<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN">
<html>
<head>
<meta content="text/html;charset=ISO-8859-1" http-equiv="Content-Type">
</head>
<body bgcolor="#ffffff" text="#000000">
Sherie and all,<br>
<br>
Where I work, we also have been using Trace for decades. I've used
Trace, HAP, and eQuest. for years now. Here is my take:<br>
<br>
eQuest:<br>
<ul>
<li>Great for quick energy models where room-by-room breakdown of
loads and energy use is not required. <br>
</li>
<li>Not very useful for load calculations. This is what the eQuest
training class taught me. Something about peak load calculations not
appropriate (weather data?). I wish they could fix that. I'd be
tempted to use eQuest for load calculations.<br>
</li>
<li>Determine energy impact of improvement measures quickly.</li>
<li>Energy use reports are pretty and impress everyone.</li>
<li>Like Brandon said, the 3D views of the building geometry is
useful for checking.</li>
<li>Support is best gotten from this mailing list. Sometimes
questions go unanswered.</li>
<li>The two wizards to get your model mostly done.<br>
</li>
<li>Free!<br>
</li>
</ul>
Trace:<br>
<ul>
<li>Proven and reliable for loads AND energy study work.<br>
</li>
<li>Able to do more detailed zone and room breakdown of load
components. <br>
</li>
<li>Output reports seem to be tailored specifically for load
calculation and work well for that purpose.</li>
<li>Energy and load output reports are not pretty, but the
experienced users like them.</li>
<li>The professional support technicians at Trane are excellent and
you can get answers fast.<br>
</li>
<li>Must start your model from scratch every time (although we hear
they are working on a wizard)<br>
</li>
<li>Costs a lot of $$$<br>
</li>
</ul>
When we do HVAC design work in conjunction with energy study work, the
Project Engineer always wants to use Trace for the energy model. He
will say that because he already has a Trace model and all we need to
do is add schedules and energy rates. It has been my experience that
when you have a building model detailed enough for load calculations,
it is WAY too detailed for energy modeling. The Trace energy
calculations take too long and are not really more accurate.<br>
<br>
5 hours for results on energy modeling is outrageous. Sounds like a
loads model is being used for energy modeling. Time to re-think. Even
my large eQuest models only take a few minutes to simulate.<br>
<br>
Randy<br>
<br>
-- <br>
<span
style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: black; font-weight: bold;">
Randall C. Wilkinson
</span><span
style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-weight: normal;">,
P.E., C.E.M., LEED A.P., Mechanical Engineer
</span><br>
<span
style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-weight: normal;">
v:509.747.2179 f:509.747.2186 i:<a href="http://www.lseng.com"
border="0"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><font
color="#666666">www.lseng.com</font></span></a></span><br>
<span
style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(109, 146, 140); font-weight: bold;">
L&S
</span><span
style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(109, 146, 140); font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: 1pt;"> Engineering
Associates, Inc</span><span
style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(109, 146, 140); font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: 1pt;">.<br>
</span>
<span
style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-weight: normal;"></span><br>
<br>
Sherie E. Hensley wrote:
<blockquote
cite="mid:405C8A3ED8EB824983B835EB43C2828101BB5DD7@s-chp-hou-mail.chpengr.net"
type="cite">
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; ">
<meta content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.3243" name="GENERATOR">
<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"></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"></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"></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"></span> </div>
<div><span class="105131913-10012008"><font face="Arial" size="2">Thanks
in advance,</font></span></div>
<div> </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 alt="CHP and Associates"
src="cid:part1.01000400.09010906@hvacware.net" align="bottom"
border="0" height="120" hspace="0" width="330"></div>
<div> </div>
<pre wrap="">
<hr size="4" width="90%">
_______________________________________________
Bldg-sim mailing list
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:Bldg-sim@lists.onebuilding.org">Bldg-sim@lists.onebuilding.org</a>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://lists.onebuilding.org/listinfo.cgi/bldg-sim-onebuilding.org">http://lists.onebuilding.org/listinfo.cgi/bldg-sim-onebuilding.org</a>
</pre>
</blockquote>
</body>
</html>