EERE Home | Programs &Offices | Consumer InformationEERE Building Technologies Office EnergyPlus Energy Simulation Software AboutContacts | Website Policies | U.S. Departmentof Energy | USA.govContent Last Updated: April 10, 2015EnergyPlus EnergySimulation SoftwareSearchHelpEnergyPlus Energy Simul ation SoftwareHomeAboutNew FeaturesUtilitiesTesting & ValidationResearch Papers & ArticlesLicensingDownloadDocumentationTrainingSupportAdd-OnsSupport DocumentationNew FeaturesRelease ScheduleSign up for EnergyPlus E-mailUpdatesAbout EnergyPlusVersion 8.3EnergyPlus is an energy analysis and thermal load simulation program. Based on a user's description of abuilding from the perspective of the building's physical make-up and associated mechanical and othersystems, EnergyPlus calculates heating and cooling loads necessary to maintain thermal control setpoints,conditions throughout a secondary HVAC system and coil loads, and the energy consumption of primaryplant equipment. Simultaneous integration of theseand many otherdetails verify that the EnergyPlussimulation performs as would the real building.Learn more by viewing a Webinar about building simulation, EnergyPlus, and OpenStudio Plug-in forSketchUp (WMV 11.5 MB). Download Windows Media Player. You can also read a text version of the audioand view the presentation slides .EnergyPlus Key Capabil iti esThe following is a representative list of EnergyPlus capabilities:Integr ated, simultaneous solution where the building responseand the primary and secondary systems are tightly coupled (iterationperformed when necessary)Sub-hourl y, user -defi nable time steps for the interaction betweenthe thermal zones and the environment; variable time steps forinteractions between the thermal zones and the HVAC systems(automatically varied to ensure solution stability)ASCII text based weather, input, and output files that include hourly or sub-hourly environmental conditions, and standard and userdefinable reports, respectivelyHeat bal ance based sol ution technique for building thermal loads that allows for simultaneous calculation of radiant and convective effects atboth in the interior and exterior surface during each time stepTr ansient heat conduction through building elements such as walls, roofs, floors, etc. using conduction transfer functionsImproved gr ound heat transfermodeling through links to three-dimensional finite difference ground models and simplified analyticaltechniquesCombined heat and mass transfer model that accounts for moisture adsorption/desorption either as a layer-by-layer integration into theconduction transfer functions or as an effective moisture penetration depth model (EMPD)Thermal comfort models based on activity, inside dry bulb, humidity, etc.Anisotropic sky model for improved calculation of diffuse solar on tilted surfacesAdvanced fenestr ation cal culati ons including controllable window blinds, electrochromic glazings, layer-by-layer heat balances that allowproper assignment of solar energy absorbed by window panes, and a performance library for numerous commercially available windowsDaylighti ng controls including interior illuminance calculations, glare simulation and control, luminaire controls, and the effect of reducedartificial lighting on heating and coolingAtmospher ic polluti on calculations that predict CO2, SOx, NOx, CO, particulate matter, and hydrocarbon production for both on site andremote energy conversionEnergyPlus User InterfaceEnergyPlus is a stand-alone simulation pr ogr am without a ' userfriendly'graphical inter face. Ener gyPlus r eads input and writes outputas text fil es. A number of graphical interfaces are available.Printable Version ShareEnergyPlus Energy Simulation Software: About EnergyPlus http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/energyplus/energyplus_about.cfm1 of 1 15/08/2015 7:59 PM