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<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff><FONT color=#000000
size=2>All,<BR><BR>We're excited about the interest in the Green Building Studio
web service that has popped up on BLDG SIM in the last few days. As the
head of the engineering portion of our firm, I would like to agree with much of
what has been said and clear up a few items.<BR><BR>Green Building Studio, Inc.
is a firm that develops software and provides services related to green building
design. Our Green Building Studio web service (GBS) is a free web based
schematic energy analysis service, funded by a number of public and utility
entities. The service is designed to encourage building designers,
especially architects, to look at the very important energy decisions that they
are making, whether they know it or not, at the very earliest stages of
schematic<SPAN class=734380221-21122005> and even programmatic
</SPAN>design. <BR><BR>Green Building Studio (the web service) works with
the leading CAD BIM and HVAC design software providers (AutoDesk Revit, ADT and
Building Systems and ArchiCAD 9.0, Trane Trace 700) to provide a high level
energy analysis of schematic designs (using appropriate 90.1 or localized
defaults if the envelope or other building characteristics are unknown).
We do this by converting a Green Building XML (gbXML) file, created by a CAD/BIM
application, to a simulation model (DOE2 and EnergyPlus) after
assigning the defaults mentioned above where necessary, and running the
simulation on our server and serving up the highest level results to the user
(typically an architect). In addition, we make the native DOE2.2 file
available to the architect, simulators, and design team so that
they can modify, update and migrate the file (in text or eQUEST) with the
design(s) as they move forward. The intent is that MORE experts will be
involved in simulating MORE buildings, not to replace the experts. We do
however want to replace the 3-sided rulers, reduce the amount of time that it
takes to get a simulation model built so that more time is spent exercising the
model, running parametrics, investigating possibilities and providing valuable
information to owners and design teams early in the process so that schematic
decisions (glazing amount per orientation, rotation of the building/campus,
window shading, system type) can be informed by a schematic energy
analysis.<BR><BR>We changed our name (as of September 1 of this year) to Green
Building Studio, Inc.</FONT><FONT size=2><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT
color=#000000><FONT face=Arial> in order to clarify what we do (Our former
name was GeoPraxis, Inc.) Members of our firm have been working with energy
simulation software for approximately 15 years, we have engineering and analysis
staff who do exactly the type of work as other members of BLDG-SIM. We
want to eliminate the drudgery associated with building energy simulation,
increase its use, and educate everyone in the process. If we can do these
things (with the help of many), we will all spend more time on the work we enjoy
and that truly adds value to the design process.<BR><BR>I hope this helps.
I will ask John Kennedy (the president of our firm and lead developer of Green
Building Studio) to weigh in with more information when he is
available.<BR><BR>Pat<BR><BR></FONT>___________________________________<BR>Pat
Bailey, PE<BR>Vice President<BR>Green Building Studio, Inc.<BR>205 Keller
Street, #202<BR>Petaluma, CA 94952<BR><BR>707-766-7010 - phone<BR>707-766-7014 -
fax<BR><BR>pbailey@greenbuildingstudio.com</FONT></FONT><BR><BR><BR></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV><BR>
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader lang=en-us dir=ltr align=left>
<HR tabIndex=-1>
<FONT face=Tahoma size=2><B>From:</B> bldg-sim@gard.com
[mailto:bldg-sim@gard.com] <B>On Behalf Of </B>Sheila Sagerer<BR><B>Sent:</B>
Wednesday, December 21, 2005 6:25 AM<BR><B>To:</B>
bldg-sim@gard.com<BR><B>Subject:</B> [bldg-sim] Green Building
Studio<BR></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=566351414-21122005><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>Good
Morning All-</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=566351414-21122005><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=566351414-21122005><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>I have
not had the opportunity to try the GBS set yet, but I was at a seminar
for it back in September. As I understand the process and stated below,
there is very little control from the GBS site on detailed inputs. But,
the GBS site is supposed to automatically generate an eQuest input file (*.inp)
that can be downloaded for the energy modeler's use. This would save us
modelers A LOT of input time just in creating the building while still allowing
us to have the ability to tweak <SPAN
class=090282214-21122005>occupancy,</SPAN> schedules and other pertinent details
to our satisfaction<SPAN class=090282214-21122005> and do
troubleshooting</SPAN>. At least we would have a time-saving starting
point??</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=566351414-21122005><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=566351414-21122005><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>Happy
Holidays.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=566351414-21122005><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=566351414-21122005><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>Sheila
Sagerer</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=566351414-21122005><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>Energy
Engineer, LEED AP</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=566351414-21122005><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>Energy
Opportunities, Inc / a 7group company</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=566351414-21122005><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>Ph:
717-880-9069</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=566351414-21122005><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2>Fax: 717-291-9497</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=566351414-21122005><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Tahoma
size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> bldg-sim@gard.com
[mailto:bldg-sim@gard.com]<B>On Behalf Of </B>Mohit Mehta<BR><B>Sent:</B>
Tuesday, December 20, 2005 8:47 PM<BR><B>To:</B>
bldg-sim@gard.com<BR><B>Subject:</B> [bldg-sim] Green Building
Studio<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=Section1>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=blue size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Good
dialogue!<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=blue size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Out of curiosity - we
actually tried this GBS website – all we did was open the Revit file (of one
of our projects), exported to GBXML and load it into the geopraxis site. Took
all of 10-15 min. The site asks some basic information about location, project
statistics, and energy statistics (you can enter your own or go with their
database of energy costs based on your zip code) and ran their report. All
pretty straightforward. The project architect (from the design team)
input this himself and forwarded the output to me for
feedback.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=blue size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The output that we
got was not up to par (aware that it depends on what/how it was input in the
first place). Some quick basic observations on the output summary -
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<UL style="MARGIN-TOP: 0in" type=disc>
<LI class=MsoNormal style="COLOR: blue; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1"><FONT
face=Arial color=blue size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The annual electric/fuel
breakdown was missing quite a few categories. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT>
<LI class=MsoNormal style="COLOR: blue; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1"><FONT
face=Arial color=blue size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">I am not sure what or how the
schedules are input for this building. It never asked for that input.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT>
<LI class=MsoNormal style="COLOR: blue; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1"><FONT
face=Arial color=blue size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The envelope/glazing
interpretations were suspect<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT>
<LI class=MsoNormal style="COLOR: blue; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1"><FONT
face=Arial color=blue size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The cooling load was way off (on
the high side) <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT> </LI></UL>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=blue size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The information on
the report is a starting point but I am not sure who this report is exactly
meant for. Is it for the architect to interpret and make changes or is it for
the engineer/modeler who interprets the report and gives his feedback to the
architect to make the necessary changes? There is a lot missing from the
process of defining, inputting and getting a legitimate output that can be
troubleshot if something looks amiss, to feel very confident about it. I mean,
even in the most accurate of models there is a +-5-15% error margin, if not
more. In this a lot was unclear to me. It saved us some time but are we
willing to make design/mechanical changes based on it? Personally, I am more
comfortable if the process is under my control where I can tweak the various
inputs and directly see the impacts that they might have. And I am sure most
of us in this ‘group’ feel the same.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=blue size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">We will be looking at
it more in depth soon.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=blue size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">My two cents – Happy
Holidays<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=blue size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">~m<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=blue size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">
<HR tabIndex=-1 align=center width="100%" SIZE=2>
</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">From:</SPAN></FONT></B><FONT
face=Tahoma size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">
bldg-sim@gard.com [mailto:bldg-sim@gard.com] <B><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">On Behalf Of </SPAN></B>Zoeteman, Mark
R.<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sent:</SPAN></B> Monday, December 19,
2005 6:41 AM<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">To:</SPAN></B>
bldg-sim@gard.com<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Subject:</SPAN></B>
[bldg-sim] Green Building Studio</SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Have bldg-sim users seen this yet
(sounds too good to be true):</SPAN></FONT> <o:p></o:p></P>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black">Teams use their existing computer-aided
design systems to communicate a project's building geometry to the GBS
website, which conducts an energy analysis of the building design. The program
enables the design team to look at the energy impact of early design
decisions, compare alternatives, and share information more broadly with other
team members.</SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><A
href="http://www.bdcnetwork.com/article/CA6281244.html?text=computer"><FONT
face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">http://www.bdcnetwork.com/article/CA6281244.html?text=computer</SPAN></FONT></A>
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">It
provides whole building energy analysis using the widely accepted building
analysis program, DOE-2, at no charge to the design team. GBS is accessed from
within the design team’s 3D-CAD software.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><A
href="http://www.greenbuildingstudio.com/About.aspx"><FONT face=Arial
size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">http://www.greenbuildingstudio.com/About.aspx</SPAN></FONT></A>
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Mark Zoeteman</SPAN></FONT>
<BR><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">FTC&H, Inc.</SPAN></FONT>
<BR><U><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">mrzoeteman@ftch.com</SPAN></FONT></U>
<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P><PRE><FONT face="Courier New" size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></PRE><PRE><FONT face="Courier New" size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></PRE><PRE><FONT face="Courier New" size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt">==================<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></PRE><PRE><FONT face="Courier New" size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt">You received this e-mail because you are subscribed <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></PRE><PRE><FONT face="Courier New" size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt">to the BLDG-SIM@GARD.COM mailing list. To unsubscribe <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></PRE><PRE><FONT face="Courier New" size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt">from this mailing list send a blank message to <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></PRE><PRE><FONT face="Courier New" size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt">BLDG-SIM-UNSUBSCRIBE@GARD.COM<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></PRE></DIV><PRE>==================
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