VIBYOR.COM is pleased to announce two comprehensive
energy simulation tutorials. "Getting started with EnergyPlus" is free.
"Complete Energy Simulation using VisualDOE" is paid one.

Getting started with
EnergyPlus(Authored
by Dr Vishal Garg) covers following details

- Installing EnergyPlus
- Understanding user interface
- The Problem- Details of the building to be modeled and simulated
- IDF editor for modeling- IDF editor is used to create E+ input files
with the extension .IDF
- Add Version- Entering the EnergyPlus version that will be used for
simulation
- Simulation Control- Specifying the kind of calculations, simulation
should perform
- Building- Entering parameters that are used during the simulation of
the building
- Timestep- Giving the number of Timesteps per hour
- Run Period- Defining Simulation Run Period
- Schedule Type- Specifying the data types and limits for the values
contained in schedules
- Schedule Compact- Compact Schedules for activity, light, equipment etc
- Material- Regular materials described with full set of thermal
properties
- Construction- Construction details of wall, floor and roof
- Global Geometry Rules
- Zone- Giving basic info about the zones
- Building Surface Detailed- Giving coordinates and other info of all the
walls, floors and roofs
- People- Set internal gains for occupants in the zone.
- Lights- Set internal gains for lights in the zone.
- Electric Equipment- Set internal gains for electric equipment in the
zone.
- HVAC Template:Thermostat- Zone thermostat control.
- HVACTemplate:Zone:IdealLoadAirSystem- Zone with ideal air system that
meets heating and cooling loads
- Output:Surfaces:Drawing
- Output:Table:SummaryReports- Calling report types that are predefined.
- OutputControl:Table:Style- Defining style for the
OutputControl:Table:Style

Complete Energy Simulation using
VisualDOE(authored
by Dr Vishal Garg and Surekha Tetali) covers following

1. Description of building for simulation modeling
2. Input data sheets

- General description of the project
- Site specifications- Explains some variables which represent the
project site
- Building Construction- Explains about the building construction
material
- Building Geometry - Explains the inputs for creating a building
geometry
- Zone details- Explains the variable that are inputs for each zone
- Schedules- Schedule of occupancy and equipment
- Weekdays- Schedule on Weekdays
- Saturdays- Schedule on Saturdays
- Sundays and holidays- Schedule on Sundays and holidays
- Building facades- Explains the inputs for defining a building facade
- HVAC System - Explains the HVAC system details
- Supply air fan- Explains the HVAC supply fan details
- Cooling & Heating- Explains details of the cooling and heating units
- Conditioned zones- Explains specific inputs for conditioned zones
- Miscellaneous- Some miscellaneous inputs are specified.

3. Creating simulation model on VisualDOE

- Introduction
- General description of the project
- Site specifications
- Building Construction
- Building Geometry
- Zone details
- Schedules
- Building facades
- HVAC
- Conditioned zones
- Miscellaneous

4. Running simulation
5. Viewing results

Both tutorials are eLearning tutorials and are supported through a forum.
The skills acquired will be invaluable in making sustainable buildings.

Happy Simulation!

Deepak Agrawal