EnergyPlus and OpenStudio Plug-in have been updated by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The DOE’s high-tech energy saving systems measure the energy flow of heating, cooling, and lighting in buildings.
The Google SketchUp OpenStudio Plug-in provides a user-friendly interface for interactive building designs, highlighting energy use in action, while the EnergyPlus generates a whole building energy simulation. These models can work in conjunction with one another, or independently, amplifying the already impressive technology.
The latest versions also calculate the carbon dioxide concentrations and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning capacity of a given space. With no charge for download, building owners are advised to take advantage of the EnergyPlus or OpenStudio Plug-in software to further enhance the quality of heating and cooling use, leading ultimately to energy savings.