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<p><font size="2" face="Arial">Julia, </font><br>
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<font size="2" face="Arial">I've responded to your questions below: </font><br>
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<font size="2" face="Arial">Hi All,</font><br>
<font size="2" face="Arial">I am curious about how much people are currently utilizing the gbxml interface for importing of the room and envelope data into their energy models?</font><br>
<font size="2" face="Arial">The kinds of feedback/opinions I'm looking for are:</font>
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<li><font size="2" face="Arial">Are you using gbxml on none/some/most/all of your energy models? </font><b><font size="2" face="Arial">If we have a Revit model, we're always using GBXML to bring in spaces into Trace.</font></b>
<li><font size="2" face="Arial">Or, are you still finding manual inputting of room and envelope data to be just as or more efficient...or perhaps less frustrating? </font><b><font size="2" face="Arial">Some people prefer manual input, but it is not feasible on large scale projects with +2000 rooms. The amount of time would be extraordinary. </font></b>
<li><font size="2" face="Arial">What percentage of the models that you work on would you say use gbxml imports versus manual data inputting? </font><b><font size="2" face="Arial">Previously GBXML had been tried but not utilized because it would give garbage output. Our engineers did not understand how the program thinks, and how it needs spaces to be entered to give usable output. I can see us going to GBXML for load calcs in the near future (>4 months). </font></b>
<li><font size="2" face="Arial">Does the size, complexity and budget on the project make a difference? </font><b><font size="2" face="Arial">GBXML will always save time once you have established your templates (in Trace). I am not familiar with other load / energy programs, but I'm sure they all allow you to create templates for rooms, airflows, Tstats, internal loads etc. Establishing accurate and comprehensive templates is critical to keep consistency through projects, and for decreasing time on projects when GBXML is implemented. </font></b>
<li><font size="2" face="Arial">Does the design phase in which you start the energy modeling make a difference?</font><b><font size="2" face="Arial"> For SD, I'd use Ecotect, or create rooms manually. DD's makes sense to start using GBXML and inputting construction types, people counts etc. </font></b>
<li><font size="2" face="Arial">Are the architects you are working with even constructing BIM type models that you can get the gbxml files from? If so, are they constructing clean/tight models that produce good gbxml files for energy analysis? </font><b><font size="2" face="Arial">90% of our architects in and out of house are in Revit now, all models will require some 'cleaning up'. This usually can be done quickly once you know how to modify a architectural central file to give you accurate thermal zones. </font></b>
<li><font size="2" face="Arial">If you know the arch's are going to be constructing a BIM model, does it influence what energy modeling software you use on the project? </font><b><font size="2" face="Arial">I would say no. I have only been using Trace, however it has huge limitations energy wise, their support is a brick wall, it took me less than a year to know more than they know about how their program works, documentation is missing, etc etc. I like having a complete control over the model no matter what type of building, or phase it is in. Specifically I'm working on a large hospital complex, Trace will not allow for fully exhausting air from any room unless you set that room to be served by 100% OA, many of these rooms only need 2 OA ACs and 10 total ACs. Adding 8 OA ACs will increase many energy parameters and give you inaccurate results.. However Trace is a good program for load calcs, and does have many system configuration options available. </font></b></ul>
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<font size="2" face="Arial">Would love to hear your thoughts and experience about the current state of things and if you are seeing things change in your part of the world.</font>
<p><font size="2" face="Arial">Thanks in advance for your feedback.</font><br>
<font size="2" face="Arial">Julia</font><font size="2"><br>
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