OpenStudio-ERI v1.4.4

OpenStudio-ERI version 1.4.4 has been released. The OpenStudio-ERI workflow calculates an Energy Rating Index (ERI) using the Department of Energy's OpenStudio/EnergyPlus building simulation platform. The open-source workflow is intended to be used by residential software tools that provide a HPXML building description file.

Two packages are available, a minimal zip with a handful of weather files and a full zip with all US TMY3 weather files. OpenStudio-ERI v1.4.4 uses OpenStudio v3.4.0, EnergyPlus v22.1.0, and a proposed HPXML v4.0. Please visit the OpenStudio-ERI v1.4.4 documentation for instructions on how to get started, how to connect software tools to the workflow, etc.

Bugfixes

• Fixes possible simulation error if a slab has an ExposedPerimeter near zero.

OpenStudio-ERI v1.4.3

OpenStudio-ERI version 1.4.3 has been released. The OpenStudio-ERI workflow calculates an Energy Rating Index (ERI) using the Department of Energy's OpenStudio/EnergyPlus building simulation platform. The open-source workflow is intended to be used by residential software tools that provide a HPXML building description file.

Two packages are available, a minimal zip with a handful of weather files and a full zip with all US TMY3 weather files. OpenStudio-ERI v1.4.3 uses OpenStudio v3.4.0, EnergyPlus v22.1.0, and a proposed HPXML v4.0. Please visit the OpenStudio-ERI v1.4.3 documentation for instructions on how to get started, how to connect software tools to the workflow, etc.

Bugfixes

• Fixes excessive heat transfer when foundation wall interior insulation does not start from the top of the wall.

OpenStudio-ERI v1.4.2

OpenStudio-ERI version 1.4.2 has been released. The OpenStudio-ERI workflow calculates an Energy Rating Index (ERI) using the Department of Energy's OpenStudio/EnergyPlus building simulation platform. The open-source workflow is intended to be used by residential software tools that provide a HPXML building description file.

Two packages are available, a minimal zip with a handful of weather files and a full zip with all US TMY3 weather files. OpenStudio-ERI v1.4.2 uses OpenStudio v3.4.0, EnergyPlus v22.1.0, and a proposed HPXML v4.0. Please visit the OpenStudio-ERI v1.4.2 documentation for instructions on how to get started, how to connect software tools to the workflow, etc.

Bugfixes

• Fixes incorrect ERI calculation when the Rated Home has multiple water heaters.

OpenStudio-ERI v1.4.1

OpenStudio-ERI version 1.4.1 has been released. The OpenStudio-ERI workflow calculates an Energy Rating Index (ERI) using the Department of Energy's OpenStudio/EnergyPlus building simulation platform. The open-source workflow is intended to be used by residential software tools that provide a HPXML building description file.

Two packages are available, a minimal zip with a handful of weather files and full zip with all US TMY3 weather files. OpenStudio-ERI v1.4.1 uses OpenStudio v3.4.0, EnergyPlus v22.1.0, and a proposed HPXML v4.0. Please visit the OpenStudio-ERI v1.4.1 documentation for instructions on how to get started, how to connect software tools to the workflow, etc.

Bugfixes

• Fixes possible error when running HERS Auto-Generation tests.

OpenStudio-ERI v1.4.0

OpenStudio-ERI version 1.4.0 has been released. The OpenStudio-ERI workflow calculates an Energy Rating Index (ERI) using the Department of Energy's OpenStudio/EnergyPlus building simulation platform. The open-source workflow is intended to be used by residential software tools that provide a HPXML building description file.

Two packages are available, a minimal zip with a handful of weather files and full zip with all US TMY3 weather files. OpenStudio-ERI v1.4.0 uses OpenStudio v3.4.0, EnergyPlus v22.1.0, and a proposed HPXML v4.0. Please visit the OpenStudio-ERI v1.4.0 documentation for instructions on how to get started, how to connect software tools to the workflow, etc.

New Features

• Updates to OpenStudio 3.4.0/EnergyPlus 22.1.
• Updates to OpenStudio-HPXML 1.4.0.
• Implements ANSI/RESNET/ICC Standard 301-2019 Addenda C & D. ERICalculation/Version can now be "2019ABC" or "2019ABCD" in the HPXML files.
  • Adds calculation of CO2e Rating Index and CO2e/NOx/SO2 emissions (annual and hourly).
  • Adds support for shared hot water recirculation systems controlled by temperature.
  • Breaking change: /HPXML/Building/Site is now required with Address/StateCode and Address/ZipCode child elements.
• Output changes:
  • Adds "Energy Use: Total" and "Energy Use: Net" columns to the ERI____Home.csv output files; allows hourly outputs.
  • Breaking change: New "End Use: <Fuel>: Heating Heat Pump Backup" output, disaggregated from "End Use: <Fuel>: Heating".
• Breaking change: Deprecates duct leakage to outside exemptions; software tools must provide duct leakage to outside or DSE. SoftwareInfo/extension/ERICalculation/Version enumerations "2014ADEGL", "2014ADEG", "2014ADE" are replaced by "2014AEG" and "2014AE".
• Breaking change: For CFIS systems, an extension/VentilationOnlyModeAirflowFraction input is now required to address duct losses during ventilation only mode.
• Allows AirInfiltrationMeasurement/InfiltrationHeight as an optional input; if not provided, it is inferred from other inputs as before.
• Allows duct leakage to be entered in units of CFM50 as an alternative to CFM25.
• Adds a --skip-simulation flag that can be used to just generate the ERI Rated/Reference Home HPXMLs and then stop.
• Adds a --rated-home-only flag to run only the ERI Rated Home simulation (ERI will not be calculated).
• Simplifies ERI Reference Home configuration with respect to HVAC types and number of DSE distribution systems.

Bugfixes

• Fixes opaque door R-value in the Reference Home in IECC climate zone 1.
• Fixes possible NaN result for ERI if, in a very cold climate, the Reference Home has no cooling load.

OpenStudio-ERI v1.3.0

OpenStudio-ERI version 1.3.0 has been released. The OpenStudio-ERI workflow calculates an Energy Rating Index (ERI) using the Department of Energy's OpenStudio/EnergyPlus building simulation platform. The open-source workflow is intended to be used by residential software tools that provide a HPXML building description file.

Two packages are available, a minimal zip with a handful of weather files and full zip with all US TMY3 weather files. OpenStudio-ERI v1.3.0 uses OpenStudio v3.3.0, EnergyPlus v9.6.0, and a proposed HPXML v4.0. Please visit the OpenStudio-ERI v1.3.0 documentation for instructions on how to get started, how to connect software tools to the workflow, etc.

New Features

• Updates to OpenStudio 3.3.0/EnergyPlus 9.6.0.
• Breaking change: HVAC grading inputs FanPowerNotTested, AirflowNotTested, and ChargeNotTested are no longer accepted.
• Breaking change: Replaces "Unmet Load" outputs with "Unmet Hours".
• Breaking change: Renames "Load: Heating" and "Peak Load: Heating" (and Cooling) outputs to include "Delivered".
• Breaking change: Any heat pump backup heating requires HeatPump/BackupType="integrated" to be specified.
• Breaking change: HPXML schema version must now be '4.0' (proposed).
  • Moves FoundationWall/Insulation/Layer/extension/DistanceToTopOfInsulation to FoundationWall/Insulation/Layer/DistanceToTopOfInsulation.
  • Moves FoundationWall/Insulation/Layer/extension/DistanceToBottomOfInsulation to FoundationWall/Insulation/Layer/DistanceToBottomOfInsulation.
  • Moves Slab/PerimeterInsulationDepth to Slab/PerimeterInsulation/Layer/InsulationDepth.
  • Moves Slab/UnderSlabInsulationWidth to Slab/UnderSlabInsulation/Layer/InsulationWidth.
  • Moves Slab/UnderSlabInsulationSpansEntireSlab to Slab/UnderSlabInsulation/Layer/InsulationSpansEntireSlab.
• Allows modeling PTAC and PTHP HVAC systems.
• Allows additional fuel types for generators.
• Allows non-zero refrigerant charge defect ratios for ground source heat pumps.
• Allows CEER (Combined Energy Efficiency Ratio) efficiency unit for room AC.
• Allows specifying the foundation wall type (e.g., solid concrete, concrete block, wood, etc.).
• Removes error-check for number of bedrooms based on conditioned floor area, per RESNET guidance.
• Introduces a small amount of infiltration for unvented spaces.
• ConditionedBuildingVolume input is no longer needed (and removes error-check for InfiltrationVolume relative to it).
• Improves consistency of installation quality calculations for two/variable-speed air source heat pumps and ground source heat pumps.

Bugfixes

• Improves ground reflectance for window interior shading.
• Improves HVAC fan power for central forced air systems.
• Fixes mechanical ventilation compartmentalization area calculation for SFA/MF homes with surfaces with InteriorAdjacentTo==ExteriorAdjacentTo.
• Negative DistanceToTopOfInsulation values are now disallowed.
• Fixes workflow errors if a VentilationFan has zero airflow rate or zero hours of operation.
• Fixes heating/cooling seasons (used for e.g. summer vs winter window shading) for the southern hemisphere.
• Relaxes Overhangs DistanceToBottomOfWindow vs DistanceToBottomOfWindow validation when Depth is zero.
• Fixes possibility of "Construction R-value ... does not match Assembly R-value" error.

OpenStudio-ERI v1.2.1

OpenStudio-ERI version 1.2.1 has been released. Two packages are available, a minimal zip with a handful of weather files and full zip with all US TMY3 weather files.

The OpenStudio-ERI workflow calculates an Energy Rating Index (ERI) using the Department of Energy's OpenStudio/EnergyPlus building simulation platform. The open-source workflow is intended to be used by residential software tools that provide a HPXML building description file.

OpenStudio-ERI v1.2.1 uses OpenStudio v3.1.0, EnergyPlus v9.4.0, and a proposed HPXML v3.1.

Please visit the OpenStudio-ERI v1.2.1 documentation for instructions on how to get started, how to connect software tools to the workflow, etc.

New Features

• Revises shared mechanical ventilation preconditioning control logic to operate less often.

OpenStudio-ERI v1.1.2

OpenStudio-ERI version 1.1.2 has been released. Two packages are available, a minimal zip with a handful of weather files and full zip with all US TMY3 weather files.

The OpenStudio-ERI workflow calculates an Energy Rating Index (ERI) using the Department of Energy's OpenStudio/EnergyPlus building simulation platform. The open-source workflow is intended to be used by residential software tools that provide a HPXML building description file.

OpenStudio-ERI v1.1.2 uses OpenStudio v3.1.0, EnergyPlus v9.4.0, and a proposed HPXML v3.1.

Please visit the OpenStudio-ERI v1.1.2 documentation for instructions on how to get started, how to connect software tools to the workflow, etc.

New Features

• Revises shared mechanical ventilation preconditioning control logic to operate less often.

OpenStudio-ERI v1.2.0

OpenStudio-ERI version 1.2.0 has been released. Two packages are available, a minimal zip with a handful of weather files and full zip with all US TMY3 weather files.

The OpenStudio-ERI workflow calculates an Energy Rating Index (ERI) using the Department of Energy's OpenStudio/EnergyPlus building simulation platform. The open-source workflow is intended to be used by residential software tools that provide a HPXML building description file.

OpenStudio-ERI v1.2.0 uses OpenStudio v3.1.0, EnergyPlus v9.4.0, and a proposed HPXML v3.1.

Please visit the OpenStudio-ERI v1.2.0 documentation for instructions on how to get started, how to connect software tools to the workflow, etc.

New Features

• Adds ENERGY STAR ERI Target workflow for new construction in accordance with ENERGY STAR Certification System for Homes and Apartments Using an Energy Rating Index-Based Compliance Path.
  • Optional SoftwareInfo/extension/EnergyStarCalculation/Version (values like "SF_National_3.1"; required if running ENERGY STAR calculation).
  • Breaking change: Building/Site/Address/StateCode (values like "CO" or "FL") now required.
  • Breaking change: For windows, Window/PerformanceClass (values of "residential" or "architectural") now required.
  • Breaking change: For shared boilers, HeatingSystem/HeatingCapacity, HeatingSystem/extension/SharedLoopWatts, and HeatingSystem/extension/FanCoilWatts (fan coil only) now required.
  • Breaking change: For air distribution systems with ducts, AirDistribution/NumberofReturnRegisters now required.
  • Breaking change: For shared recirculation hot water systems, HotWaterDistribution/extension/SharedRecirculation/PumpPower now required.
  • Optional extension/SharedLoopMotorEfficiency for shared boilers, chillers, cooling towers, and GSHPs w/ shared loop and extension/SharedRecirculation/MotorEfficiency for shared recirculation hot water systems.
• Breaking change: Heating/cooling component loads no longer calculated by default for faster performance; use --add-component-loads argument if desired.
• Allows DuctLeakageMeasurement & ConditionedFloorAreaServed to not be specified for ductless fan coil systems; Breaking change: AirDistributionType is now required for all air distribution systems.
• Switches room air conditioner model to use Cutler performance curves.
• Shared systems now preserved in the Rated Home (as opposed to configuring, e.g., the equivalent central AC w/ SEEReq for a chiller).
• Removes limitation that a shared water heater serving a shared laundry room can't also serve dwelling unit fixtures (i.e., FractionDHWLoadServed is no longer required to be zero).
• When Reference/Rated water heater fuels are determined by predominant water/space heating fuels, fossil fuel is now selected in the case of a tie.
• Adds IDs to schematron validation errors/warnings when possible.

Bugfixes

• Prevents a solar hot water system w/ SolarFraction=1.
• Fixes room air conditioner performance curve.
• Fixes heating load fractions for boiler w/ WLHP.
• Water loop heat pumps no longer get added electric backup heating in the Rated Home.

OpenStudio-ERI v1.1.1

OpenStudio-ERI version 1.1.1 has been released. Two packages are available, a minimal zip with a handful of weather files and full zip with all US TMY3 weather files.

The OpenStudio-ERI workflow calculates an Energy Rating Index (ERI) using the Department of Energy's OpenStudio/EnergyPlus building simulation platform. The open-source workflow is intended to be used by residential software tools that provide a HPXML building description file.

OpenStudio-ERI v1.1.1 uses OpenStudio v3.1.0, EnergyPlus v9.4.0, and a proposed HPXML v3.1.

Please visit the OpenStudio-ERI v1.1.1 documentation for instructions on how to get started, how to connect software tools to the workflow, etc.

New Features

• Allow Slab/ExposedPerimeter to be zero.
• ClothesDryer/ControlType is no longer required if 301 version >= 2019A
• Moves additional error-checking from the ruby measure to the schematron validator.
• Adds more detail to error messages regarding the wrong data type in the HPXML file.
• Adds error-checking for negative SEEReq results for shared cooling systems.
• Relaxes tolerance for duct leakage to outside warning when ducts solely in conditioned space.

Bugfixes

• Fixes ruby error if elements (e.g., SystemIdentifier) exist without the proper 'id'/'idref' attribute.
• Fixes error if boiler/GSHP pump power is zero.
• Fixes possible "Electricity category end uses do not sum to total" error due to boiler pump energy.
• Fixes possible "Construction R-value ... does not match Assembly R-value" error for highly insulated enclosure elements.