BEopt — The Complete Guide: Cost-Optimal Energy Efficiency Packages for Homes
BEopt is software from NREL, the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory, for evaluating the design of residential buildings — single-family and multi-family, new construction and retrofits. It answers a practical question: which combination of efficiency measures delivers the desired saving at the lowest cost.
BEopt
NREL (US Department of Energy)
Finds cost-optimal energy-efficiency packages for homes, based on EnergyPlus simulations.
Get it from the vendorWhat you get
- House definition — geometry, envelope and systems.
- Options to evaluate — insulation, windows and HVAC systems.
- EnergyPlus engine — the simulations run in the background.
- Optimisation curve — the lowest-cost combinations for each saving level.
- New build and retrofit — both project types are supported.
Licence and limitations
The software is a free download from the NREL site, but it is closed source, and the download page shows no further licence terms or usage restrictions. It runs on Windows only, its climate and cost defaults are tailored to the US, and the current version is labelled beta. Outside the US, enter local cost and climate data with care.
Related tools
For the simulation engine itself — EnergyPlus. For building detailed models — OpenStudio. For running large parametric series — jEPlus.
EnergyPlus
US Department of Energy
Annual building energy simulation — envelope, HVAC, thermal comfort and daylight. The US DOE engine.
Get it from the vendorOpenStudio
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Graphical workflow on top of EnergyPlus — geometry, systems and scenario comparison.
Get it from the vendorjEPlus
jEPlus (open-source project)
Parametric-study shell for EnergyPlus and TRNSYS — run hundreds of design variants and compare them.
Get it from the vendor
SAM — System Advisor Model
NREL
Technical and financial modelling of renewable energy systems — annual yield and payback.
Get it from the vendorThe bottom line
A focused, useful tool for residential energy consultants — as long as you remember it is built around US data.