<!doctype html public "-//w3c//dtd html 4.0 transitional//en">
<html>
<body bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
Have you tried the new BLAST user interface? It is so user friendly I use
it in my undergraduate HVAC design class. Students can be a tough crowd
and the user interface makes all the difference. In fact some of my former
students have purchased the package from the University of Illinois BLAST
Support Office and are using it for HVAC system design in their consulting
offices. It seems that EnergyPlus will need an interface like this before
it will have many users.
<p>By the way other faculty, BSO has a great deal on student versions.
<p>Doug Hittle
<br>Colorado State University
<p>Mark Case wrote:
<blockquote TYPE=CITE> <span class=590333521-26012000><font face="Arial"><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>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></font></font></span><span class=590333521-26012000><font face="Arial"><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>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></font></font></span><span class=590333521-26012000></span><span class=590333521-26012000><font face="Arial"><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>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></font></font></span><span class=590333521-26012000><font face="Arial"><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>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></font></font></span><span class=590333521-26012000></span><span class=590333521-26012000><font face="Arial"><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>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></font></font></span> <span class=590333521-26012000><font face="Arial"><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>Come
on everybody - don't be afraid to weigh-in on this - let's hear your thoughts!</font></font></font></span>
<pre>
======================================================
You received this e-mail because you are subscribed
to the BLDG-SIM@GARD.COM mailing list. To unsubscribe
from this mailing list send a blank message to
BLDG-SIM-UNSUBSCRIBE@GARD.COM</pre>
</blockquote>
<PRE>
======================================================
You received this e-mail because you are subscribed
to the BLDG-SIM@GARD.COM mailing list. To unsubscribe
from this mailing list send a blank message to
BLDG-SIM-UNSUBSCRIBE@GARD.COM
</PRE></body>
</html>