Recognised energy Dynamic Simulation Modelling (DSM) software
DesignBuilder is a user interface to the EnergyPlus DSM. EnergyPlus builds on the most popular features and capabilities of BLAST and DOE-2 but also includes many innovative simulation capabilities such as time steps of less than an hour, modular systems and plant integrated with heat balance-based zone simulation, multi-zone air flow, thermal comfort, and photovoltaic systems.
EnergyPlus is a stand-alone simulation program without a 'user friendly' graphical interface DesignBuilder creates an elegant and easy to use interface for EnergyPlus.
3-D Modeller Rendered Visualisations
DesignBuilder CFD output www.designbuilder.com
Evidence proving that the software complies with the following
minimum capabilities:
Yes/No Evidence
Hourly analysis for energy flows
including 8760 hours of analysis.
Yes Yes the EnergyPlus engine used within DesignBuilder allows hourly (or more usually sub-hourly) time steps and can analyse 8760 hours per year and report results in hourly format
Hourly variation of input data such as scheduled (lighting, occupancy,
appliances, etc)
Yes Yes DesignBuilder allows you to enter hourly (or sub-hourly) scheduled lighting, occupancy, appliances etc.
Thermal mass effects Yes EnergyPlus does take into account thermal mass effects.
Zoning capabilities to distinguish the different thermal zones existing in the building
Yes The building can be zoned according to activity, HVAC, lighting system facade orientation in as required. Virtual partitions can be defined to account for zoning where no physical partition exists.
Modelling part load of equipments
Yes It is currently only possible to define the seasonal efficiency of heating and cooling equipment but these can be set up to account for part-load of equipment.
Alternatively it is possible to export the DesignBuilder model and enter the part-load characteristics in EnergyPlus IDF data.
More detailed part-load capabilities will be available in v3, April 2011.
Modelling economisers as requested by the ASHRAE reference building.
Yes Economisers can be modelled using DesignBuilder Compact HVAC. Return air and/or enthalpy control is possible.
Report of
intermediate hourly results of
calculations.
Yes Results can be displayed in sub-hourly or hourly formats for the whole year or for parts of the year.
Evidence proving that the software complies with the following Design features:
EPBD requirements on directive annex
Yes DesignBuilder SBEM is approved for EPCs and Part-L2 of Building Regulations.
Evidence proving that the software complies with the following Design features:
• Ventilation
(including natural and mechanical systems, heat gains, heat losses, heat
recovery, efficiency, room temperature feedback on varying ventilation rates)
Yes DesignBuilder EnergyPlus allows all of the above systems to be analysed in detail, including temperature set points for natural and mechanical ventilation fresh air delivery.
Natural ventilation options
Heating, cooling, lighting, ventilation setpoint controls
Heat recovery settings
• Infiltration (including effect of both gains and heat losses)
Yes Yes with various definition methods.
Infiltration definition options include:
ac/h
m3/hr/m2 at 4 Pa
m3/hr/m2 at 50 Pa
n50 (ac/hr at 50 Pa)
Detailed calculation through crack size definition plus wind and stack pressure effects
• Thermal performance of building fabric (including floors, walls, roof, windows and doors)
Yes Thermal performance of fabric can be defined for floors, walls, roof, windows and doors.
Definition of opaque and glazed constructions can be in full detail. Glazing can also be defined using simple descriptions.
Hourly heat flows through all categories of fabric can be viewed at window, surface, zone, block or building level.
• Thermal bridging Yes Repeating and non-repeating thermal bridges can be treated in DesignBuilder.
Repeating thermal bridges are calculated according to ISO 6946. Non repeating thermal bridges can be defined using sub-surfaces for modelling lintels, columns and other exceptions to the fabric.
• Artificial lighting and natural daylighting (including energy consumption, heat gains)
Yes Photo-electric dimming of electric lights by daylight allows reduced heat gains and light energy consumption to be modelled.
• Hot water:
a) Demand, including heat losses b) Generation and energy requirements of supporting
technologies (including LZC, district heating, CHP or other technologies used in the building).
Yes a) Hot water yes but heat losses must be accounted for in the efficiency of the DHW supply system
b) Yes through use of appropriate seasonal efficiency values. Underlying EnergyPlus can model these technologies so it may be necessary to work with EnergyPlus IDF data to model some LZC building technologies
• Passive design features included in the building as significant means to achieve certain energy performance
Yes Passive solar, daylight, natural ventilation can be treated. Solar gains and daylight through any number of windows can be included in energy analysis.
Also separate daylight illuminance and daylight factor outputs can generated from an integrated link with Radiance.
• Indoor air quality (including ventilation rate) and thermal comfort
Yes Ventilation rate can be set using the same schedule as occupancy and thermal comfort, humidity, air, radiant and dry-resultant temperature data can be produced as well as fresh air delivery rates. PMV, PDD and several other comfort criteria can be monitored.
• Solar exposure (heat gains and solar protection)
Yes
Various types of solar shading can be applied including local shading (overhangs, side fins, louvers) and larger custom shading devices to model the effect of solar protection.
Heat gains through windows is calculated based on orientation and inclination of the glazing, glazing type, height of the sun and radiation intensity related to the location, season, time etc as well as shading.
• Position, orientation of buildings and influence of neighbouring structures
Yes DesignBuilder can model remote shading such as the effect of other buildings and landscape to model the effect of solar protection.
• Heat gains from internal activities and occupants
Yes Heat gains from internal activities and occupants can be modelled
• Impact of systems controls on the energy consumption of the building (including energy consumption of controlling devices)
Yes System controls can be modelled. Energy consumption of control equipment must be separately accounted for in an auxiliary energy data.
• Inclusion of both primary and
secondary space and water heating and cooling systems
Yes Primary and secondary heating systems can be modelled.
• Space heating:
a) Demand, including heat losses and heat gains b) Generation and energy requirements of supporting
technologies (including LZC, district heating, CHP or other technologies used in the building).
Yes a) Space heating demand including heat losses and gains can be calculated using DesignBuilder Simple HVAC
b) LZC generation equipment can be modelled by exporting the DesignBuilder model to EnergyPlus. These features will be available within the DesignBuilder interface in v3.
• Space cooling:
a) Demand, including heat gains b) Generation and energy requirements of supporting
technologies (including LZC, district heating, CHP or other technologies used in the building).
Yes a) Space cooling demand including heat losses and gains can be calculated using DesignBuilder Simple HVAC.
b) LZC generation equipment can be modelled by exporting the DesignBuilder model to EnergyPlus. These features will be available within the DesignBuilder interface in v3.
Evidence confirming the assessable building types and climates the software deals with.
Yes All building types and climates can be assessed with DesignBuilder EnergyPlus since it uses a detailed physical model. Hourly weather files can be accessed for over 2500 locations worldwide. These are freely available by automatic download on demand or can be obtained by manual download from the EnergyPlus website.
For data not available from this database, Meteonorm generated data can be used.
Evidence confirming Testing:
• The software has been tested according to the BESTEST set or, alternatively, EN 15265.
Yes The software has been tested according to ASHRAE 140 (BESTEST). See below.
• The software has been tested according to ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 140-2004.
Yes The software has been tested according to ASHRAE 140 (BESTEST). The report can be downloaded from:
http://www.designbuilder.co.uk/component/option,com_docman/task,cat_view/gid,20/
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