Synopsis

This tutorial explains how to convert climate and Weather data stored in an EnergyPlus format, so that it can be used with WeatherTool and ECOTECT. EnergyPlus is a building simulation program developed by the US Department of Energy. It uses the EPW format for storing Weather and climate data.

Duration

You will need about 10 minutes to complete this tutorial.

Training and Accreditation

This tutorial does not currently form part of any training packages.

Resources Required

To complete this tutorial, you will need to use WeatherTool, or the Weather Manager utility included with ECOTECT. Optionally, you can also download and install the EnergyPlus application, which also includes its own utility for converting EPW Weather data for use with WeatherTool and ECOTECT.

In the file attachments section of this tutorial, a ZIP archive containing EPW Weather data for Tai Pei is attached, and is used as the example for this tutorial.

Tutorial

Downloading EnergyPlus Weather data

1. Weather data for EnergyPlus can be downloaded from the US Deparment of Energy website - http://www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/energyplus/cfm/Weather_data.cfm. This website is an excellent source of Weather data for a extensive number of locations around the world.
   

   Valuable climate and Weather data can be downloaded from the US Department of Energy website.
2. The data is organised by region, as defined by the World Meteorological Organisation. For each location, there are usually two links available - one for a STAT file, and the other for a ZIP archive. Click the link to download the ZIP archive.
   

   Click the ZIP archive link to download Weather data for the required location.
3. Extract the files from the ZIP archive - it usually contains the following four file types:
   

   Typically there are four files contained in the ZIP archive.
   • TXT - this text file contains information regarding the copyright and license agreement for use of the weather data.
   • DDY - this file is used by EnergyPlus to determine the degree design days for the supplied weather data.
   • EPW - this file contains the weather data as used by EnergyPlus, and is the file we require.
   • STAT - this is a summary of monthly and average statistics for the supplied weather data.

Extract the EPW file from the ZIP archive so that next it can be converted for use with WeatherTool and ECOTECT.

Converting EPW Weather data using WeatherTool or Weather Manager

1. Start the WeatherTool or Weather Manager application. Go to the File»Open menu. In the dialog box that appears, from the Files of Type: drop-down list, select the EnergyPlus Weather Files (*.EPW) option. Select the EPW file previously extracted from the ZIP archive, and then click Open.
   

   Open the EPW file using WeatherTool or Weather Manager.
2. A summary of the contents of the EPW file will appear, along with the settings that will be used to import the EPW file into WeatherTool/Weather Manager. Click the Import File button.
   

   Click the Import File button to proceed.
3. The EPW Weather data is imported into WeatherTool/Weather Manager. Click on either the Hourly Data or Weekly Data tab to view a graphical representation of the imported Weather data.
   

   The EPW Weather data is successfully imported.

Converting EPW Weather data using EnergyPlus

1. It is also possible to convert EPW Weather for use with WeatherTool and ECOTECT using the utilities supplied with the EnergyPlus software. In the Start menu, go to the EnergyPlus Program Folder, and start the Weather Statistics and Conversions utility.
   

   Launch the EnergyPlus Weather Conversion utility.
2. Click the Select File to Convert button. In the dialog box, select the EPW file and then click the Open button.
   

   Select the EPW file to convert.
3. Next, click the Select Output Format button. From the Data Type drop-down list, select the Square One WEA Data Format option. Then click the Save File As button, and sepcify a name and location where to save the converted Weather data file.
   

   Set the output format to WEA and then choose a name and location where to save the converted file.
4. Click the Convert File[.kbd] button to proceed. A dialog box appears when the conversion has been completed successfully. Click Ok and then close the Weather conversion utility.
   

   The EPW Weather data is successfully converted.
5. Return to WeatherTool/Weather Manager. Click the File»Open menu, and then select and open the WEA file created using the EnergyPlus Weather Conversion utility (ensure that the Files of Type drop-down list has Weather Data File (*.WEA) selected).
   

   Open the WEA file using WeatherTool.

Useful Tips

• Variations may exist between the WEA files created using these methods when Monthly Data tab is displayed. However, the hourly data values contained in both files will still be identical.