Energy modeling software

[atlas06]

Which software would you recommend for Energy Modeling?
Is there any training that you know of that is worth the money? we are looking at sending a couple of guys at work for training and would like feed back from people that might have gone through any one of these seminars.

We are in the Washington DC area

Thank you

 

[GMcD]

For serious building physics and system energy modeling I recommend getting into a couple paths- TRNSYS is a software packe that Transsolar (Stuttgart based energy modeling group) uses and supports, and as well there is the IES Virtual Environment software package. TAS (Thermal Analysis Software) from England is a good program for building physics and some CFD modeling for ventilation and natural air flow. All the above are strong on the building physics modeling (which is the primary building energy process anyway) but they may not do a good job of HVAC systems simulation. While I haven't used it, I understand that Energy 10+ is good, as well as the Trane Trace program, but those programs don't do a very good job of the building physics modeling.

Go here:

http://www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/energyplus/

and then look on the right hand side of the page where there is a link to a recent lengthy comparison of many building energy simulation software suites.