Export Revit to EnergyPlus via Ecotect

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This topic was brought up a few days ago from @MikeSealander. He was looking for some verification that the process of going from a Revit model to the DOE’s EnergyPlus analysis software was possible using Ecotect as a go between. While I have had some success with this process it was always using Green Building Studio as the intermediate tool.

 

Seeing as EnergyPlus is the most sophisticated energy analysis tool available and Revit is now become some what of a standard for the AEC industry it seemed like a natural fit. So I went ahead and gave it a try.

 

The long short if you have no interest in watching the videos is that I was impressed with the amount of detail and the level at which the geometric and construction information was brought across into EnergyPlus. While I ultimately  believe that analytical energy models should be kept separate from Architectural models, if you prefer to have some sort of link, dynamic or not, this is definitely a workable method.

 

The 7 Easy Steps to Success are:
  1. Create Analytical Spaces in Revit
  2. Modify Room Bounding Objects
  3. Verify Analytical Volumes
  4. Export GBXML
  5. Import GBXML to Ecotect
  6. Export IDF to Energyplus
  7. Verify in Geometry and Constructions in OpenStudio/IDF Editor
If you want to follow along with me here are the requirements:
If you have additional questions feel free to email me or reach me on twitter @openRevit.

 

I can also be found hanging around the following:
Help forums for Revit
- AUGI
- Autodesk Discussions
Help forums for EnergyPlus
- http://energyplus.helpserve.com/
- http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/EnergyPlus_Support/

 

Introduction

 

Room Bounding Objects and Material Construction

 

Zones, Model Review and GBXML Export

 

Ecotect Import, Model Review and Prep for IDF Export

 

Exporting IDF for EnergyPlus

 

Importing IDF into OpenStudio/Sketchup for Review

 

Construction Verification and Review in IDF Editor

 

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