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Output Options

Simulation tab on Model Options dialog and Output tab on Simulation Options dialog.

You can control the data generated from simulations by making selections on the Simulation tab of the Model options dialog and on the Advanced tab of the Simulation calculation options dialog.

Zone environmental and comfort reports

You can restrict the simulation comfort output to just occupied periods by selecting 2-Just occupied periods. Options are:

• 1-All periods - comfort data is generated for all periods including times when the zone is unoccupied.
• 2-Just occupied periods - comfort data is only output during times when the zone is occupied so daily and monthly comfort statistics become more meaningful.

Default is 1-All periods.

Building and block output of zone data

This option causes average and total zone data to be generated for building and blocks. For example average temperatures, comfort conditions, total solar radiation, internal gains, fabric transmission losses etc. It does not affect the generation of energy consumption and CO2 data at the building level.

Include unoccupied zones in block and building totals and averages

By default, data for unoccupied zones is excluded from block and building totals and averages. Check this option to include data for unoccupied zones.

A zone is defined as unoccupied if it has:

• No occupancy and,
• No cooling and,
• No heating and,
• No mechanical ventilation

The way building and block averages are calculated is described in the Comfort Analysis section.

Note: if you uncheck this option and all zones in the model are unoccupied then you will get a 'Zero floor area error' message

Surface heat transfer incl. solar      

Select this option to generate heat flow at surface boundaries. Note that selecting this option results in large amounts of data being generated as EnergyPlus must generate output for every surface and window in the zone and you should only select it if you need to look at the zone heat balance.The following EnergyPlus reports are generated:

• Opaque Surface Inside Face Conduction
• Window Heat Gain
• Window Heat Loss
• Window Transmitted Solar

Environmental

This option generates temperatures and humidity data.  The following EnergyPlus reports are generated:

• Zone Mean Air Temperature
• Zone Mean Radiant Temperature
• Zone Air Relative Humidity
• Outdoor Dry Bulb

Comfort          

Select this option to generate Comfort output. The following EnergyPlus reports are generated:

• FangerPMV
• PiercePMVET
• PiercePMVSET
• PierceDISC
• PierceTSENS
• KsuTSV
• Time Not Comfortable Summer Clothes
• Time Not Comfortable Winter Clothes
• Time Not Comfortable Summer or Winter Clothes

Internal gains and associated energy consumption                           

Select this option to generate internal gains-related output and any associated energy consumption. The following EnergyPlus reports are generated:

• Zone Lights Total Heat Gain
• Zone Task Lights Total Heat Gain
• Zone People Sensible Heat Gain
• Zone Electric Equipment Cat02 Electric Consumption
• Zone Electric Equipment Cat03 Electric Consumption
• Zone Electric Equipment Cat04 Electric Consumption
• Zone Electric Equipment Cat05 Electric Consumption
• Zone Transmitted Solar
• Zone Infiltration Sensible Heat Loss
• Zone Infiltration Sensible Heat Gain
• Zone Ventilation Sensible Heat Loss
• Zone Ventilation Sensible Heat Gain

HVAC energy                        

Select this option to generate energy consumption data for the HVAC system.

Temperature distribution                 

Select this option to generate Temperature distribution data for each zone (distribution data for Blocks and Buildings not available).

DXF model output                         

This option causes EnergyPlus to generate a DXF file summarising the building model. The file is called eplusout.dxf and it is stored in the EnergyPlus folder. This option can be useful for checking that the correct geometry has been generated.

Construction and surface details         

This option causes EnergyPlus to generate a comma separated value file summarising the building model. The file is called eplusout.eio and it is stored in the EnergyPlus folder.