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<DIV><SPAN class=280442019-27012000><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2>I
agree - DOE - what a weird name for a computer program!</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=280442019-27012000><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN><SPAN class=280442019-27012000><FONT color=#0000ff
face=Arial size=2>Perhaps my perceptions of success have been unduly tainted by
the seemingly endless wait for PowerDOE and 2.2. That, combined with the
evolution of DOE 2.x code, which often seems to be pieces of code randomly stuck
together by engineer-computer geeks (no offense meant to said geeks). I agree
that the DOE2.x program has had a tremendous impact over the last twenty years,
and that it wouldn't have happened without Dept. of Energy support. I
didn't say the money was - or is - being wasted, only questioned if there are
better ways to spend it. (Indeed, I'd like to see more federal support, but in
perhaps a more open and competitive environment.) Not being a software
developer, I wonder about the trade-offs of evolving existing code vs. major
re-designs. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=280442019-27012000><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN><SPAN class=280442019-27012000><FONT color=#0000ff
face=Arial size=2>You are obviously more optimistic than I about the time frame
and commercial interest of EnergyPlus - I guess only time will tell. I'm curious
about peoples' take on the EP Beta licensee - especially from potential
developers. We've debated signing up but are probably going to wait a while.
</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=280442019-27012000><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=280442019-27012000><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2>By the
way - it's great to see some interest!</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=280442019-27012000><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> <A
href="mailto:Postman@gard.com">Postman@gard.com</A>
[mailto:Postman@gard.com]<B>On Behalf Of</B> Dragan Curcija<BR><B>Sent:</B>
Thursday, January 27, 2000 12:48 PM<BR><B>To:</B> <A
href="mailto:BLDG-SIM@gard.com">BLDG-SIM@gard.com</A><BR><B>Subject:</B>
[BLDG-SIM] hornets nest?<BR><BR></FONT></DIV><SPAN class=718322318-27012000>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=718322318-27012000>Let me offer my opinion on this
'controversy'. </SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV><FONT size=2><FONT color=#0000ff><FONT face=Arial>
<DIV>I personally disagree with contentions in this posting that "The
history of DOE and the national labs in creating and releasing such software
is not very good" and that "the DOE is spending our money to
create new code and have arguably abandoned the multi-million dollar
investment in previous DOE2.x development". First let me state
that from all available evidence, the whole DOE (and here DOE is the name of
the program - what a strange choice for program name, BTW) effort is one of
the most successful undertakings in a brief history of computer program
development and represent well spent government dollars by any
standard. The multitude of published studies and successful use of the
program in commercial world, including numerous PC implementations and user
friendly implementations (including PowerDOE) clearly proves this
point. Not only was it useful in U.S., but it is widely used world
wide helping achieve b<SPAN class=718322318-27012000>et</SPAN>ter energy
efficiency of buildings in the process.</SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=718322318-27012000></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=718322318-27012000>As
far as I know neither DOE nor EnergyPlus have any planned user interface
(other than arcane input file format). That is left to commercial
world, including Jeff Hirsch, to put into PowerDOE. It seems to me
that there is a quite a bit of confusion about PowerDOE, which is in my
opinion, very good program. PowerDOE is nothing more than good pre and
post processor, which can have DOE 2.2 or EnergyPlus as underlying
engine. Also, EnergyPlus doesn't mean abandonment of DOE 2 program, it
rather builds on strengths of BLAST and DOE2 programs, and basically
streamlines government money, which was to some extent wasted on the
parallel effort to develop two different programs for the same
purpose.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=718322318-27012000></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=718322318-27012000>EnergyPlus is an open source program, and alpha
version is just being released. For measly $100 (I think) anybody can
get license agreement and build commercial strength pre and post-processor
to it. I believe that many current developers will use this
opportunity and by the time the program is released (planned for beginning
of next year), we will likely have number of commercial programs that will
incorporate user friendly interface.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=718322318-27012000></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=718322318-27012000>This is not the first time that government is
accused of "wasting tax payer dollars" by funding these kind of
projects. Being in the field of fenestration research, sponsored also
by DOE, I heard this kind of argument all too often from various
people. However, whenever I look back I see literally tens of billions
of dollars saved by having government "push" the envelope and
industry, by spending, oh... maybe $100 million over the past 20
years. What a return on investment! I don't have data on the
impact that DOE 2 had in the past 20 years, but I bet that they are not far
off. I have no doubt in my mind that EnergyPlus is going to continue
this path of excellence. And I am talking only about dollar
savings. How about improved quality of lives by having more
comfortable homes, and by having less pollution?</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=718322318-27012000></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=718322318-27012000>For those who would like to learn more about
EnergyPlus (and other simulation programs) there is going to be IBPSA
meeting and software demonstration in Dallas in conjunction with ASHRAE
meeting on Saturday, February 5 from 4 to 7 p.m. in Pullman A Room at Hyatt
Regency Dallas. It is open to anyone.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=718322318-27012000></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=718322318-27012000>Regards,</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=718322318-27012000>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>Dragan Curcija,</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial
size=2>Senior Research Scientist</FONT> </P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>University of Massachusetts</FONT> <BR><I><FONT
face=Arial size=2>Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Energy</FONT></I> <BR><FONT face=Arial size=2>Engineering Lab
Building</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial size=2>Amherst, MA 01003-2210</FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>TEL: (413) 545-4454</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial
size=2>FAX: (413) 545-1027</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial size=2>email:
curcija@ceere.org</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial size=2>www: <A
href="http://www.ceere.org/faculty/curcija.html"
target=_blank>http://www.ceere.org/faculty/curcija.html</A>
</FONT></P></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV align=left class=OutlookMessageHeader dir = ltr><FONT face=Tahoma
size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> Postman@gard.com
[mailto:Postman@gard.com]<B>On Behalf Of </B>Mark Case<BR><B>Sent:</B>
Wednesday, January 26, 2000 4:09 PM<BR><B>To:</B>
BLDG-SIM@gard.com<BR><B>Subject:</B> [BLDG-SIM] hornets
nest?<BR><BR></DIV></FONT>
<DIV><SPAN class=590333521-26012000><FONT color=#000000 face=Arial
size=2>Most of you are undoubtedly aware of the recent controversy over
DOE2.2 PowerDoe and EnergyPlus. I know that many people on this list are
actively involved in one or more of these programs. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=590333521-26012000><FONT color=#000000 face=Arial
size=2>I think this list is as good a place as any to start a serious
discussion about where things are going, why, and how we (users of the
tools) feel about these things. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=590333521-26012000><FONT color=#000000 face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=590333521-26012000><FONT color=#000000 face=Arial
size=2>I'll start by boldly stating that I don't believe EnergyPlus will
provide a truly useful (on-the-ground useful) tool for many years to
come. The history of DOE and the national labs in creating and releasing
such software is not very good. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=590333521-26012000><FONT color=#000000 face=Arial
size=2>Are the labs and developers trying to create a product useable in
a competitive design consulting world? The last thing we need is another
arcane simulation package with no front end or post processor - been
there, done that. Perhaps new algorithyms and advanced coding are needed
but without the interface they won't help me at all. I'd rather use the
`older' ones and keep the ability to show designers what I'm doing.
</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=590333521-26012000><FONT color=#000000 face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=590333521-26012000><FONT color=#000000 face=Arial
size=2>One more comment and question - the DOE is spending our money to
create new code and have arguably abandoned the multi-million dollar
investment in previous DOE2.x developent. Is this the best use of
taxpayer money?</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=590333521-26012000><FONT color=#000000 face=Arial
size=2>Come on everybody - don't be afraid to weigh-in on this - let's
hear your thoughts!</FONT></SPAN></DIV><PRE>==================
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