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<font size=3>Dear Bldg-Sim list,<br><br>
The newest version of EnergyPlus (1.2.1) was released on October 1,
2004<br>
and is now available in versions for both the Windows and Linux
operating<br>
systems. You can download EnergyPlus at no cost from the EnergyPlus
web<br>
site:
<a href="http://www.energyplus.gov/" eudora="autourl">www.energyplus.gov</a>
.<br><br>
What's New in EnergyPlus Version 1.2.1<br>
A few of the new features are listed below?see<br>
<a href="http://www.energyplus.gov/features.html" eudora="autourl">www.energyplus.gov/features.html</a> for a complete list of new features added<br>
in this and previous versions:<br>
· Multi-sided polygons<br>
· Daylighting (skylight light wells, daylighting through interior<br>
windows, translucent Glass)<br>
· Significant decrease in execution time for COMIS<br>
· Utility rate calculations<br>
· Ventilation load report<br>
· IDFEditor updates include ability to open multiple IDF files and<br>
copy/paste objects between files<br>
· EP-Launch updates include ability to select a group of simulations to<br>
run and maintaining a history of simulations<br>
· More than 2,000 pages of documentation<br>
· And speed improvements throughout.<br><br>
Update on User Interfaces?<br>
A number of graphical user interfaces for EnergyPlus are under development.<br>
Three (DesignBuilder, EP-QUICK, EPlusInterface) are currently available in<br>
development (beta) versions while the fourth (E+IEQ) is planned for 2005.<br>
Watch this web page (<a href="http://www.energyplus.gov/ep_interfaces.html" eudora="autourl">www.energyplus.gov/ep_interfaces.html </a>) for up-to-date<br>
information on these and other interfaces.<br><br>
A number of utilities and tools for creating, editing, and running input<br>
files come with EnergyPlus, including IDF Editor, EP-Launch, IFCtoIDF, and<br>
HVAC-Diagram (see <a href="http://www.energyplus.gov/ep_utilities.html" eudora="autourl">www.energyplus.gov/ep_utilities.html</a> ). Third party tools<br>
for creating, editing, and displaying EnergyPlus input files are also<br>
available, including DrawBDL, EcoTect, Green Building Studio, EzDrawPlus,<br>
TSe+, and EzPlus-Parm. See <a href="http://www.energyplus.gov/third_party_tools.html" eudora="autourl">www.energyplus.gov/third_party_tools.html</a> for<br>
more information.<br><br>
What's going on in V1.2.1?<br>
Will there be any considerable difference between version 1.2.1 and<br>
1.2.0?<br>
Yes.... and no. There are a number of new features and bug fixes.<br><br>
How about IDF and IDD? Do they remain unchanged?<br>
There will be some changes in the IDD and reflected in IDFs.<br>
Particularly for any new features, there will be new objects.<br><br>
Is version 1.2.1 backward compatible? Can I run a v1.2.0 file in v<br>
1.2.1?<br>
For the most part, the answer is yes. Some report variables have<br>
changed names. To be sure, you can execute the transition program<br>
that will "transition" IDFs from V1.2.0 to V1.2.1. You can also view<br>
the ObjectStatus spreadsheet in the root folder of the installed<br>
version. This file has detailed explanations of changes to the<br>
objects.<br><br>
EnergyPlus Weather Data<br>
Weather data for more than 680 locations worldwide are available on the<br>
EnergyPlus web site: <a href="http://www.energyplus.gov/weatherdata.html" eudora="autourl">www.energyplus.gov/weatherdata.html</a>. If you<br>
have other weather data that you'd be willing to share with other<br>
EnergyPlus users, please contact the EnergyPlus team.<br><br>
Building Energy Simulation User News<br>
Want to keep up to date on EnergyPlus? Subscribe to the bi-monthly<br>
electronic newsletter for users of EnergyPlus, DOE-2, BLAST, Genopt, SPARK,<br>
Energy-10, and Building Design Advisor. See<br>
simulationresearch.lbl.gov/un.html<br><br>
BLDG-SIM<br>
Join the free e-mail list for users of all building energy simulation<br>
programs. Ask other knowledgeable simulation program users your<br>
questions--about EnergyPlus and other simulation programs. See<br>
<a href="http://www.gard.com/ml/bldg-sim.htm" eudora="autourl">www.gard.com/ml/bldg-sim.htm</a> for information on joining this email list.<br><br>
Thanks!<br><br>
The EnergyPlus Team<br><br>
<br><br>
<br><br>
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The primary EnergyPlus web site is found at:<br>
<a href="http://www.energyplus.gov/" eudora="autourl">http://www.energyplus.gov<br><br>
</a>The group web site is:<br>
<a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EnergyPlus_Support/" eudora="autourl">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EnergyPlus_Support/<br><br>
</a>Attachments are not allowed -- please post any files to the appropriate folder in the Files area of the Support Web Site.<br>
<br>
Yahoo! Groups Links<br><br>
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:<br>
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</a><*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:<br>
EnergyPlus_Support-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com<br><br>
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:<br>
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</a> <br>
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