Hi,
I haven?t used IDA but have used IES in the past and much prefer DesignBuilder. I have used DesignBuilder for a number of years and regularly use it for UK compliance, heating and cooling design calcs, thermal comfort, simple CFD and hydronic HVAC simulation. I find the DesignBuilder modelling process very efficient and easy to QA. It is very intuitive - once you know the DesignBuilder way it?s easy to teach yourself new functionality, as the same logic seems to run through everything. More specifically:
DesignBuilder includes both standard NatVent and mixed-mode modelling using the EnergyPlus Airflow Network or a simpler/faster option. For thermal comfort analysis I use 6 time steps per hour, but you can can model at a higher resolution than that.
Various daylighting controls on lighting in EnergyPlus simulations.
Their Detailed HVAC components and libraries are extensive; I?m only scratching the surface so far with these.
Results can be generated in a large variety of ways for the whole or parts of a building.
DesignBuilder is a commercial off the shelf tool that covers the needs of most modellers but it does also have good scripting tools that allow the user to ?tweak? the simulations and outputs if necessary.
They have good technical support, free tutorials, regularly run webinars on features such as GSHP, Optimisation; and Uncertainty and Sensitivity analysis.
Based on my experience with other tools, DesignBuilder?s geometry creating/editing is excellent. You can import from other modelling and BIM tools.
I?m not aware of any zone number limits, any limits would be those of EnergyPlus.
I don?t model for LEED but that is definitely supported.
Illuminance and climate based daylighting calculations using Radiance.
I hope that helps!
Regards
Paul
Paul Sentobe Energy Consultant,Business Footprint Ltd
t: 02082495366
w: http://www.businessfootprint.net
