Lecture 3: OutputReports,

Variables, and Meters

Material prepared by GARD Analytics, Inc. and University of Illinois

at Urbana-Champaign under contract to the National Renewable Energy
Laboratory. All material Copyright 2002-2003 U.S.D.O.E. - All rights reserved
Importance of this Lecture to the
Simulation of Buildings
Running a simulation program results in
the production of output data
Understanding the output data and its
format can help avoid mistakes and
save time

2
 Purpose of this Lecture

Gain an understanding of:

Different output files of EnergyPlus
Which output will be the most useful and
how to get it
Define accumulation meters to save time
in processing and analyzing results

3
Keywords Covered in this Lecture

Report
Report Variable
Report Meter

4
 Output Data Format

Same philosophy as for input;

somewhat human readable output files
EnergyPlus can perform some output
processing to help limit output size
User definable variable level reporting

5
 Output Reporting Flexibility

User can select any variables available for

output
User can specify output at time step,
hourly, daily, monthly, or environment
intervals
User can schedule each output variable
User can select various meters by
resource and end-use

6
 Types of Output

Report Variables
Report Meters
Default Reports
Optional Reports

7
 Output Files

Eplusout.<ext> Filename.<ext>
eio Initialization Output environments,
constructions, global settings
eso Standard Output numeric data
csv csv spreadsheet of eso data
err Errors Output always review this!
rdd Report Data Dictionary list of valid
report variables for a particular run

8
 Output Files (contd)
dxf dxf drawing of building surfaces
mtr Meter output numeric data
Meter.csv csv spreadsheet of meter data
mtd Meter details lists which report
variables are on which meters
cif Comis input file
zsz Zone sizing report
ssz System sizing report

Created using CVBbRh.idf

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 Output Files (contd)

bnd Branch and node details

dbg Debug output
trn Trnsys output
sln Vertices of surface

For more details see Output Details and

Examples
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 Report Commands
Report Variable, EAST ZONE,
Mean Air Temperature,
Timestep;
Report Variable, *, Mean Air
Temperature, Daily, Report
Schedule;
Report, Variable Dictionary;
Report, Construction;
Report, Surfaces, DXF;
Report, Surfaces, Details;
MAT only for EAST ZONE every
timestep
MAT for all zones, daily
average, only when Report
Schedule equals 1
List all available variables *.rdd
List material and construction
properties *.eio
Produce drawing of surfaces
*.dxf
List all surfaces with area, tilt,
construction, etc.
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 Report Commands (contd)
Report Variable,,Outdoor Dry Bulb,monthly;
Report Variable,Zone 1,Zone/Sys Sensible Cooling
Energy,monthly;
Report Variable,Zone 1,Zone/Sys Sensible Heating
Energy,monthly;
Report Variable,,Heating Coil Energy,monthly;
Report Variable,,DX Coil Sensible Cooling Energy,monthly;
Report Variable,,DX Coil Latent Cooling Energy,monthly;
Report Variable,,DX Coil Total Cooling Energy,monthly;
Report Variable,,DX Cooling Coil Electric Consumption,monthly;
Report Variable,,Fan Electric Consumption,monthly;
Report Variable,,Zone/Sys Air Temp,monthly;

Report,Variable dictionary;
Report,surfaces,dxf;
Report,surfaces,details;
Report,construction;

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 Output Data Dictionary
(ESO File)
Data Dictionary - Beginning of Output Data File

1,5,Environment
Title[],Latitude[degrees],Longitude[degrees],Time
Zone[],Elevation[m]
2,6,Day of Simulation[],Month[],Day of Month[],DST
Indicator[1=yes
0=no],Hour[],StartMinute[],EndMinute[],DayType
3,3,Cumulative Day of Simulation[],Month[],Day of
Month[],DST Indicator[1=yes 0=no],DayType ! When
Daily Report Variables Requested
246,2,ZN001:FLR001,Surface Inside Temperature[C]
!TimeStep
302,2,ZN002:FLR001,Surface Inside Temperature[C]
!TimeStep
. . .
End of Data Dictionary 13
 Output Data (ESO File)
Output Data After the Data Dictionary

1,CHANUTE AFB ILLINOIS SUMMER, 40.30, -88.13, -6.00,

229.51
2, 1, 7,21, 0, 1, 0.00,10.00,Monday
246,33.3319029536235
302,31.7565160760406
. . .

14
 ESO vs. CSV
ESO
Raw data in comma separated format

Stream of conscience reportvariables print as

they are determined
Less convenient for viewing variables

CSV
Organized data in comma separated format

Each row contains data in columns for a particular

time step
More convenient for viewing variables

Requires an .rvi file and must run post-processing

program
EP-Launch handles this automatically 15
 CSV File Sample
Date/Time Environment:Outdoor ZONE ONE:Zone/Sys Sensible ZONE ONE:Zone/Sys Sensible ZONE ONE:Zone/Sys Air
Dry Bulb [C](Monthly) Heating Energy[J](Monthly) Cooling Energy[J](Monthly) Temp[C](Monthly)
July 25.58495468 0.00E+00 19028775.23 24.4112152
January -17.77778 253868837.1 0.00E+00 20.28659003
January -4.63546707 4144370093 0.00E+00 20.43495965
February -2.23312872 3151142586 0.00E+00 20.46221742
March 1.603242608 2545318797 0.00E+00 20.54348182
April 8.370677083 1431785319 324853.0522 21.20071107
May 15.30398185 639305402.1 51404202.22 22.43806808
June 21.09550347 164326207.4 145308752.2 23.40095162
July 23.49973118 65628804.19 244539864.1 23.81873695
August 21.75707325 96943677.86 103740404 23.32673507
September 18.11458333 346023544.8 45088296.07 22.40959675
October 11.73642473 1065565115 714539.5928 21.18788477
November 4.232118056 2260965068 0.00E+00 20.49516327
December -2.566599462 3853388966 0.00E+00 20.46126771

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 CSV File Sample (contd)

Part of the CSV file created when the

CVBbRh.idf file is run in EnergyPlus:
RESISTIVE EAST NORTH RESISTIVE EAST NORTH DETAILED
RESISTIVE EAST NORTH ZONE:Zone ZONE:Zone ZONE:Zone ZONE:Zone ZONE:Zone ZONE:Zone ZONE1BAS ZONE2BAS ZONE3BAS COOLING
ZONE:Mean ZONE:Mean ZONE:Mean /Sys /Sys /Sys /Sys /Sys /Sys EBOARD:B EBOARD:B EBOARD:B COIL:Total
Air Air Air Sensible Sensible Sensible Sensible Sensible Sensible aseboard aseboard aseboard Water
Temperatur Temperatur Temperatur Cooling Cooling Cooling Heating Heating Heating Heating Heating Heating Cooling Coil
e[C](Hourly: e[C](Hourly: e[C](Hourly: Energy[J](H Energy[J](H Energy[J](H Energy[J](H Energy[J](H Energy[J](H Rate[W](Ho Rate[W](Ho Rate[W](Ho Rate[W](Ho
REPORTSC REPORTSC REPORTSC ourly:REPO ourly:REPO ourly:REPO ourly:REPO ourly:REPO ourly:REPO urly:REPOR urly:REPOR urly:REPOR urly:REPOR
Date/Time H) H) H) RTSCH) RTSCH) RTSCH) RTSCH) RTSCH) RTSCH) TSCH) TSCH) TSCH) TSCH)
07/21 01:00:0032.35558 31.84687 32.54195 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00
07/21 02:00:0031.81557 31.36997 31.94508 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00
07/21 03:00:0031.31389 30.93895 31.42794 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00
07/21 04:00:0030.84865 30.52358 30.96918 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00
07/21 05:00:0030.42387 30.11834 30.52752 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00
07/21 06:00:0030.03226 29.72461 30.09109 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00
07/21 07:00:0029.80721 29.84088 29.9142 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00
07/21 08:00:0024.12819 24.20936 24.22478 7969336 1.02E+07 1.20E+07 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 4065.72 2024.82 2997.335 19442.14
07/21 09:00:0024.00079 23.99989 23.99957 1.45E+07 1.33E+07 1.83E+07 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 2190.512 1066.101 1132.316 18783.6
07/21 10:00:00 24.0007 24.0003 23.99982 1.51E+07 1.39E+07 1.89E+07 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 1987.641 869.9992 944.2528 18799.07
07/21 11:00:0023.99996 24.00012 24.00022 1.61E+07 1.48E+07 1.96E+07 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 1708.771 635.6866 732.0659 18802.23
07/21 12:00:0024.00028 24.00011 24.00003 1.72E+07 1.56E+07 2.04E+07 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 1389.911 390.1691 516.0278 18803.26
07/21 13:00:0023.99991 23.99997 24.00001 1.81E+07 1.62E+07 2.07E+07 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 1196.966 270.4863 460.9324 18783.9
07/21 14:00:0023.99956 24.01824 24.0001 1.92E+07 1.71E+07 2.17E+07 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 879.5861 35.07354 196.6353 18781.08
07/21 15:00:0023.99998 24.1879 24.0387 1.99E+07 1.73E+07 2.23E+07 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 656.8229 0.00E+00 14.17869 18849.89
07/21 16:00:0024.00017 24.35251 24.24059 2.03E+07 1.75E+07 2.26E+07 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 516.8994 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 18973.62
07/21 17:00:0024.00003 24.33324 24.34564 2.03E+07 1.75E+07 2.29E+07 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 523.1177 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 19013.39
07/21 18:00:0038.04053 35.66377 35.93962 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00
07/21 19:00:0036.46327 34.70622 35.23245 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00
07/21 20:00:0035.54667 33.74085 34.69495 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00
07/21 21:00:0035.21486 33.5262 34.64345 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00
07/21 22:00:0034.56882 33.18677 34.26335 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00
07/21 23:00:0033.78711
07/21 24:00:0033.00431
32.78502
32.36126
33.74649
33.17585
0.00E+00
0.00E+00
0.00E+00
0.00E+00
0.00E+00
0.00E+00
0.00E+00
0.00E+00
0.00E+00
0.00E+00
0.00E+00
0.00E+00
0.00E+00
0.00E+00
0.00E+00
0.00E+00
0.00E+00
0.00E+00
0.00E+00
0.00E+00
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 RVI File

RVI: Report Variable Input

List of variables to take from ESO file
and report to CSV file
Example:
eplusout.eso Input file name for post-processor
eplusout.csv
Output file name for post-processor
Outdoor Dry Bulb
Zone/Sys Air Temp
Zone/Sys Sensible Cooling Energy Report Variables (see IDF or RDD
Zone/Sys Sensible Heating Energy file) to be taken from ESO file and
FangerPMV reported in CSV file
PierceTSENS
KsuTSV
0 End of file marker 18
 Report Data Dictionary
(RDD Files)
Lists applicable output variables for a
given input file
Must activate with report, variable
dictionary; command
Var Type,Var Report Type,Variable Name [Units]
Zone,Average,Outdoor Dry Bulb [C]
Zone,Average,Outdoor Barometric Pressure [Pa]
Zone,Average,Mean Air Temperature[C]
HVAC,Sum,Zone/Sys Sensible Heating Energy[J]
HVAC,Average,Zone/Sys Sensible Heating Rate[W]

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 Meters
Accumulate multiple outputs of same form
Appropriate variables are grouped onto meters for
reporting purposes
May ease analysis of output
Values are put onto the eplusout.mtr file
Meter component details in eplusout.mtd file
Meter names applicable for the simulation are shown
on the Report Data Dictionary file
Meter names are of two forms:
<FuelType>:<MeterType>
<EndUseType>:<FuelType>:<MeterType>

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 Meters Resource Types

Electricity Propane
Gas Water
Gasoline Steam
Diesel PurchasedCooling
Coal PurchasedHeating
FuelOil#1 EnergyTransfer (coil
FuelOil#2 & equipment loads)

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 Meters End Use Types

GeneralLights Heating
TaskLights Cooling

ExteriorLights HeatRejection
Humidifier
ZoneSource
HeatRecovery
ExteriorEquipment
DHW
Fans
Cogeneration
Pumps
Miscellaneous

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 Meters Meter Types

Facility (Master Meters)

Submeters:
Zone (lights, plug loads, etc.)
Building (all zones combined plus exterior)
System (air handlers, terminal units)
Plant (chillers, boilers, DHW, etc.)

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Meters Meter Types
Elec:Zone Elec:HVAC

Lights:Zone Zone Air loop

Gas:HVAC
Plant
Loop

Building System

Elec:Plant Gas:Plant

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 Input for Meters
Report Meter, Electricity:*, All electric meters, for all
Hourly; end uses and all levels

Report Meter, Electricity: Master electric meter

Facility, monthly;

Report Meter, Cooling: Cooling equipment

Electricity, monthly;

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 Input for Meters (contd)
Report Meter,Fans:Electricity,monthly;
Report Meter,Cooling:Electricity,monthly;
Report Meter,Heating:Electricity,monthly;
Report Meter,Electricity:HVAC,monthly;
Report Meter,Electricity:Facility,monthly;
Report Meter,Heating:Gas,monthly;
Report Meter,Gas:HVAC,monthly;
Report Meter,Gas:Facility,monthly;

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 Meter Details File

Lists exactly what is included in each

meter
*.mtd output file
For Meter=Electricity:Plant [J], contents are:
LITTLE CHILLER:Chiller Electric Consumption [J]
BIG CHILLER:Chiller Electric Consumption [J]
CIRC PUMP:Pump Electric Consumption [J]
COND CIRC PUMP:Pump Electric Consumption [J]
HW CIRC PUMP:Pump Electric Consumption [J]
BIG TOWER:Tower Fan Electric Consumption [J]

27
 Output Files Summary

Simple ASCII files

Simple input format (self-contained)
User-defined output can be interpreted
by many programs
Spreadsheets
Databases
Custom Programs

28
 Summary

ESO (EnergyPlus Standard Output) file

provides user with raw output data from
EnergyPlus run
CSV file is a version of the ESO file that is in a
format more readily usable in a spreadsheet
program
Meters and meter output are convenient ways
of grouping data for output analysis

29