ENERGY DESIGN TOOLS

Energy conservation and efficiency, and use of renewable energy, are the major elements
of this category. Another area is the reduction of ozone-depleting substances. Energy
and atmosphere considerations include the following: iii

❚ Building Systems Commissioning: Verify and ensure that building elements and systems
are designed, installed, and calibrated to operate as intended.
❚ Measurement and Verification: Provide for the ongoing accountability and optimization
of building energy and water consumption performance over time.
❚ Optimize Energy Performance: Achieve levels of energy performance at (or above) Title
24 levels (in California) to reduce environmental impacts associated with excessive energy
use. (Measures include: integrated/whole building systems design; passive solar design
strategies; natural ventilation strategies; high-performance façade and envelope systems;
efficient HVAC systems; efficient lighting and appliances; etc.)
❚ Renewable Energy (on site): Encourage and recognize increasing levels of self-supply
through renewable technologies to reduce environmental impacts associated with fossil
fuel energy use.
❚ Green Power: Encourage the development and use of grid-source energy technologies
on a net zero pollution basis.
❚ Ozone Depletion: Reduce ozone depletion and support early compliance with the
Montreal Protocol (zero use of CFC, HCFC, or Halon-based HVAC, refrigeration, and fire
suppression systems).

An overwhelming number of energy-related software programs are currently available. In

the past few years, new programs have emerged and enhancements have been made to
some programs to make them more state-of-the-art and more user-friendly.

The Department of Energy’s Building Energy Software Tools Directory provides

excellent online information on over 200 such programs, many of which emphasize
renewable energy and energy efficiency. Energy programs differ in their usability, accuracy,
CAD compatibility, and how well they address "whole building," integrated, efficient design.
The DOE directory profiles describe the strengths and weaknesses of each program, and
you can search the directory by subject, by country, by platform (PC, Mac, Unix, Internet),
and alphabetically. Many of the profiles provided in this Tool Kit are based on information in
the DOE directory profiles. (However, some of the directory profiles are now a few years old
and thus are slightly outdated.) To search the DOE’s directory, go to:
http://www.eren.doe.gov/buildings/tools_directory/

Another great resource is the local PG&E Pacific Energy Center at 851 Howard Street near
5th, in San Francisco. The center offers regular, free workshops on building energy topics,

35
including presentations on modeling tools. The center also has a Heliodon, a mechanical
device used to physically model how the sun will hit a site at any time during the year at any
geographic location; and the center features a Tool Lending Library that provides
measurement tools for analyzing solar availability, wind, topography, and other site
conditions. For more information, visit the center, go to http://www.pge.com/pec/ or call the
PEC at 415-973-7268.

Detailed profiles of a number of energy design software tools are provided in this section,
within the areas of energy simulation / whole building design, photovoltaic design, lighting
and daylighting design, skylight design, fenestration design, HVAC systems design, and
energy design training. The profiled tools were selected because they are some of the most
widely used and recommended, they can be used for commercial/institutional projects,
and./or they can be used by designers who are not necessarily energy specialists.

There are a number of energy simulation tools that are not included in this Tool Kit, in most
cases because they are highly technical and are only used by energy specialists. Some
additional programs include DOE-2, RESEM, Trace, SPARK, HAP, and BLAST. BLAST is said
to have a very accurate simulation engine, but it is highly technical and not as user-friendly as
many of the programs profiled in this report. There are also a number of programs
developed outside of the United States (such as the solar PV tool, RETScreen), which can
sometimes be useful in the U.S. context. Descriptions of almost all energy software
programs can be found on the DOE’s online database
(http://www.eren.doe.gov/buildings/tools_directory/).

In addition to software tools, this section lists other types of energy design-related resources
(such as websites, databases, or guides) at the end of each sub-section.

36
WHOLE BUILDING DESIGN TOOLS

Detailed profiles of the following tools are provided in this section: eQuest, Solar-5, Energy
Scheming, Energy-10, EnergyPlus, EnergyPro, VisualDOE, and Building Design Advisor.

A few of the programs—such as Energy Scheming and Solar-5—are designed specifically to

be used by architects, in the schematic design phase. Building Design Advisor is also
intended for use during schematic design (and beyond) and it has a daylighting model, but
the program is still in its Beta phase. EnergyPro is a California Title 24 compliance tool; and
eQuest may also be in the future. Energy-10 useful for passive solar strategies, such as
building orientation. And VisualDOE is a CAD-compatible simulation tool based on DOE-2.1E.
See the profiles for more detailed information on each program.

37
 DOWNLOAD I FORMAT

eQUEST v. 2.5 "

http://www.energydesignresources.com

FORMAT: Software (Windows) — Web download or CD-ROM

APPLICATIONS: Energy simulation, HVAC, loads, envelope, lighting, etc. for

non-residential buildings

INTENDED USERS: Architects, engineers, lighting designers

CREATED BY: Energy Design Resources (CA Public Utilities Commission)

COST: Free

Advantages:
❚ Models building energy use over a typical year using hourly climatic data.
❚ Allows for fast and effective comparison and "testing" of alternative systems.
❚ Robust, DOE-2-derived calculation engine.
❚ Extensive reporting parameters.
❚ Can import AutoCAD drawings; comes with a drawing module.
❚ Easy to use; helpful Wizards for quick preliminary building modeling.
❚ Gearing up to be a major Title 24 compliance tool (pending CEC review).
❚ Can be downloaded; also is on the Energy Design Resources CD-ROM, along
with SkyCalc.

Disadvantages:
❚ Non-standard HVAC systems design (radiant systems, underfloor ventilation)
cannot be modeled by non-experts, using this tool.
❚ Unstable technical support.
❚ Not yet Title-24 compliant (pending).

DESIGN TOOLS: WHOLE BUILDING DESIGN: eQuest 2.5 38

 DOWNLOAD I FORMAT

Solar v. 5.7 "

http://www.aud.ucla.edu/energy-design-tools

FORMAT: Software (Windows)

APPLICATIONS: Early/schematic stages of design for small

commercial/institutional (or residential) projects (not intended
for complex mechanical system design or equipment sizing)

INTENDED USERS: Architects

CREATED BY: UCLA Department of Architecture

COST: Free

Advantages:
❚ Generates a basic building design based on only four pieces of data (floor area,
number of stories, location, and building type) and will develop more detailed
designs as more information is added.
❚ Displays 3-D plots of hourly energy performance, heat flow through thermal mass,
indoor air temperature, daylighting, HVAC system output, cost of electricity and
heating fuel, and the corresponding amount of air pollution.
❚ Validated against DOE-2 and BLAST.
❚ User-friendly.

DESIGN TOOLS: WHOLE BUILDING DESIGN: SOLAR 5.7 39

 DOWNLOAD I FORMAT

Energy Scheming v. 3.0 "

http://www.eren.doe.gov/buildings/tools_directory/software/energysc.htm

FORMAT: Software (Mac only)

APPLICATIONS: Schematic design, envelope, energy efficiency, load

calculations, commercial and residential

INTENDED USERS: Architects, building designers, students

CREATED BY: University of Oregon, Department of Architecture, Eugene, OR

(Available through Oikos.com)

COST: $250

Advantages:
❚ 24-hour load analysis
❚ User-friendly, intuitive, easy to learn
❚ Graphical/visual data input and output
❚ Can export to DOE-2.1
❚ Because it’s meant for use during early, schematic design phase, enables
consideration of energy issues at same time as basic architectural issues, such
as site orientation, elevation, etc.
❚ Takes into account building heat loss, solar gain, ventilation, daylighting, shading,
etc.

DESIGNTOOLS: WHOLE BUILDING DESIGN: Energy Scheming 3.0 40

 DOWNLOAD I FORMAT

Energy-10 "

http://www.sbicouncil.org/soft/
http://www.nrel.gov/buildings/energy10

FORMAT: Software (Windows)

APPLICATIONS: Design, whole building performance simulation, passive design
strategies, renewable energy; small commercial and
institutional (<10,000 SF) and residential
INTENDED USERS: Architects, building designers, HVAC engineers, utilities,
students
CREATED BY: Sustainable Buildings Industry Council, National Renewable
Energy Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,
Berkeley Solar Group (with support from the U.S. Department
of Energy)
COST: $250 (site license $500)

Advantages:
❚ Analyzes and illustrates the energy and cost savings that can be achieved
through more than a dozen sustainable design strategies, including daylighting,
renewable energy systems, passive solar heating, natural ventilation, well-
insulated envelopes, high-efficiency windows, lighting systems, and mechanical
equipment.
❚ Provides site-specific climate data.
❚ User-friendly.
❚ Accurate.
❚ Automatic generation of base cases and energy-efficient alternatives.
❚ Hourly energy simulations.
❚ Comes with the Designing Low-Energy Buildings: Passive Solar Strategies design
guidelines handbook.

DESIGN TOOLS: WHOLE BUILDING DESIGN: Energy-10 41

 DOWNLOAD I FORMAT

EnergyPlus "

http://www.eren.doe.gov/buildings /energyplus/

FORMAT: Software (Windows)

APPLICATIONS: Energy simulation, load calculation, building performance, heat
balance, mass balance, renewable energy, retrofit analysis
INTENDED USERS: Mechanical, energy, and architectural engineers working for
architect/engineer firms, consulting firms, utilities, federal
agencies, research universities, and research laboratories.
Engineering background helpful for analysis portions.
CREATED BY: Department of Energy
COST: Free download (Version 1-Beta)

"A new generation building energy simulation program that builds on the most popular
features and capabilities of BLAST and DOE-2. EnergyPlus will include innovative
simulation capabilities including time steps of less than an hour, modular systems
simulation modules that are integrated with a heat balance-based zone simulation,
and input and output data structures tailored to facilitate third party interface
development. Other planned simulation capabilities include solar thermal, multizone
airflow, and electric power simulation including photovoltaic systems and fuel cells."
(DOE profile)

Advantages:
❚ Models building energy use over a typical year using hourly climatic data.
❚ High level of computer literacy not required.
❚ Accurate, detailed simulation capabilities through complex modeling capabilities.
Input is geared to the 'object' model way of thinking. Successful interfacing using
IFC standard architectural model has been demonstrated.
❚ Extensive testing (comparing to available test suites) is being done during
development and results will be made available.
❚ EnergyPlus has been tested against the IEA BESTest building load and HVAC
tests.

Disadvantages:
❚ Difficult to use without a graphical user interface. (It remains to be seen whether
an interface is developed; DOE does not plan to develop one.)

DESIGNTOOLS: WHOLE BUILDING DESIGN: EnergyPlus 42

 DOWNLOAD I FORMAT

Vis ua lD O E v. 3.0 "

GreenDesign Tools

http://www.eley.com

FORMAT: Software (Windows)

APPLICATIONS: Energy performance, design, research, commercial and

residential, new and retrofit

INTENDED USERS: Architects, engineers, contractors, energy analysts, utilities,

building owners, etc.

CREATED BY: Eley Associates, San Francisco

COST: $800 for first license

Advantages:
❚ Based on DOE-2.1E simulation tool; energy use and peak demand evaluated on
an hourly basis. Comes with complete DOE-2.1E documentation.
❚ Software Suite includes VisualPlant, VisualRate, VisualSchedule, and
VisualConstruction (also sold separately)
❚ Can construct model using standard block shapes or a built-in drawing tool
❚ Weather data provided
❚ CAD compatible
❚ Skylight editor feature
❚ Unlimited technical support

Disadvantages:
❚ Difficult to model advanced features, such as displacement ventilation
(a limitation of DOE-2).

DESIGN TOOLS: WHOLE BUILDING DESIGN: VisualDOE 3.0 43

 DOWNLOAD I FORMAT

EnergyPro v. 3.0 "

http://www.energysoft.com

FORMAT: Software (Windows)

APPLICATIONS: California Title 24 compliance, diagnostic, energy simulation,

commercial and residential; envelope, lighting, HVAC/loads

INTENDED USERS: Title 24 energy consultants, builders, architects, utilities,

mechanical engineers

CREATED BY: EnergySoft/Gabel Dodd, Novato, CA

COST: $1,350-$1400 for interface and ALL non-residential Title 24

modules

Advantages:
❚ California Energy Commission-supported, Title 24 compliance tool.
❚ User-friendly, Report Wizards, Calculation Manager.
❚ Models building energy use over a typical year using hourly climatic data.
❚ 3.1 update now available for 3.0 users.
❚ Prescriptive and performance/DOE-2.1E simulations.

DESIGN TOOLS: WHOLE BUILDING DESIGN: EnergyPro 3.0 44

 DOWNLOAD I FORMAT

Building Design Advisor "

v. 3.0 (Beta 2)

http://gaia.lbl.gov/BDA

FORMAT: Software (Windows) — Web download (Beta version)

APPLICATIONS: Schematic design, energy performance, daylighting, prototypes,

commercial buildings

INTENDED USERS: Architects and engineers

CREATED BY: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

COST: Free (Beta version)

Advantages:
❚ Supports the integration of multiple building models and databases.
❚ Allows comparison of multiple design solutions with multiple descriptive and
performance parameters, for decision making.
❚ Automatically prepares input to simulation tools and integrates their output.
❚ Useful from the early, schematic phases through detailed specification of
components and systems.
❚ Links to a Daylighting Computation Model, an Electric Lighting Computation
Model, and DOE-2.1E.

DESIGN TOOLS: WHOLE BUILDING DESIGN: Building Design Advisor 3.0 45

46
PHOTOVOLTAIC DESIGN TOOLS

A couple of programs are available to help building designers position and size photovoltaic
(PV) solar panel systems (as well as solar hot water heating and wind power systems) for
their projects. Clean Power Estimator and PV WATTS are free web-based programs, while
PV-DesignPro and SolarPro are more technical programs available for purchase.

47
 DOWNLOAD I FORMAT

Clean Power Estimator "

http://www.clean-power.com/cec/

FORMAT: Interactive website (more graphics for Windows than for Mac)

APPLICATIONS: Cost estimating for photovoltaic and small wind power

generating systems cost estimating; commercial or residential

INTENDED USERS: California residents, commercial electric customers

CREATED BY: California Energy Commission / Clean Power Research

COST: Free

Advantages:
❚ Similar to PV WATTS, but also has utility rate tariffs built in and addresses wind
power, as well as solar.
❚ Generates information on: net cost, annual and monthly savings and costs, cash
flow, tax rates, daily and monthly electricity output, avoided CO2 emissions,
current and proposed loads, wind outputs and wind power curve.
❚ Generates customized reports based on location and information entered
regarding electric utility bill, rate schedule, the type of generating system, annual
cost of electricity, and preferred ways of paying for or financing the system(s).
❚ Allows for evaluating potential future rate increases.
❚ Provides net metering rate schedules.
❚ User-friendly.

DESIGN TOOLS: PHOTOVOLTAIC DESIGN: Clean Power Estimator 48

 DOWNLOAD I FORMAT

PV Watts "

http://rredc.nrel.gov/solar/codes_algs/PVWATTS/

FORMAT: Interactive website

APPLICATIONS: Calculates performance estimates of electrical energy

produced by a grid-connected photovoltaic system.

INTENDED USERS: Non-experts

CREATED BY: National Renewable Energy Laboratory

COST: Free

Advantages:
❚ Uses hourly weather data from stations throughout the U.S.
❚ Calculates the estimate of monthly and annual energy production in kWh and
cost savings.
❚ Two types of calculators are available; user has the option to specify a specific
location, PV system size, local electric costs, and type of PV array, or can use
default system parameters.

DESIGN TOOLS: PHOTOVOLTAIC DESIGN: PV Watts 49

 DOWNLOAD I FORMAT

Solar Design Studio Suite:

PV-DesignPro v. 5.0
"
SolarPro v. 2.0

http://mauisolarsoftware.com

FORMAT: Software (Windows) — CD-ROM

APPLICATIONS: PV-DesignPro: Simulates photovoltaic energy system operation

for off-grid standalone systems with battery storage, grid-
connected systems with no battery storage, or for water
pumping systems. SolarPro: Simulates the operation of an
active solar hot water heating system.

INTENDED USERS: PV system design professionals, architects, engineers, etc.

CREATED BY: Maui Solar Energy Software Corp.

COST: $149 (for the suite of programs; $125 for SolarPro only)

Advantages:
❚ Hourly, annual modeling based on local climate and system design.
❚ Includes climate and PV panel databases.
❚ Provides information on likely system power output and load consumption, and
necessary backup power.
❚ Based on the Sandia Labs field testing model.
❚ Includes financial costing and buyback factors.

DESIGNTOOLS: PHOTOVOLTAIC DESIGN: PV-DesignPro 5.0 and SolarPro 2.0 50

51
52
LIGHTING & DAYLIGHTING DESIGN TOOLS

Some of the most popular lighting and daylighting software programs include Desktop
Radiance, Lumen Micro, and Lightscape; these three are profiled in this report. Also
summarized are Lithonia Visual, Superlite, AGI 32, ProjectKalc, and FLEX, as well as a few
non-software tools.

53
 DOWNLOAD I FORMAT

Desktop Radiance "

http://radsite.lbl.gov/deskrad/

FORMAT: Software (Windows or UNIX)

APPLICATIONS: Advanced lighting and daylighting simulation and rendering for

interior and exterior spaces.

INTENDED USERS: Lighting designers, architects

CREATED BY: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (with PG&E)

COST: Free

Advantages:
❚ AutoCAD-14 compatible.
❚ Very accurate simulation engine, which takes into account multiple reflectants.
❚ Produces photo-realistic images of architectural space in all lighting conditions.
❚ Includes libraries of materials, glazings, luminaires, and furnishings.
❚ Facilitates energy-efficient lighting and daylighting design.
❚ Predicts financial and experiential benefits.
❚ Produces DOE-2-ready data.

Note: Adeline 2.0 is the Windows interface for the UNIX version of Radiance.

DESIGN TOOLS: LIGHTING & DAYLIGHTING DESIGN: Desktop Radiance 54

 DOWNLOAD I FORMAT

Lumen Micro 2000 "

http://www.lumenmicro.com

FORMAT: Software (Windows)

APPLICATIONS: Lighting design, simulation, analysis, and specification for

interior and exterior spaces.

INTENDED USERS: Lighting designers, specifiers

CREATED BY: Lighting Technologies, Inc.

COST: $600

Advantages:
❚ CAD interface and import/export available.
❚ Includes an extensive product library.
❚ Can be linked to Lightscape 3.2 for photo-realistic color renderings.
❚ Animated walkthrough option.
❚ User-friendly.

Disadvantage:
❚ Program not designed for modeling irregular, non-rectangular spaces.

Note:
Lighting Technologies, Inc. also sells Lightscape 3.2 by Autodesk and Simply Lighting 2002.

DESIGN TOOLS: LIGHTING & DAYLIGHTING DESIGN: Lumen Micro 2000 55

 DOWNLOAD I FORMAT

Lightscape v. 3.2 "

http://www.lightscape.com

FORMAT: Software (Windows)

APPLICATIONS: Sophisticated rendering,, lighting ray tracing

CREATED BY: Autodesk

COST: $595 (discounts available to government agencies)

Advantages:
❚ Complements all Autodesk design and animation programs; compatible with
AutoCAD 2000 and previous version.
❚ Can plug into Autodesk’s new 3D Studio VIZ and Studio MAX software.
❚ Simulation with radiosity captures subtle lighting effects.
❚ Interactive walkthrough of virtual environments.
❚ User-friendly interface.

Note: Lightscape can be used with Lumen Micro.

DESIGN TOOLS: LIGHTING & DAYLIGHTING DESIGN: LightScape 3.2 56

Other Lighting/Daylighting Software Tools:

Lithonia Visual 2.21

http://www.lithonialightinggroup.com/visual/
Basic Edition available via free download. Contact Lithonia for copy of Professional Edition.

Superlite 2.0
http://eetd.lbl.gov/btp/superlite2.html
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. DOS-based daylighting tool. Free download.

AGI 32—Version 1.52

http://www.agi32.com
Lighting Analysts, Inc. Windows-based electric lighting tool. $895 (for single user).

ProjectKalc
http://208.254.22.6/index.cfm?c=business.bus_index
Energy Star: U.S. Department of Energy/Environmental Protection Agency. Lighting
upgrade, energy and economic analysis tool. Free download.

FLEX 3.0.1
http://www.fishbaugher.com/flex/index.html
Federal Lighting Energy Expert, from the Federal Energy Management Program.
Windows/DOS lighting retrofit, lifecycle costing tool for energymanagers. Free.

Other Lighting/Daylighting Resources:

Heliodon
PG&E Pacific Energy Center, 415-973-7268
851 Howard St., San Francisco
The Heliodon is a mechanical device used to physically model how the sun will hit a site at
any time during the year at any geographic location.

EDR Lights
http://www.energydesignresources.com
A distance learning program on lighting tailored for California architects, contractors, and
engineers. Self-paced course covering energy efficient lighting for new, non-residential
construction.

Advanced Lighting Guidelines—2001 Edition

http://www.newbuildings.org/lighting.htm
New Buildings Institute / IESNA. Available as PDF download, print copy, or CD ($27.50).

Windows and Daylighting website

http://windows.lbl.gov
A Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory website.

57
58
SKYLIGHT DESIGN TOOL

The SkyCalc software program is profiled in this section, accompanied by links to two other
free online resources related to skylight design.

59
 DOWNLOAD I FORMAT

SkyCalc v. 1.1 "

http://www.energydesignresources.com/tools/skycalc.html

FORMAT: Excel spreadsheet (Windows) — Web download or CD-ROM

APPLICATIONS: To be used for determining the optimum sizing and spacing of

skylights to achieve the maximum lighting and HVAC energy
savings for a building (for commercial, flat-roofed buildings
only).

INTENDED USERS: Architects, engineers, lighting designers

CREATED BY: Energy Design Resources (CA Public Utilities Commission)

COST: Free

Advantages:
❚ One-of-a-kind program that calculates the lighting and whole building energy
impacts of various designs.
❚ Provides data for many climate zones in California.
❚ Compares the net energy cost savings using a variety of electric lighting control
strategies.
❚ Produces graphs and charts that describe hourly, annual energy-use patterns.
❚ User-friendly; simple data inputs.
❚ SkyCalc User Guide is available, as are Skylighting Guidelines and case studies.
❚ Can be downloaded; also is on the Energy Design Resources CD-ROM, along
with eQuest.

(Note: This program does not provide accurate data for buildings with more than a slight roof
slope.)

DESIGN TOOLS: SKYLIGHT DESIGN: SkyCalc 1.1

Other Skylight Design Resources:

Energy Design Resources

http://www.energydesignresources.com/publications.html
Case Studies, Design Briefs, and Skylighting Guidelines

AAMA Skylight Handbook

http://www.aamanet.org/
American Architectural Manufacturers Association’s design guidelines with worksheets and
spreadsheets. Emphasis on optimizing energy efficiency.
60
61
62
FENESTRATION DESIGN TOOLS

There are several free software programs for efficient window design and selection,
designed by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. However, none of them are ideally
suited for use by city architects or engineers. The following are brief descriptions of the
available programs and their applications:

Therm 2.1a
http://windows.lbl.gov/software/therm/therm.html
A program for analyzing two-dimensional heat transfer through building products; primarily
for use by building component manufacturers, engineers, and students.

Resfen 3.1
http://windows.lbl.gov/software/resfen/resfen.html
A program for calculating the heating and cooling energy use of windows in residential
buildings; helpful for comparing the performance of two or more different window types.

Window 4.1/5.0
http://windows.lbl.gov/software/window/window.html
A program for analyzing window thermal and optical performance; primarily used by window
manufacturers to rate their products and by public officials developing building energy
codes.

Other Fenestration Resources

Windows and Daylighting website

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
http://windows.lbl.gov/

Efficient Windows Collaborative

http://www.efficientwindows.org

Energy Star Windows product list

http://www.energystar.gov/products/windows/index.html

PG&E’s What to Look for in Windows

http://www.pge.com/003_save_energy/003a_res/pdf/window.pdf

Also see the SkyCalc and the AAMA Skylight Handbook descriptions in the previous section.

63
64
H.V.A.C. SYSTEMS DESIGN TOOLS

The HVAC software tools profiled here are MotorMaster, QuikFan/QuikChill,

YORKworks/YorkCalc, and System Analyzer.

65
 DOWNLOAD I FORMAT

MotorMaster+ v. 3.0 "

http://mm3.energy.wsu.edu/mmplus/default.stm

FORMAT: Software download (or online)

APPLICATIONS: Analyzing motor and motor system efficiency.

INTENDED USERS: Consulting engineers, utility auditors

CREATED BY: Washington State University Cooperative Extension Energy

Program. Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of
Industrial Technologies Best Practices Program

COST: Free

Advantages:
❚ Includes motor inventory management tools, maintenance log tracking, efficiency
analysis, lifecycle costing, savings evaluation, energy accounting, etc.
❚ Used to identify inefficient or oversized facility motors

DESIGN TOOLS: H.V.A.C. SYSTEMS DESIGN: MotorMaster+ 3.0 66

 DOWNLOAD I FORMAT

QuikFan v. 4.0 "

QuikChill v. 1.00

http://208.254.22.6/index.cfm?c=business.bus_index

FORMAT: Software download

APPLICATIONS: Variable Air Volume (VAV) system and centrifugal chiller cost
analyses

CREATED BY: Energy Star (U.S. Department of Energy / Environmental

Protection Agency)

COST: Free

Advantages:
❚ User-friendly
❚ QuikFan provides screening-level data without complex building data; relates to
the application of variable speed drives to fan motors; has options for high-
efficiency motor installation and static pressure reset.
❚ QuikChill performs full economic and energy analyses of upgrade scenarios
involving complex chiller plants; handles consolidation of existing chillers,
integration of new chillers, and retrofits to existing chillers. An excellent tool for
CFC phase-out issues.

DESIGN TOOLS: H.V.A.C. SYSTEMS DESIGN: QuikFan 4.0 and QuikChill 1.00 67
 DOWNLOAD I FORMAT

YORKworks "
YorkCalc

http://www.york.com/products/esg/Software/EngYorkWorks/body.asp

FORMAT: Software (Windows) CD-ROM

APPLICATIONS: Design of HVAC systems, including chillers, air handling units,

coils.

CREATED BY: YORK International

COST: Contact YORK sales representative

Advantages:
❚ Includes the YorkCalc program for calculating and comparing costs of operating
single or multiple chillers from multiple manufacturers.
❚ Also includes programs for configuring, selecting, and rating indoor and outdoor
air handling units; loose coils; and DX chiller products.

DESIGNTOOLS: H.V.A.C. SYSTEMS DESIGN TOOLS: YorkCalc

DOWNLOAD I FORMAT

System Analyzer v. 5.0 "

h t t p : / / w w w. t r a n e . c o m / c o m m e r c i a l / s o f t w a r e / a n a l y s i s . a s p

FORMAT: Software CD-ROM and downloads

APPLICATIONS: Energy and lifecycle cost comparisons for commercial HVAC

systems

CREATED BY: Trane

COST: $995 (single user)

Advantages:
❚ User-friendly
❚ Comes with one year of technical support

DESIGN TOOLS: H.V.A.C. SYSTEMS DESIGN: SystemAnalyzer 5.0

68
Other HVAC Software Tools

Hydronics Design Tool Kit

http://www.oikos.com/esb/48/hydronicsoftware.html
This is a DOS-based software program for hydronic heating system design. It has 19
modules for tasks such as expansion tank sizing, room heat-load calculation, pipe sizing, and
fuel cost estimation. $70.

There are a number of other software tools for HVAC design, many of which are highly technical and
meant primarily for use by HVAC experts. These include TRACE (Load 700), HAP, Elite, and Wrightsoft.

69
70
ENERGY DESIGN TRAINING TOOLS

EcoAdvisor
http://www.ecoadvisor.com
Web or CD; Windows only.
Free (online version); $49.95 per CD
(for government users).
Interactive, multimedia training and
guidance tools, which adapt to users’
location and level of expertise. The
graphics-intensive lessons are useful
for building owners, managers, and
decision-makers, as well as construction agencies and design professionals. The HVAC
Energy Primer has been completed; it is focused on mechanical system design for large
buildings. Modules for Lighting, Daylighting, and Building Form & Envelope are being
developed. To use the free online version, Macromedia Authorware must be downloaded.

E Source Technology Atlas Series

http://www.esource.com/public/products/prosp_atlas.asp
Print and CD-ROM, $750 (CD-ROM only), $950 (both)
Five-volume set, Windows or Mac.
Comprehensive reference volumes covering Lighting, Cooling, Heating, Drivepower, and
Appliances. Includes detailed illustrations, graphics, and photographs, and cross-references.
Excerpts can be viewed at the above website.

Other Energy Design Resources

RESEM (Retrofit Energy Savings Estimation Model)

http://eande.lbl.gov/BTP/resem.htm
PC/DOS-based software program; free download
An interactive tool from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory for determining energy
savings from retrofit measures in institutional buildings. Originally developed for the U.S.
Department of Energy’s Institutional Conservation Program. Meant for use by building
managers and energy retrofit engineers. Requires only minimal user input. Automatically
accesses weather and utility data.

Energy Star
http://www.energystar.gov
A joint program of the U.S. Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency.
The website provides information on energy efficiency, as well as lists of products with the
Energy Star rating (including roofs, appliances, lighting, etc.).

RoadMaps to Energy Efficiency

http://www.energyroadmaps.org/road/
Online and print versions.
Global Green USA and Environment Now’s guide to retrofitting commercial properties,
particularly office buildings; organized by three approaches: Do It Yourself, hire an energy
consultant, or contract with an energy service company.

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