eQUEST® is a sophisticated, yet easy to use building energy use analysis tool which provides professional-level results with an affordable level of effort.
This freeware tool was designed to allow you to perform detailed analysis of today's state-of-the-art building design technologies using today's most sophisticated building energy use simulation techniques but without requiring extensive experience in the "art" of building performance modeling. This is accomplished by combining a building creation wizard, an energy efficiency measure (EEM) wizard and a graphical results display module with an enhanced DOE-2-derived building energy use simulation program.
the QUick Energy Simulation Tool
Something for everyone...
Imagine a building energy simulation tool comprehensive enough to be useful to ALL design team members, yet so intuitive ANY design team member could use it, in ANY or ALL design phases, including schematic design. eQUEST is well named because it provides something the youíve been looking for, but have been unable to find a sophisticated, yet easy-to-use building energy analysis tool. With eQUEST, youíll be able to provide professional-level results in an affordable level of effort.
Evaluate today's building technologies at the speed of today's design process
eQUEST was designed to allow you to perform detailed analysis of todayís state-of-the-art building design technologies using todayís most sophisticated building energy use simulation techniques but without requiring extensive experience in the "art" of building performance modeling.
eQUEST = enhanced DOE-2 + Wizards + Graphics
This is accomplished by combining a building creation wizard, an energy efficiency measure (EEM) wizard, and graphical reporting with a simulation "engine" derived from the latest version of DOE-2. Reliable detailed simulation has never been easier!
eQUEST features a building creation "wizard" that walks you through the process of creating an effective building energy model. This involves following a series of steps that help you describe the features of your design that would impact energy use, such as:
- architectural design
- HVAC equipment
- building type and size
- floor plan layout
- construction materials
- area usage and occupancy
- lighting system
Building Creation Wizard
The eQUEST® building creation wizard first requests the most general information about your building design, and then delves into progressively deeper detail. In all, the building description process comprises 23 data-entry steps – each represented by a "wizard" screen.
At each step of describing your building design, the wizard provides easy-to-understand choices of component and system options. It also offers advice in the form of "intelligent defaults" for each choice. (These defaults are based on more information gathered early in the description process). In addition, eQUEST automatically skips steps that do not apply to your design.
Although the building description process can get quite detailed, it isn’t necessary to complete every single step in the wizard. If you choose, you can "bail out" of the description process once you are satisfied with the level of detail. At that point, the wizard fills in any missing information using the eQUEST’s "intelligent default" process.
After compiling a building description, eQUEST® produces a detailed simulation of your building, as well as an estimate of how much energy it would use. Although these results are generated quickly, they are quite accurate because this software utilizes the full capabilities of DOE-2 (the latest version of a well-respected and popular building energy simulation program developed over the last 20 years by the U.S. DOE).
Within eQUEST, DOE-2 performs an hourly simulation of your building design for a one-year period. It calculates heating or cooling loads for each hour of the year, based on the factors such as:
- walls
- windows
- glass
- people
- plug loads
- ventilation
DOE-2 also simulates the performance of:
- fans
- pumps
- chillers
- boilers
- other energy-consuming devices
During the simulation, DOE-2 also tabulates your building’s projected energy use for various end uses such as:
- lighting
- plug loads (computers, appliances, copiers, etc.)
- heating
- cooling
- ventilation
- pumping
Viewing eQUEST Results
eQUEST® offers several graphical formats for viewing simulation results. For instance, you can display graphs of estimated overall building energy on an annual or monthly basis. (See Figure 1.) You also can compare the performance of alternative building designs. (See Figure 2.)
In addition, eQUEST allows you to perform multiple simulations and view the alternative results in side-by-side graphics. It offers:
- Energy cost estimating
- Daylighting and lighting system control
- Automatic implementation of common energy efficiency measures (by selecting preferred measures from a list)
Version 2.0 of eQUEST provides even more comprehensive analysis capability. It allows the advanced user to input additional building details to analyze complex buildings. A three-dimensional view of the building geometry is available in this version, as well as HVAC system diagrams. In addition, rate schedules for PG&E, SCE, and SDG&E are embedded in the program.
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 (Click for larger) Figure 2: Comparison of monthly energy use for base building design and four alternatives which incorporate Energy Efficiency Measures (EEMs) |
Download eQUEST
System
requirements:
eQUEST® is available only for the Windows PC Platform. To run eQUEST,
you must have the following:
at 256 colors.
Skylighting in eQUEST Tutorial (requires eQUEST v3.61b or later)
For answers to specific questions about downloading or using eQUEST, e-mail eQUESTions-EDR@energydesignresources.com.