<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<META content="MSHTML 6.00.5730.11" name=GENERATOR></HEAD>
<BODY>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=571064118-10012008><FONT face="Courier New"
color=#0000ff size=2>Sherie,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=571064118-10012008><FONT face="Courier New"
color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=571064118-10012008><FONT face="Courier New"
color=#0000ff size=2>Take a look at the DOE2 docuementation PDF's to get a real
feel for the input capabilities of eQuest. eQuest is, fundamentally, a
"training wheels GUI" for DOE2. IMHO eQuest/DOE2 provides greater modeling
options than Trace 700, but the learning curve is "inversely proportional to the
cube of your overall computing systems expertise" ;-)</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=571064118-10012008><FONT face="Courier New"
color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=571064118-10012008><FONT face="Courier New"
color=#0000ff size=2>We're a 100 plus person MEP firm, and to master (well,
begin mastering) eQuest/DOE2 we essentially dedicated an experienced
engineer/computer guy to do energy studies for a year. Several
junior engineers rotate as-needed to help out, since as it stands right now
there's a fair amount of technical front-end work to do for every project in
first defining the envelope before proceeding engineering modeling.
</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=571064118-10012008><FONT face="Courier New"
color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=571064118-10012008><FONT face="Courier New"
color=#0000ff size=2>Same with Trace, but my issue with Trace is that it
lacks visual feedback as to what the model looks like -- I don't (and who
really does) have time to backcheck a pile of output text reports defining the
building envelope. eQuest provides a crude but effective 3D color-coded
graphic that provides a quick backchck of model features -- essentially
immediate feedback on missing walls, windows, roofs etc.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=571064118-10012008><FONT face="Courier New"
color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=571064118-10012008><FONT face="Courier New"
color=#0000ff size=2>Am looking forward to the day when drawing data can be
read directly by eQuest or EnergyPlus (E+ has a long-promised SketchUp module in
the works), but it hasn't yet arrived. We hear that IES can do it for
Revit projects, but we jost don't have any Revit projects in the queue
right now.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=571064118-10012008><FONT face="Courier New"
color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=571064118-10012008><FONT face="Courier New"
color=#0000ff size=2>HTH...</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV align=left>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">
<DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: gray; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><SPAN
class=212011020-11052004><FONT color=#000000>Brandon Nichols,
PE, LEED<SUP><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt">®</SPAN></SUP>
AP</FONT></SPAN></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: gray; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><SPAN
class=212011020-11052004><FONT
color=#000000>Mechanical</FONT></SPAN></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: gray; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
color=#000080><STRONG>HARGIS ENGINEERS</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: gray; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
color=#515151>600 Stewart Street</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: gray; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
color=#515151>Suite 1000</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: gray; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
color=#515151>Seattle, WA 98101<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: gray; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
color=#515151>www.hargis.biz<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: gray; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
color=#515151> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: gray; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">d
|</SPAN></B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: gray; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">
206.436.04<SPAN class=212011020-11052004>0</SPAN>0<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><B>c | </B>206.<SPAN
class=212011020-11052004>228.8707</SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: gray; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><SPAN
class=212011020-11052004></SPAN></SPAN><FONT color=#515151><B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: gray; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">o
|</SPAN></B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: gray; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">
206.448.3376<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><B>f <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>|</B>
206.448.4450</SPAN></FONT></P></SPAN></SPAN>
<DIV> </DIV></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-bounces@lists.onebuilding.org
[mailto:bldg-sim-bounces@lists.onebuilding.org] <B>On Behalf Of </B>Sherie E.
Hensley<BR><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, January 10, 2008 5:35 AM<BR><B>To:</B>
bldg-sim@lists.onebuilding.org<BR><B>Subject:</B> [Bldg-sim] Trace 700 vs
eQuest<BR></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=105131913-10012008><FONT face=Arial size=2>My company has used
Trace for many years with the main purpose to calculate loads.
Trace has continued to evolve. However, with the evolution the program has
become more and more detailed for input. Additionally, the time it
takes to calculate results alone can be extremely lengthy (5+ hours with full
year weather data). Now that the need for energy modeling especially
for LEED has dramatically increased, I am currently modeling several projects
using Trace. In talking with a few architects and even a third party
energy modeler, they are using eQuest. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=105131913-10012008><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=105131913-10012008><FONT face=Arial size=2>I realize there is a
learning curve for energy modeling as well as new software. However, my
company is looking for an energy modeling program that allows for straight
forward input and reliable/accurate results.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=105131913-10012008><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=105131913-10012008><FONT face=Arial size=2>I have downloaded
eQuest and spent a few hours looking at the program and capabilities. At
first glance eQuest appears to not be as detailed in its
inputs.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=105131913-10012008><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=105131913-10012008><FONT face=Arial size=2>Does anyone have any
experience with Trace and eQuest? Pros vs Cons for energy
modeling?</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=105131913-10012008><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=105131913-10012008><FONT face=Arial size=2>Thanks in
advance,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left> </DIV>
<DIV align=left>Sherie Hensley P.E., LEED AP</DIV>
<DIV align=left>Mechanical Engineer</DIV>
<DIV align=left><IMG height=120 alt="CHP and Associates" hspace=0
src="cid:571064118@10012008-1028" width=330 align=baseline border=0></A></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV></BODY></HTML>