EnergyPlus
Accelerate your whole-building energy modeling, parametric studies, and design optimization with High-Performance Computing (HPC) resources on demand. Focus on improving building performance, not waiting for simulation results.
What is EnergyPlus?
EnergyPlus™ is the premier open-source whole-building energy simulation program developed by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). It is an advanced tool used by engineers, architects, and researchers worldwide to accurately predict the energy consumption and thermal performance of buildings.
Unlike older, sequential simulation tools, EnergyPlus employs a tightly integrated, simultaneous solution methodology that provides unparalleled accuracy across all aspects of building physics.
Key Features of EnergyPlus
| Feature | Description |
| Integrated Thermal & HVAC Solution | Simultaneously solves thermal zone conditions and HVAC system response. This critical feature accounts for instances where the HVAC system capacity is not met, providing accurate results for un-conditioned or under-conditioned spaces. |
| Advanced Heat Balance Method | Utilizes a heat balance approach to calculate building thermal loads. This results in highly accurate surface temperatures, crucial for thermal comfort, condensation analysis, and radiant heating/cooling systems. |
| High Temporal Resolution | Allows for sub-hourly, user-definable time steps for the interaction between thermal zones and the environment, ensuring the accurate modeling of systems with fast dynamics and precise control strategies. |
| Component-Based HVAC Modeling | Offers complete flexibility in system design. Engineers can arrange standard and novel HVAC components on loops, allowing for the precise modeling of any system configuration without being limited to predefined templates. |
| Daylighting and Advanced Fenestration | Includes sophisticated models for daylighting, glare control, and advanced fenestration, such as electrochromic glazings and controllable window blinds, for accurate lighting energy savings. |
| Extensible Runtime Controls (EMS) | The Energy Management System (EMS) allows users to define custom control logic and advanced operational strategies using scripting, making it possible to simulate cutting-edge technologies and smart building systems. |
Why Rely on cloudHPC to Speed Up EnergyPlus Simulations?
EnergyPlus simulations are known for their high fidelity but often come with long runtimes, especially for large, complex models or for multi-scenario analysis. When conducting essential tasks like design optimization, code compliance, or urban-scale modeling, running thousands of simulations sequentially on a local machine is simply not feasible.
cloudHPC is specifically designed to overcome the computational bottleneck inherent in building energy modeling by enabling massive parallelization of your workflow.
The cloudHPC Advantage for EnergyPlus
| Challenge | cloudHPC Solution | Speedup Benefit |
| Long Runtime for Single Simulations | On-Demand Power: Access the latest multi-core/high-clock-speed CPUs and large RAM configurations, ensuring your single, most complex simulation runs faster than on standard desktop hardware. | Direct Reduction in Wall-Clock Time |
| Parametric & Optimization Studies | Process Parallelization: EnergyPlus simulation is an “embarrassingly parallel” problem in optimization workflows. cloudHPC allows you to run hundreds or thousands of independent EnergyPlus runs (e.g., annual simulations with different parameters) simultaneously across a massive cluster. | Exponential Speedup (e.g., 100x or more) |
| Hardware Costs & Maintenance | 100% Pay-Per-Use Model: Eliminate the need for massive upfront investments in high-end workstations or in-house server clusters. You only pay for the exact compute resources consumed during the simulation job. | Significant Cost-Efficiency |
| Software Integration | API-Driven Workflow: Our system integrates seamlessly with common EnergyPlus ecosystem tools and workflows, allowing you to easily upload your Input Data Files (IDFs) and weather files (EPWs) and launch batch simulations with simple commands or through our robust API. | Streamlined Productivity |
By leveraging cloudHPC, you transform a weeks-long simulation study into one that completes in a matter of hours, significantly compressing the design iteration cycle and enabling better, faster engineering decisions.