<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div><br></div><div>I have not used IDA ICE, but have used both EnergyPlus and IESVE. Both are robust, but I’m not as sure about the DesignBuilder interface. The last time I used DB, I could only take my model so far, then had to switch to the E+ IDF editor due to the complexity being beyond the abilities of DB. That was a nightmare! </div><div><br></div>IESVE is very robust with a lot of modules available, including CFD for natural ventilation. It has a steep learning curve, but so does EnergyPlus! IESVE has a pretty good library of the most common HVAC equipment types with various control setups and options. It is further customizable. With Gaeia interface, it has the capability of modeling groundsource interactions. It can also handle DES plants…however, if you’re submitting for LEED, post processing for DES utility rates will be needed. <div><br><div><br><div dir="ltr">Sheila Sagerer, LEED AP BD+C, BEMP</div><div dir="ltr">Senior High Performance Building Analyst</div><div dir="ltr">Ecoworks Studio</div><div dir="ltr">sheila@ecoworks-studio.com</div><div dir="ltr">(717) 341-1496</div><div dir="ltr"><br><div>Sent from my iPhone</div></div><div dir="ltr"><br>On Aug 19, 2022, at 12:05 PM, Duggin, Cory via Bldg-sim <bldg-sim@lists.onebuilding.org> wrote:<br><br></div><div dir="ltr">
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<p class="MsoNormal">Sounds like IESVE checks all the boxes you are looking for. Since they are based on Scotland, they have tools and systems for that market.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<font style="FONT-SIZE: 12.5pt" face="Calibri"><strong><br>Cory Duggin,
PE, LEED AP BD+C, BEMP</strong></font> <br><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt" color="#808080" face="Calibri"><em>Principal</em> |
<em>PEAK Institute</em></font> <br><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt" face="Calibri"><a title="mailto:cory.duggin@tlc-eng.com" style="COLOR: #808080" href="mailto:cory.duggin@tlc-eng.com">cory.duggin@tlc-eng.com</a></font> <br>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> Bldg-sim <bldg-sim-bounces@lists.onebuilding.org>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Leenknegt Sarah via Bldg-sim<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Friday, August 19, 2022 8:29 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> bldg-sim@lists.onebuilding.org<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Bldg-sim] Simulation software recommendations<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="DE-CH" style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Hi<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="DE-CH" style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">I would like to ask advice regarding which simulation tool would best suite our needs. We are an engineering bureau in Zürich, with long years of experience in building simulation.
We deal with: load calculations, comfort evaluations, daylight, natural ventilation, HVAC optimization, LEED certification or support in development of innovative energy concepts.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Our current tool is TAS from edsl, which has large benefits in 3D-modelling, fast and stable calculations and user friendliness, but is lacking regarding HVAC modelling (geothermal
concepts, European market oriented systems) and has flaws regarding solar shading and natural ventilation controls.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">It is very clear that there is no “best” simulation tool, but very difficult to guess which one is best for us. I can read summaries of features and watch video tutorials, discuss
with customer services, which I am doing, but the most useful input is from the user side. I am hoping I can get some recommendations here.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">What we need:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="color:black;margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2">
<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:DE-CH">Reliable modelling of natural or mixed mode ventilation (TAS has a time step of 1h -> no proper natural ventilation modelling possible)
<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="color:black;margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2">
<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:DE-CH">Able to run daylight controlled interior lighting<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="color:black;margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2">
<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:DE-CH">Very strong HVAC modelling, with predefined components and libraries, able to deal with large numbers of zones<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="color:black;margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2">
<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:DE-CH">Automated export of results (select a group of zones and a list of parameters and put them in a .txt file)
<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="color:black;margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2">
<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:DE-CH">Suitable for commercial use (good support, tutorials etc. available, no need for open source, userfriendly)<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-fareast-language:DE-CH"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-fareast-language:DE-CH">Nice to have:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="color:black;margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2">
<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:DE-CH">Efficient 3D-modelling, able to deal with challenging architecture<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="color:black;margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2">
<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:DE-CH">Able to process a high number of zones (with TAS, I can run a 1000-zones model in about one hour, albeit without HVAC systems)<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="color:black;margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2">
<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:DE-CH">LEED plugins<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="color:black;margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2">
<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:DE-CH">Daylight calculations<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-fareast-language:DE-CH"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-fareast-language:DE-CH">On our shortlist:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="color:black;margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2">
<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:DE-CH">E+/Designbuilder<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="color:black;margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2">
<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:DE-CH">IESVE<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="color:black;margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2">
<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:DE-CH">IDA ICE<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="DE-CH" style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-fareast-language:DE-CH"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-fareast-language:DE-CH">I appologize for the long post and would very much welcome any inputs!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-fareast-language:DE-CH"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-fareast-language:DE-CH">Thank you in advance,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-fareast-language:DE-CH"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="DE-CH" style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-fareast-language:DE-CH">Sarah<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="DE-CH" style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-fareast-language:DE-CH"><br>
<b>Dr. Sarah Leenknegt</b><br>
MSc Eng. Arch. | Dr. Bauphysik<br>
T +41 44 200 77 37 (Mi. abwesend)<br>
<br>
<b>Lemon Consult AG</b><br>
Energy Efficiency Engineering<br>
Sumatrastrasse 10<br>
8006 Zürich<br>
T +41 44 200 77 44<br>
</span><span lang="DE-CH" style="color:black;mso-fareast-language:DE-CH"><a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__lemonconsult.ch_&d=DwMFAw&c=zhb2MdLBGZ6ylyn5KhRKTw&r=iwVYMKvZX3FI6Ym25lTBWNH494rPH7s_jKjOu5kPxlg&m=uA8_mxGghqdQba81C5hRBbT6UJVARAFXu061CJ6ocAhYvuDJITXy8bARZYV-rXiC&s=xMYIweBZEcK0nn-HOwQIGgBIYA2m_MlwAc6cnms_6DU&e="><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1">lemonconsult.ch</span></a></span><span lang="DE-CH" style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-fareast-language:DE-CH"><br>
<br>
</span><span lang="DE-CH" style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#B4B4B4;mso-fareast-language:DE-CH">HR-Nr. CH-020.4.021.817-1</span><span lang="DE-CH" style="color:black;mso-fareast-language:DE-CH"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="DE-CH"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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