The Time Series Viewer allows for viewing the hourly results from the simulation. A variety of variables are available to view such as building energy, weather, heating and cooling loads, and cost. Preset groups are included for quick viewing of common graphs and all data can be exported as an image or Excel file.
Using the Time Series Viewer
Viewing the vast amounts of data that each energy model simulation produces can be challenging. With the Time Series Viewer organizing and interrogating this data is easy! Following is a description of the available functions and actions in this tool.
Selecting Presets and Variables
Presets are groups of variables that are commonly viewed together. These help to auto generate graphs that tell specific stories about the results. Currently there are three Presets: Total Site Energy by End Use, Operational Costs, and Annual Load Profile.
To select a Preset, check the box next to the name. This will auto select all the variables that are grouped in the Preset. At the same time the graph will render the variables live!
Variables are individual data sets that consist of the full year hourly data for the quantity described. Variables can be selected manually, or via Presets and offer detailed look at the behavior of the model.
Customize Graph Line Types
The Time Series Viewer includes a color and style selector for customizing how variables are displayed. To open the color sector click on the colored circle next to any selected variable. This will open up a panel to control the color, style, and thickness of the line.
There are 11 line styles ranged from solid, to dash-dot. Line thickness can be adjusted between 1 and 6. Colors can be selected via the HEX code, the RGB values, visually with the gradient, or from a series of defaults. All selections are saved within the project.
Navigating the Graph
The Time Series Viewer main feature is of course the large line graph at the center of the screen. This graph is highly dynamic to allow maximum flexibility when exploring the hourly data sets available from your energy model. Here are some of the key actions that can be done on the graph.
Zoom in and Reset Zoom
The graph will start by showing the entire time series. To Zoom into a specific period click, drag, and release over the area of interest. This will zoom in the graph to that period! You can zoom in further by repeating the steps. When you are ready to view the entire graph again click the Reset zoom button which will be in the upper right corner of the graph.
Panning
When you are zoomed in hold the shift key, click and drag to pan. This allows for quickly adjusting the data in view:
Export an Image
At any time you may click on the camera icon in the upper right of the screen to export a .png image of the current graph. The Image will be 1920 x 1060 and include the title, axis labels, and legend. Use this function to quickly and easily generate content to share in presentation, in communications, or reports.
Export Spreadsheet of Data
At any time you may click the Excel icon in the upper right of the screen to export a .xlsx file containing the fully hourly data for the selected variables. The exported file will contain each of the selected variables their own column and the first column will be the Time Stamp. Note the spreadsheet export is always the entire 8760 hourly data set and is not reduced if the graph is zoomed into a shorter time period.
Variable Definitions
There are over 40 variables currently available for each simulation. Note that data is only populated into the variables for simulations that have that specific item. For example, a project without any mechanical pumps, the Total - Pumps variable will not include any values.
All results data is extracted from a standard .sql database created by the EnergyPlus simulation engine. The variable names found in this .sql database are included in the Source column of the following table to help teams understand the specific source for all results. Some variables are based on other variables and for these the formulas used are provided.
Energy - Site
Variable | Units | Source |
Total - Gas | kBtu or KWh | Facility:NaturalGas |
Total - Electricity | kBtu or KWh | Facility:Electricity |
Total - Heating | kBtu or KWh | Sum(Heating, Gas - Heating, Heating Hot Water) |
Total - Cooling | kBtu or KWh | Cooling + Total District Cooling |
Total - Fans | kBtu or KWh | Fans:Electricity |
Total - Pumps | kBtu or KWh | Pumps:Electricity + Heat Recovery |
Total - Lighting | kBtu or KWh | InteriorLighting:Electricity |
Total - Equipment | kBtu or KWh | Total - Interior Equipment + Total - Exterior Equipment |
Total - Heat Rejection | kBtu or KWh | HeatRejection:Electricity |
Total - Interior Equipment | kBtu or KWh | Interior Equipment + Gas - Interior Equipment |
Total - Exterior Equipment | kBtu or KWh | Exterior Equipment + Gas - Exterior Equipment |
Energy - Electricity
Variable | Units | Source |
Heating | kBtu or KWh | Heating:Electricity |
Cooling | kBtu or KWh | Cooling:Electricity |
Interior Equipment | kBtu or KWh | InteriorEquipment:Electricity |
Exterior Equipment | kBtu or KWh | ExteriorEquipment:Electricity |
Lighting | kBtu or KWh | InteriorLighting:Electricity |
Humidification | kBtu or KWh | Humidification:Electricity |
Heat Recovery | kBtu or KWh | HeatRecovery:Electricity |
Service Hot Water | kBtu or KWh | WaterSystems:Electricity |
Refrigeration | kBtu or KWh | Refrigeration:Electricity |
Energy - Fossil Fuel
Variable | Units | Source |
Gas - Heating | kBtu or KWh | Heating:NaturalGas |
Gas - Interior Equipment | kBtu or KWh | InteriorEquipment:NaturalGas |
Gas - Exterior Equipment | kBtu or KWh | ExteriorEquipment:NaturalGas |
Gas - Service Hot Water | kBtu or KWh | WaterSystems:NaturalGas |
Gas - Humidification | kBtu or KWh | Humidification:NaturalGas |
Diesel - Heating | kBtu or KWh | Heating:Diesel |
Diesel - Service Hot Water | kBtu or KWh | WaterSystems:Diesel |
Propane - Heating | kBtu or KWh | Heating:Propane |
Propane - Service Hot Water | kBtu or KWh | WaterSystems:Propane |
Oil - Heating | kBtu or KWh | Heating:Oil |
Oil - Service Hot Water | kBtu or KWh | WaterSystems:Oil |
Energy - District Systems
Variable | Units | Source |
Total District Heating | kBtu or KWh | Heating Hot Water + Service Hot Water |
Heating Hot Water | kBtu or KWh | Heating:DistrictHeating |
Service Hot Water | kBtu or KWh | WaterSystems:DistrictHeating |
Total District Cooling | kBtu or KWh | Cooling:DistrictCooling |
Heating and Cooling Loads
Variable | Units | Source |
Building Heating Load | kBtu/h or kW | Heating:EnergyTransfer |
Building Cooling Load | kBtu/h or kW | Cooling:EnergyTransfer |
Weather
Variable | Units | Source |
Dry Bulb Temperature | °F or °C | Site Outdoor Air Drybulb Temperature |
Wet Bulb Temperature | °F or °C | Site Outdoor Air Wetbulb Temperature |
Relative Humidity | % | Site Outdoor Air Relative Humidity |
Wind Speed | MPH or m/s | Outdoor Air Wind Speed |
Direct Radiation | w/ft2 or w/m2 | Site Direct Solar Radiation Rate per Area |
Diffuse Radiation | w/ft2 or w/m2 | Site Diffuse Solar Radiation Rate per Area |
Sky Clearness |
| Site Daylighting Model Sky Clearness |
Sky Brightness |
| Site Daylighting Model Sky Brightness |
Operational Costs
All costs are calculated directly on the platform with the hourly energy consumption values. This allows for maximum flexibility and quick updates to the results when the utility rates change.
Note that costs displayed on the Time Series Viewer is only the consumption rates and does not include the demand rate for electricity.
Variable | Units | Calculation |
Gas | $ or local currency | Sum of all Fossil Fuel Costs |
Electricity | $ or local currency | Consumption and Peak Cost |
District Heating | $ or local currency | Consumption Cost |
District Cooling | $ or local currency | Consumption Cost |