OpenStudio-ERI v0.3.0 Beta

OpenStudio-ERI version 0.3.0 Beta 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.

OpenStudio-ERI v0.3.0 Beta uses OpenStudio v2.8.1, EnergyPlus v9.1.0, and a proposed HPXML v3.0.

Please visit the OpenStudio-ERI v0.3.0 Beta documentation for instructions on how to get started, how to connect software tools to the workflow, etc.

Breaking Changes

• VentilationFan/RatedFlowRate is now TestedFlowRate.
• Several reporting changes for results/ERI____Home.csv output files:
  • Disaggregated natural gas from other fuels.
  • Changed PV energy generation to a negative number.
  • Added heating, cooling, and hot water loads.
  • Added unmet heating and cooling loads.

New Features

• General runtime performance improvements.
• Combination boilers, which provide both space and water heating, can be specified. Use WaterHeatingSystem/WaterHeaterType and point WaterHeatingSystem/RelatedHVACSystem to a HeatingSystem of type boiler.
• Water heater tank wrap insulation can be optionally specified via WaterHeatingSystem/WaterHeaterInsulation/Jacket/JacketRValue.
• Improved foundation modeling for more complex configurations (e.g., walkout basements, multiple foundation walls/slabs with different insulation properties, etc.)
• WaterHeatingSystem/HeatingCapacity is now optional.
• Slab/DepthBelowGrade is now only required for slab foundation types.
• Custom weather files can now be used.

Bugfixes

• Improved approach for distribution system efficiency (DSE).
• Improved approach for calculation of Reference End Use Loads (REUL).
• Improved approach for calculation of water heater energy consumption adjustment due to delivery effectiveness.
• Fixed workflow errors if paths had spaces in them.
• Various fixes to test/sample HPXML files.
• Fixed fan power of (non-CFIS) mechanical ventilation systems when hours of operation is less than 24.
• Fixed possible error when trying to use custom weather files.

Known Issues

• Combination boiler results are currently incorrect; this will be resolved in a future release that uses EnergyPlus v9.2.
• Heating/cooling energy use for homes with conditioned basements will likely change a bit in a future version.
• Heating/cooling loads are incorrectly reported for Rated Homes that have ERVs or HRVs; the ERI calculation is not affected.

OpenStudio-ERI v0.2.0 Beta

OpenStudio-ERI version 0.2.0 Beta 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.

OpenStudio-ERI v0.2.0 Beta uses OpenStudio v2.8.1, EnergyPlus v9.1.0, and a proposed HPXML v3.0.

Please visit the OpenStudio-ERI v0.2.0 Beta documentation for instructions on how to get started, how to connect software tools to the workflow, etc.

Breaking Changes

• CoolingSystemType="central air conditioning" is now "central air conditioner" (consistent with "room air conditioner")

New Features

• Now passes Reference Home Auto-Generation tests (specifically e-Ratio test)
• Allows HRVs/ERVs to be specified with AdjustedSensibleRecoveryEfficiency and AdjustedTotalRecoveryEfficiency (instead of SensibleRecoveryEfficiency and TotalRecoveryEfficiency)
• Allows ducts to be located outside (DuctLocation="outside")
• Allows water heaters to be located outside (Location="other exterior")
• All simulation/HPXML/etc. files generated from running tests are now saved to the workflow/tests/test_files directory

Bugfixes

• Fixes ERI Reference Home mechanical ventilation when Rated Home has no mechanical ventilation
• Fixes ERI Rated Home mechanical ventilation and infiltration when Rated Home has no mechanical ventilation
• Fixes missing heating system in HVAC2b.xml test file
• Fixes heat pump sizing when FractionHeatLoadServed and FractionCoolLoadServed are different (e.g., ERI Reference Homes when Rated Home heating system is electric)
• Heat pumps now sized based on the max of heating and cooling loads

OpenStudio-ERI v0.1.0 Beta

OpenStudio-ERI version 0.1.0 Beta 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.

OpenStudio-ERI v0.1.0 Beta uses OpenStudio v2.8.1, EnergyPlus v9.1.0, and a proposed HPXML v3.0.

Please visit the OpenStudio-ERI v0.1.0 Beta documentation for instructions on how to get started, how to connect software tools to the workflow, etc.

• Initial beta release