OpenStudio — The Complete Guide: A Practical Free Workflow for EnergyPlus Energy Simulation
OpenStudio is an open-source working environment developed at the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and built on top of the EnergyPlus simulation engine. Instead of editing a huge text input file, you build the building and its systems in an interface, run, and compare alternatives.
OpenStudio
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Graphical workflow on top of EnergyPlus — geometry, systems and scenario comparison.
Get it from the vendorWhat you get
- Geometric model — zones, spaces and envelope, with drawing and import tools.
- Libraries — reference buildings, wall constructions, schedules and internal loads.
- HVAC systems — a graphical editor for air and water loops.
- Measures — scripts that change the model automatically, such as thicker insulation or different glazing, with a large public library.
- Reports — summaries of consumption, loads and costs to compare alternatives.
Who it suits
Energy consultants, HVAC engineers and architects who need real dynamic simulation without writing input by hand. The SDK also allows automation in Ruby and Python. Note: the default libraries are based on US standards, so a local project needs adapted constructions, schedules and a weather file.
Related tools
To run hundreds of variants in a parametric study — jEPlus. For daylight calculations — Radiance. For window details and thermal bridges — WINDOW and THERM.
EnergyPlus
US Department of Energy
Annual building energy simulation — envelope, HVAC, thermal comfort and daylight. The US DOE engine.
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
Radiance
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Physically accurate daylight and lighting simulation — the basis for green building light calculations.
Get it from the vendor
THERM
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
2D heat transfer analysis of envelope sections — thermal bridges, U-value and condensation checks.
Get it from the vendorThe bottom line
OpenStudio turns EnergyPlus into an everyday working tool — completely free, including for commercial work.