand LEED (and the whole concept of LEED is not about energy, but about well-being), you might recall that well-being and worker productivity are related. Which is why I added ergonomics to this list!

Check out these dual ergotron arms. I've had these exact arms for 12 years and they are still perfect. I use them vertically or side to side. They allow me to rotate my monitors if need be. I even added a 3rd arm for another monitor.

The bottom line is that with a combination of the technical upgrades, my TRACE 700 and eQUEST models run in half the time than they previously did.

If anyone else has any pointers, please comment!

Check the following if you came here looking for investments in the stock market 

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