EnergyPlus Version 5.0 Available

The latest release of the EnergyPlus building
energy simulation program, Version 5.0, is now
available in versions for Windows, Linux, and Mac
operating systems. A few key new features
include: enhancements to EMS applications, new
application guides, Wind Turbine, External
Interface, Zone Ventilation for Wind and Stack
Open Area. We have updated and extended
capabilities throughout the existing building
envelope, daylighting, and HVAC equipment and systems portions of the program.

EnergyPlus V 5.0 is available at no cost from the
EnergyPlus web site: www.energyplus.gov.

OpenStudio plugin for Google SketchUp: The
OpenStudio is a free plugin for the
GoogleSketchUp 3D drawing program. The plugin
makes it easy to create and edit the building
geometry in your EnergyPlus input files. The
plugin also allows you to launch EnergyPlus
simulations and view the results without leaving SketchUp.

EnergyPlus Example File Generator: A Web-based
service is available that creates and runs
EnergyPlus input files for simple models of
commercial buildings. The input files (and annual
results summary files) are sent to your e-mail
address as attachments. This is a pilot project
and is currently made available only as a BETA
service. You can access the service and customize
the characteristics of the building you want to
model on the EnergyPlus Example File Generator
Application (pop-ups must be enabled).

The set of example input files now includes
full-blown models of typical new construction
(drawn from the DOE Commercial Benchmarks project).

What's New in Version 5.0?

The highlights ? improved and new features ? are displayed by category.

Datasets
* New refrigerated case data set

Input
* Slab and Basement preprocessors integrated to
run automatically prior to EnergyPlus simulation
* New "Unit Type" field for schedules to
support units conversions of schedule values
* Added ExternalInterface to connect to the
Building Controls Virtual Test Bed using Ptolemy

Geometry/Window/Wall/Shading
* 2-node ConductionFiniteDifferenceSimplified model added

Daylighting
* Allow switchable windows like electrochromic
windows to continuously dim, instead of only
switching to fully dark state. Allows the zone to
meet the maximum glare index while providing daylight for spaces

Zone Model
* Analytical and Euler solution options for zone air heat balance added

Natural and Mechanical Ventilation
* Added minimum outdoor air flow rate operation
controls to single and dual duct VAV air terminals
* Added maximum supply air flow rate during
reheat to single duct VAV air terminal
* New object ZoneHVAC:OutdoorAir to describe
outdoor air flow rate for use by other objects
* New ZoneVentilation:WindandStackOpenArea
object calculates ventilation rates based on winds and stack effects
* Zone HVAC outdoor air unit module for make-up air and DOAS

HVAC and Refrigeration
* Refrigeration loops can now model CO2 secondary loops
* Lighting in refrigerated cases revised to
better match manufacturer's practices
* Zone-side impacts of refrigerant piping heat exchange added
* Default 'on' schedules for refrigerated cases and walk-ins added
* Dual layer controls for radiant systems removed
* Basin heater added to all chillers except absorption chillers
* Basin heater added to one and two speed cooling towers
* Pumps can ride curves based on pressure
* New steam baseboard with radiant heat
* New electric radiant/convective baseboard
* Added HVACTemplate:Zone:WaterToAirHeatPump
and HVACTemplate:Plant:MixedWaterLoop
* Standard rating (net) cooling capacity and
SEER value reported for single speed DX cooling coil with air-cooled condenser

Electrical Systems
* Improved methodology for electric load
dispatch via the electric load center

Controls and User Functions
* Enhancements to EMS including: system
timestep built-in variable, detect unbalanced
parentheses in Erl, custom schedule output, and
coupling with ExternalInterface
* External Interface to the Building Controls
Virtual Test Bed (BCVTB) opens EnergyPlus to external programs.

On-Site Energy Supply
* Wind turbine module (horizontal and vertical axis turbines)

Output
* New predefined output table for DX cooling
coils as part of EquipmentSummary report
summarize the calculated capacity and SEER values
* New simulations database table and tabular
reports data added to SQL database output
* Added report variables for beam and diffuse solar radiation for blinds
* Users can turn off most surface variables to
a minimal critical set with single command.
Allows tremendous reduction in execution time for
large projects with many surfaces

Utilities
* New utility EP-Compare allows users to
graphically compare results from two simulations
* IDF Editor supports IP units in schedules and other objects
* EP-Launch, IDF Editor, and WeatherConverter updates throughout

Documentation and Guides
* Two new guides: Tips and Tricks Using
EnergyPlus, and External Interface Application Guide
* Input/Output Reference and Engineering
Reference updated and extended for all new
features and updates. Total documentation now exceeds 4,700 pages
* New translation capability added to
EnergyPlus web site allows translation into 50 languages

Validation and Testing
* New EnergyPlus Testing Reports:
* EnergyPlus Testing with IEA BESTEST
Mechanical Equipment & Control Strategies for a
Chilled Water and a Hot Water System

Platforms
* Windows (XP, Vista, Windows 7)
* Linux (Ubuntu 9.04 and above, Redhat 5.4 and above)
* Mac (10.5, 10.6)

And many other enhancements and speed improvements throughout.

See http://www.energyplus.gov/features.html for
a complete list of new features added in this and previous versions.

Update on User Interfaces and Tools?

Many user interfaces that create and run
EnergyPlus input files and display results
graphically are available (Demand Response Quick
Assessment Tool, DesignBuilder, Easy EnergyPlus,
EFEN, Hevacomp, and HLCP) and under development
(ComFen, TREATPlus and EPlusInterface). Check
our web site
(http://www.energyplus.gov/ep_interfaces.html )
for up-to-date information on these and other interfaces.

Utilities and tools for creating, editing, and
running input files that come with EnergyPlus
include IDF Editor, EP-Launch, and HVAC-Diagram
(see http://www.energyplus.gov/ep_utilities.html
). Third party tools for creating, editing, and
displaying EnergyPlus input files are also
available, including DrawBDL, EcoTect,
EnergyPlugged, ESP-r, Green Building Studio,
EzDrawPlus, IFCtoIDF, TSe+, and EzPlus-Parm. See
http://www.energyplus.gov/third_party_tools.html for more information.

EnergyPlus Training Workshops

We will continue to offer training workshops
throughout 2010. For more information, please
see: http://www.gard.com/training.htm

EnergyPlus Weather Data

Weather data for more than 2000 locations
worldwide are available on the EnergyPlus web
site: http://www.energyplus.gov/cfm/weather_data.cfm

If you know of other weather data for your
country that you'd be willing to share with the
EnergyPlus user community, please contact the
development team at energyplus-support at gard.com.

EnergyPlus Helpdesk

A helpdesk system has been set up for managing
EnergyPlus user support requests. The helpdesk
system includes a download area, a knowledge base
and troubleshooting area. To submit new support
requests (tickets) or search the knowledge base,
please go to energyplus.helpserve.com. You may
also submit new issues, files and reply to
tickets via e-mail at
EnergyPlus-Support at gard.com. This address has
been linked to the helpdesk since early May
2008. This is the best way to get your specific
EnergyPlus questions answered.

EnergyPlus_Support Group at YahooGroups

Are you a commercial or academic user of
EnergyPlus? Join more than 3,000 EnergyPlus
users in the user-to-user email group on
YahooGroups?a place to ask questions and share
information with other EnergyPlus users. The
YahooGroup also provides a searchable archive of
all 9+ years of discussion. You can also upload
files to share with other users. While the
EnergyPlus development team does monitor the
YahooGroup list, the best place for
individualized support is the EnergyPlus Helpdesk.

The main web page for the group is:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EnergyPlus_Support

To subscribe, send an email message to:
EnergyPlus_Support-subscribe at yahoogroups.com

If you hate to constantly receive email, you can
edit your YahooGroup membership to only send a daily digest of messages.

Building Energy Simulation User News

Want to keep up to date on EnergyPlus and other
building simulation tools? Subscribe to the
bi-monthly electronic newsletter for users of
EnergyPlus, DOE-2, BLAST, GenOpt, SPARK, and
Energy-10. See http://simulationresearch.lbl.gov/un.html

BLDG-SIM

Join the free e-mail list for users of all
building energy simulation programs. Ask other
knowledgeable simulation program users your
questions--about EnergyPlus and other simulation
programs. See
http://lists.onebuilding.org/listinfo.cgi/bldg-sim-onebuilding.org
for information on joining this email list.

Thanks!

The EnergyPlus Team