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BuildingEnergyModelingwithOpenStudioAttendeeHandout
SimBuild2012Madison,Wisconsin
July30th,20128am5pm
WhatsOpenStudio?
Abuildingenergymodelingapplicationsuite
Softwareforrapidlycreatingnewanalysisanddesigntools
ExerciseInstructions
Section1ModeltheBuildingEnvelope
ChoosetheLargeHotelbuildingtypetemplateusingtheNewOpenStudioModelfrom
Templatebutton.

Drawarectangletorepresentthebuildingenvelope(seefigureonnextpage)
o Selecttherectangletoolandclicksomewhereonyourscreentosetstartingpoint.
o Movethemouseupandtotheright,thentype100,50andthenpressenter.
o Thistextwillshowinthemeasurementsboxatthebottomrightofyourscreenandwill
preciselysizeyourrectangle.

Tip:ThemainSketchUptoolsyouneedaretherectangle,pencil,select
tool,orbit,pan,andzoom
Tip:Templatesdonotcontainanygeometry.Theyaredatasetsforspecificbuilding
types.Theycontaindataforconstructions,loadsandschedulesforfourdifferent
vintagesacrosstheUSclimatezones.
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Usethepenciltooltosplitupfootprinttorepresentspacesshownabove.
o SketchUphasaninferenceenginetohelpfindmidpoints.
Extrudethefootprintintoatwostorybuilding.
o Selectallofthesurfacesinyourfootprintbydrawingawindowwiththe
Selecttool.
o ClicktheCreateSpacesfromDiagrambutton.
o Keepthedefaultfloortofloorheightof10andsetnumberoffloorsto2andclick
OK.

Setsurfaceboundaryconditions.
o ChangetoRenderbyBoundaryConditionrendermode.
o ClicktheSurfaceMatchingtoolandchooseMatchinEntireModel.
o Usethexraymodeorsectioncuttoconfirmgreeninteriorsurfacesinsidethemodel.

o Bluerepresentsoutdoor,tanisground,andgreenissurface.

Applyawindowtowallratiotothebuilding.
o SwitchtherendermodebacktoRenderbySurfaceType.
o SelectallspacesbydrawingawindowwithSelecttool.
o RuntheSetWindowtoWallRatiouserscriptwiththedefaultvalues.
ThisisunderthePlugins/OpenStudioUserScripts/AddorAlterModel
Elementsmenu.

Tip:Youcandrawdiscretewindowsandprojectthemontothemodelinstead
ofusingthewindowtowallratio.
Tip:Thewindowtowallratioscriptwillremoveexistingwindowsbutitleaves
doorsalone.Ifitcantmeettherequestedratiothenitwontaddawindow.
Tip:Matchedsurfacesshouldbethesamesizeandinthesameposition.TheIntersect
EntireModelbuttonwillsplitsurfacesthatspanovermultiplebasesurfacesinadjacent
space.
Tip:Youcandoubleclicktoenterintoaspace,atwhichpointyoucanalter
existinggeometryorcreatenewgeometry.Newgeometrywillbeclassified.
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Searchforsouthfacingwindows.
o ClickSurfaceSearchtool.
o ChooseOS:SubSurfaceforclass,and180to180fororientation,thenclickSearch
EntireModel.
o Thesesurfacesthatpassthetestarevisibleandselected,everythingelseishidden.
o ClickingViewHiddenGeometrywillshowstherestofthemodelinhatchedmode.

Useoverhangscriptonresultsofsearchtoaddoverhangsbasedonprojectionfactor.
o RuntheAddOverhangsbyProjectionFactoruserscriptwiththedefaultvalues.
ThisisunderthePlugins/OpenStudioUserScripts/AddorAlterModel
Elementsmenu.
o ClickUnhideAllintheSurfaceSearchdialogtocancelthefilterandshowtherestof
themodel.
SavetheOpenStudiomodelasExercise_01.osm.

Tip:Interiorpartitionsurfacescanbeaddedtorepresentsurfacesthatexistinaspacebutarenot
aspaceboundary.Anairwallconstructioncanbeusedforspaceboundariesthatdontrepresent
physicalwalls.BothoftheseobjectsareinsupportofRadiancesimulations;howevertheycan
providebenefitforEnergyPlussimulationsaswell.Youcansettheinteriorpartitionsurfacestoact
asaninternalmassobjects.
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Section2AssignBuildingActivityandThermalZones
ChangetoRenderbySpaceTyperendermode.
UsethecontextawareInfoTooltoinspectthedefaultspacetypeforthistemplate.Itshould
sayASHRAE_189.12009_ClimateZone48_LargeHotel_GuestRoom.
UsingtheimagebelowasaguideandtheSpaceAttributestool,assignspacetypestoyour
model.
o Thefourguestroomsdontneedanychangessincetheyaregoingtousethebuilding
defaultspacetype.
o Selectthetwospacesthataregoingtobeacorridor.Drawingawindowwiththe
Selecttoolmaybetough;analternativeapproachistoshift/clickwhileusingthe
selecttooltoselectmultipleobjects.
o ClicktheSpaceAttributestool,choosetheappropriatevaluefromtheSpaceType
pulldownmenu,andclickOK.Wewillusesomeoftheotherfieldslateron.
o Repeatthelasttwostepsforthelobbyandbanquetspaces.

ChangetoRenderbyThermalZonerendermode.Sincewedonthaveanythermalzonesthe
modelshouldappearwhite.
Tip:SpaceTypescontaindatarelatedtobuildingactivity,internalloads,and
schedules.Optionallytheycanalsocontainconstructionspecificdata.
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UsingtheimagebelowasaguideusetheSpaceAttributestooltocreateandassignthermal
zonestoyourmodel.
o Selectthetwofirstfloorguestrooms.
o ClicktheSpaceAttributestool,choose<newthermalzone>fromThermalZone
thepulldownmenu,andclickOK.

o Repeatthetwostepsaboveforthefouradditionalthermalzones.Tokeepyourmodel
consistentwiththeoneusedforthisexercise,addyourzonesnumericallyfromlowto
high.Thezonenamesshouldthenmatchwhatisshownbelow.
o Colorswillnotbethesame,butthatisok.Ifyouwanttochangethermalzonecolors
youcanusethepaintbuckettoolwithanalt/clicktoeditthepaintcolor.

Tip:Youcanrezoneyourbuildingwithouthavingtoalteranygeometry.Justre
assignspacestodifferentthermalzones.
Tip:Oneormorespacescanbecontainedinathermalzone.Thesespacescanhave
differentspacetypes.
Tip:Youcancreateanewzoneandassignspacestoit,oryoucanchoosefrom
existingthermalzonesalreadyinthemodel.Forthisexercisewewillalwaysmakea
newthermalzone.
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AssignthermostatsandsetupIdealAirLoadsSystem.
o SelectallofthespacesinyourmodelandclicktheSpaceAttributestool.
o MovingtowardsthebottomofthedialogsetIdealAirLoadsStatustoYesandset
ThermostattoLargeHotel_Thermostat.

Addadaylightingcontrolpointtoyourmodel.
o Doubleclickonthebanquetroomtoopenupthisspaceforediting.
o ClicktheHiderestofModelbuttontohideallotherspaces.
o ClicktheXraybuttontomakethespacetransparent.
o Orbitaroundandzoomasneededsoyoucanviewthespacefromahighvantagepoint.
o ClicktheNewDaylightingControlbutton.
o Toaddthecontrolpointinthecenteroftheroomhoverthemouseoveroneofthe
edgemidpointsofthefloor,andthenhoveroverthemidpointofanadjacentfloor
edge,thenasyoumovetowardthecenteroftheroomandseeinferencelines,clickto
placethesensor.(seeimagebelow)

o Verticallythesenorshoulddefaultto30abovethefloor.Ifinsteaditispositioned
belowthefloorby30inches,orifyouwanttolocatethesensorataheightotherthan
30youcanmoveitwiththemovetool.
Tip:Whilewejustusedasinglethermostatforthisexercise,youcanhaveaunique
oneforeachthermalzone.
Tip:TheSpaceTypeReportuserscriptcansummarizesomeofyourinputdata.It
canalsobecustomizedtoshowdifferentinputdata.
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WiththesensorstillselectedselecttheMovetoolandclicksomewhereon
yourscreentosetarelativeorigin.Movethemouseverticallyin3dspace
makingsureyouareontheblueaxis.Thentype5tomovethesensortothe
properlocation.
SavetheOpenStudiomodelasExercise_02.osm,usingtheSaveOpenStudio
ModelAsbutton.

Section3BasicSimulationRuninOpenStudioApplication
ClicktheOpenStudiobuttontolaunchyourmodelintheOpenStudioApplication.
SavethemodelasExercise_03.osmusingSaveAsunderthefilemenuintheOpenStudio
Application.
TheSitetabshouldbeopenby.PickChicagoforboththeEPWfileandtheDDYfiles.
o YoucanfindthesefilesintheEnergyPlusinstallfolderunderWeatherData
(e.g.C:\EnergyPlusV710\WeatherData)
SelecttheRunSimulationtabandclickthegreenarrowtostartasimulation.
o Youcanscrolldowntoviewtheprogressofthesimulation
o Thetreesubtabshowsyouthebehindthescenesworkflowforrunningthesimulation.
ThisworkflowincludestranslatingyourOSMmodeltoanIDFfilewhichispassedoffto
EnergyPlus.ResultsarethenpassedbacktoOpenStudio.
SelecttheResultstabtoviewthesimulationresults.
o Onlylightingandequipmentwillshowonthegraphiccharts.Heatingandcoolingfor
IdealAirLoadsshowsupunderdistrictheatinganddistrictcooling.Youcanscrolldown
toseethosetables.
o Onceweaddafullmechanicalsystemthenheatingandcoolingwillshowupunderthe
electricityandgaschartsandtables,alongwithfansandpumps.

Section4AdjustInternalLoadValues
SavethemodelasExercise_04.osm.
InvestigatethemodelusingtheFacilitytab.
o SelecttheFacilitytabandsortbythermalzone.
o Expandoutthetreebyclickingonthearrows.
o InvestigateSpaceType.
ExpandOS:ThermalZone1andselectoneofthespaces
Lookthroughtheobjectsinthespacetype.Thetopcontainsspacesattributes,
internalloadsareatthebottom.
Tip:GenerallyyoudontneedtosaveaSketchUpfile.TheOSMfilecontainsallofthe
OpenStudiomodeldata.Ifyouwanttosavescene,styles,ornonOpenStudio
geometrythensavingtheSketchUpSKPfilemaybebeneficial.
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ThisspaceshouldhaveaguestroomspacetypeingreentextwithoutanX.
Thismeansthatitisinherited.Ifyouscrolltothebottom,youwillseepeople,
lights,andequipmentinstances.
GototheMyModeltabandbrowsespacetypesforanylaundryorkitchen
spacetype,thendragtheobjectoverontotheSpaceTypedropzoneforthe
selectedspace.
ThetextontheSpaceTypedropzoneshouldnowbeblackandtherewillbe
anXthatletsyouknowitisntinherited.
Ifyouscrolldownyouwillnoticethatalloftheloadshavechangedandagas
loadhasbeenadded.
NowgobacktotheSpaceTypedropzone,clicktheXandyouwillbeback
tothelargehotelguestroomspacetype,theloadswillreturntotheiroriginal
values.

o InvestigateThermalZoneassignment.
SelectthesamespaceinOS:ThermalZone1thatyouwerejustusing,and
scrolluptothetop.
NowclickontheXintheThermalZonedropzone.
YoushouldseetheselectedspacedisappearinthetreefromOS:ThermalZone
1andthetextforUnassignedThermalZoneshouldhaveturnedred.
YoucanexpandUnassignedThermalZoneinthetreetofindyourspace.
Selectthespace,gotoMyModel,lookfortheThermalZones,anddrag
OS:ThermalZone1totheThermalZonedropzone.
ThespaceshouldnowmoveinthetreebacktoOS:ThermalZone1.

AdjustthelightingloadsfortheBanquetspacetypefrom2009to2004.
o SelecttheSpaceTypetabandclicktheicontopurgeunusedspaceobjects.
o SelecttheBanquetspacetypeandscrolldowntotheinternalloads.
o InMyModel,lookforLightDefinitionsandsearchforASHRAE_90.1
2004_LargeHotel_Banquet_LightsDef.Dragthisobjecttothedropzoneforthelighting
load.Itwillreplacetheoriginallight.

Changetheexteriorwallconstruction.
Tip:Youcangrabthehandleinattheendoftheleftpanetowidenit.Youcanalso
addanadditionallightingobjectinsteadofreplacingtheexistingone.
Tip:Ifaspaceisntpartofathermalzone,theinternalandexternalloadsfromthat
spacewontbepartoftheEnergyPlussimulation.
Tip:IfyougobacktothetreeandlookatLargeHotelyoucanseewherethe
defaultspacetypeforthebuildingisset,aswellasthedefaultconstructionset.
Tip:TheAddNewLoaddropzoneatthebottomofaspaceallowsyoutoaddloads
toaspacebeyondwhatitinheritsfromitsspacetype.
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o SelecttheConstructionstabandclicktheicontopurgeunusedspaceobjects.There
shouldjustbeoneconstructionsetleft.
o InMyModel,lookforunderConstructionsforanobjectnamedASHRAE_189.1
2009_ExtWall_SteelFrame_ClimateZone48.Dragthisobjectthedropzoneforthe
ExteriorSurfaceConstructions/Wallsconstruction.
RerunthesimulationandloadABUPSdatatoExcelfile.
o Saveyourmodel.
o ClickonRunSimulationtabandclickthegreenarrow
o ClickontheResultstabandthenclickResultsViewer
o CopythedatafromtheEndUsestableandpasteitintothetophalfoftheexcel
spreadsheetnamedABUPS_Ideal_vs_HVAC.xlsx.
o SavethespreadsheetandcloseResultsViewer.
Section5AddHVACSystems
SavethemodelasExercise_05.osm.
ClickontheThermalZonestab.
SelectOS:ThermalZone1andthengototheLibrarytabintherightpane.
ExpandthePTHPsectionanddragtheobjecttotheZoneEquipmentdropzone.
RepeatthepreviousstepforOSThermalZone2.

Addairandplantloopstoyourmodel.
o ClicktheHVACSystemstab,andthenclickthegreen+nearthetopright.Thisopens
alibraryoflooptemplates.
o ChoosetheonelabeledPackagedRooftopVAVwithReheatbyclickingAddto
Model.Thefouriconsrepresenttheytypeofheating,cooling,fan,andterminal.

o Selectthesplitterormixerobjectatthebottomofthelooptobringupalistofthermal
zonesintherightpane.Checktheboxesforthermalzones3,4,and5.
o Inspecttheairandplantloops.
Clickononeofthetwodotsonthecoolingcoilingicontonavigatefromtheair
looptotheplantloop.Intheplanloopthecoilisademandsideobjectwhilethe
pumpandchilleraredemandside.
Tip:ClickingontheobjectintheZoneEquipmentdropzonewillopenupan
inspectorforthePTHPsystem.
Tip:AddingZoneEquipmentorotherHVACsystemstoathermalzonewilldisable
idealairloads.
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Clickonthedotsbythecoolingcoiliconagaintonavigatebacktotheairloop.
Youcanalsonavigateloopsusingthepulldownnearthetopofthescreen.
Thehotwaterloopswillshowadditionalobjectsonthedemandsideforzone
terminalswithreheat.

Rerunthesimulationfollowingthestepsoutlinedinsection4.Thistimeaddtothebottomhalf
ofthespreadsheettocomparetheIdealAirLoadsmodelagainsttheHVACmodel.
Section6RefineFidelityofLoadsinModel
SavethemodelasExercise_06.osm.
ChangelobbylightingfromLPDtodiscretelights.
o ClickontheLoadstab,expandtheLightsDefinitions,andpurgeunusedobjects.
o Selectthelobbylight,andchangethevalueto20Winsteadof0.99W/ft2
Thisrepresentsaspecificfixturevs.aLPD.
o NowgobacktotheSpaceTypestabandchoosethelobbyspacetype
o Changethemultiplierforthelightinginstanceto20toindicatethenumberoffixtures
inthisspecificspace.
Makeanewconstructionsettoapplyonlytospacesonthefirstfloor.
o ClickontheConstructionstabandthenthegreen+atthebottomtoaddanew
constructionset.
o GotoMyModelandfindtheConstructionnamedASHRAE_189.1
2009_ExtWall_Mass_ClimateZone5.Dragthistothenewconstructionsetasthe
ExteriorSurfaceConstructionforwalls.Leaveallotherdropzonesempty.
o ClickontheFacilitytabandselectaspaceonthefirststory,thenclickthearrowby
thespaceobjecttoexpandit.
o Thenexpandthewalls,andselectoneofthewallswithanarrownexttoit.Youdont
havetoexpandthis,itjustindicatesthattherearesubsurfacesunderit.Sinceallofour
windowsareexteriorweknowthisisanexteriorwall.
o Theconstructionforthiswallshouldbeasteelframe,whichisthebuildingdefault.
Tip:ToaddobjectstotheloopselectthemfromtheLibraryanddragthemonto
thenodesbetweenexistingobjectsintheloop.
Tip:Clickingthe+andinthemagnifyingglasswilladjustthezoomlevelofthe
loopdiagram.
Tip:Ifyouinadvertentlyclickthermalzones1or2andaddthemtotheloopthe
previouslyaddedzoneequipmentwillbedisconnected.Youcangobacktothe
ThermalZonestabtocorrectthis.
Tip:Selectinganyobjectontheloopwillbringupaninspectorintherightpane.In
somecasestherearemultiplesubtabsforanobject.
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o Nowgobacktothestoryobject,findthenewDefaultConstructionSetanddragit
overtotheDefaultConstructionSetdropzoneforthestory.
o Ifyougobacktotheexteriorwallitshouldnowshowthemasswallvs.thesteelframe
wall.

Alterthelobbyoccupancyschedule.
o ClickontheSchedulestab,andthenSchedulessubtab,andthenfindtheschedule
namedLargeHotel_Lobby_Occ.
o Theschedulecontainsanumberofrules.Eachrepresentsa24hourprofileforspecific
daysoftheweekanddaysoftheyear.
o SelecttherunperiodprofilenamedPriority2Thisruleappliestheyentireyear
MondaythroughFriday.
o Therearetwopeaksinthisprofile.Hoverovertheflattopoftheafternoonpeak,and
type.6andthenenter.Thiswillchangetheprofile.Youcanalsodragit.
o Nextclick/holdovertheleftsideoftheafternoonpeakanddragittotheleftsoitisat
14:00hoursvs.16:00hours.
Atthiszoomleveltimestepis1hours,butyoucanzoomdownto15minuteor
1minutetimesteps.
o Alterthedaysoftheweekfortheprofiles
CheckSaturdayforpriority2.Lookingatthecolorcodedcalendarattheright
youshouldthatthisdidntmakeadifference.Thatisbecausepriority1which
takesprecedencealsohasSaturdaychecked.
Selectthepriority1ruleanduncheckSaturday.Youshouldnowseethepriority
2colorshowingforSaturdaysonthecalendarattheright.
Optionallymakeadditionalchangesandrerunthesimulation.
Tip:Ifyouwanttochangeaconstructionforaspecificwall,youcandrilldowntothe
wallanddropontheappropriateconstruction.
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Tip:TheOpenStudioSketchUppluginandtheOpenStudioapplicationusethesame
fileformat.Asaresultyoucangobackandforthbetweenapplicationsbutyoumust
firstsaveitinoneappandthenreloadoropenitintheotherapplication.There
isntalivelink.Makingchangesinbothandthensavingbothwillresultindatafrom
oneoverwritingtheother.Forinternalloadstheschedulescanbeoverriddenatfora
specificspaceorinstance.
Tip:TheScheduleSetsubtablooksalotlikeConstructionsets.Itisaholderforthe
typicalschedulestouseforaspacetypeoranumberofspacetypes.Forinternal
loadstheschedulescanbeoverriddenatforaspecificspaceorinstance.
Tip:Thedefaultprofileisacatchall.Itdoesnthaveanoptiontothedayofweekor
year.
Tip:Doubleclickingahorizontalprofilesectionwillsplitit.Doubleclickingavertical
sectionwilldeleteit.
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SupportQuestions
UsetheOpenStudioEmailorforum
o openstudio@nrel.gov
o https://openstudio.nrel.gov/forum