Question-and-Answer Resource for the Building Energy Modeling Community
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For transparency, I’ll caveat this post with the fact that I have a bias towards DesignBuilder and have limited knowledge of OS, however, I will only include factual information or what I have seen and/or been told by people using OS. You won’t find many DesignBuilder specific posts on this forum as the vast majority of our customers use our Helpdesk so don’t need to rely on forum assistance.
DesignBuilder is typically considered much faster and easier to learn and to use…how much faster will depend to some extent on your expertise in both tools. It was released over 10 years ago and has been subject to continual development to help improve modelling productivity as a GUI to EnergyPlus, Radiance and CFD. You don’t need to use script or to write measures to model in DB, although you can use our extended version of the EMS etc. to tailor simulations.
DesignBuilder includes Detailed HVAC templates for most complex HVAC systems so the basic system can be set up very quickly and then tailored to your requirements. You can set up the examples you list such as VAV w/boilers and chillers, chilled ceilings and heated floors with DOAS, and DB includes some very detailed ground source heat pump systems.
Ground loop heat exchanger tools such as GLHEPRO and GLD (which are not supplied by DesignBuilder or EnergyPlus) are able to carry out a more detailed and accurate sizing calculation taking into account specific borehole layouts and ground properties. These tools can export calculated G-function data in the form of IDF files which can be loaded automatically into DesignBuilder. If you search our online help you will find some information about modelling ground source heat pumps in DesignBuilder here: https://www.designbuilder.co.uk/helpv5.0/#HeatPumps.htm
You can export the idf from DB if you want to but shouldn’t need to very often. Many DesignBuilder users aren’t familiar with working in EnergyPlus so we have included the majority of common EnergyPlus systems to minimise the need for idf export and manipulation. DesignBuilder is commercial software, but it typically has a fairly short payback period (due to productivity gains) and has the advantage of a comprehensive integrated Help system and dedicated Support Desk for customers.
If you want to find out more please contact DesignBuilder and we can answer any specific questions you have. If you'd prefer an unbiased/neutral perspective on the comparison then the guys at Big Ladder Software are well placed to highlight the strengths and weaknesses of each tool (approved trainers for EnergyPlus, OS and DesignBuilder) and may be willing to offer guidance relevant to your needs if you contact them.
