New Features…

New Pricing…

New Horizons in Retrofit Modeling…

 

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Top 10 New Features

(see below for detailed points on these and other features)

 

1.  The streamline function

• Streamline is guided, smart data gathering that keeps you on track without sacrificing accuracy.

2.  NREL data

• Incorporation of NREL databases for best-in-class data assumptions.

3.  New report

• New, user customizable graphic reports.  Create sharp reports fast.

4.  New graphs

• New and expanded tables and graphs for use in your reports.

5.  Transfer sheet

• Major customization for minor effort by incorporating your own spreadsheets into OptiMiser.  You don’t have to leave all your efforts behind.

6.  Bid creator

• User editable bid sheet and bid selection gives you deep power to create bids that work for you.

7. Detailed electrical audit

• You don’t have to go to another tool or worksheet, OptiMiser provides you with a detailed electrical audit tool.

8. Multi-family

• Simple, but powerful modeling of multi-family buildings

9.  Attic – radiant barriers

• Improved handling of all attic heat transfer components

10.  Infiltration information

• Automatic conversion between common infiltration terms

Exhaustive list of what’s new:

Numerous interface improvements

• Accordion frames maximize use of space.
• Improved and simplified control arrangement.

Re-engineered Status reporting system

• Status messages change dynamically to reflect the current system state.
• Status summary displaying the number of tips and error messages is constantly updated.
• Dynamically triage issues during the audit process to list only the highest priority issues.
• Icons, color coding and order indicate issue severity.
• Hyperlinks navigate directly to issue resolution area.
• Checkbox to manually dismiss issue.

New Streamline system minimizes audit data entry.

• Auditor selects improvements to be analyzed.
• Decision matrix identifies improvements requiring data entry and building components where data entry is unnecessary.

Streamline uses adequate utility data to reduce required data entry.

• Streamline decision matrix incorporates interactive building components.
• The streamline display graphically illustrates which building components require data entry.
• Streamline feeds decision matrix results automatically to the workflow.

Dynamic customizable work flow

• Streamline results are used to eliminate unnecessary steps in workflow
• The instructions for workflow steps change to reflect streamline simplification.
• Workflow messages change dynamically to reflect the current system state.
• Workflow summary displays the current workflow step on the button bar.
• Checkboxes, icons, and text indicate progress on each step.
• Hyperlinks navigate directly to the user interface for that step.
• Checkbox to manually signify step completion.
• Previous and Next buttons on the button bar provide one click navigation through the workflow.
• Workflow step descriptions can be customized by the user.

NREL database improvements, energy characteristics and costs

• OptiMiser incorporates NREL’s National Residential Efficiency Measures Database (NREMD) into OptiMiser and are using it as our primary source of costs. (http://www.nrel.gov/ap/retrofits/)  The NREL database represents the first well maintained national database that is aimed specifically at energy retrofit measures.
• The OptiMiser database includes hundreds of improvement selections, and is augmented by miscellaneous line items required by home performance contractors.
• Every item includes energy characteristics and low, average and high cost estimates for labor and materials.
• Improvement characteristics are easily selectable using one control.

The user editable improvement selection database

• Users can add items to the improvement database customizing the description, energy properties and the cost.
• Users can customize the description, energy properties and the cost.
• Adjacent to every improvement property list box is a button provided to add and use new database entries on the fly.

Database of existing building characteristics derived from RESNET and NREL Building America standards

• Existing building characteristics are easily selectable using one control.
• Users can add items to the existing building characteristics database.
• User can customize the description and energy properties.
• Adjacent to every building property list box a button is provided to add and use new database entries on the fly.

Customized items and cost libraries can be imported and exported

• All custom items can be imported and exported by Templates.
• Customizable libraries automatically maintain unique IDs to simplify merging libraries.

Templates simplify and standardize audits

• Templates allow the user to define multiple selections of items and costs.
• Templates can be used to standardize audits for different projects, regions or subcontractors.
• When a new Template is created, improvement item costs can be instantly adjusted via current regional cost adjustment factors.
• Templates can be imported and exported to exchange standardized improvements, libraries and costs.

Existing building property options now editable.

• User can now add custom options to database of existing building properties

Simplified selection of improvement properties

• Each improvement property can be defined by a selection from one list box showing only the items included in that template.
• By controlling the selections available, simplifying the selection process, audit efficiency and standardization is improved.
• Simplified improvement specifications reduce training requirements.

New user customizable graphical report:

• 20+ pages of customizable graphic content
• Report automatically merges content from audit and analysis
• Improved photo selection interface
• Report can be saved and edited as a Word document!
• User customizable report template

Transfer sheet technology allows users to integrate their own workbook reports and analysis:

• Any spreadsheet file can be loaded in the OptiMiser program
• OptiMiser variables and table values can be inserted into users’ spreadsheets via links to the Transfer sheet
• Makes major customizations rapid, low cost, and doable in-house

Dynamic status report displays constantly updated:

• Total percent energy savings for the current improvement selection.
• Estimated cost of the selected improvements.
• Current elapsed time spent on the audit.
• Total errors and tips.

Expanded window and skylight options:

• Up to 6 types of windows analyzed
• Up to 4 types of skylights or glass doors analyzed

New mass wall analysis

• Models a wide variety of masonry, log and straw bale mass walls
• Incorporates improved thermal characteristics due to mass per IECC

New detailed analysis of major additional loads like pools, hot tubs, and large TVs:

• Detailed load analysis for pools and hot tubs by energy source
• Detailed electrical load analysis including all common small applicances

Improved and expanded tables and graphs including:

• Chart Gallery for utility bill regression analysis that provides regression, model and utility plots for both heating and cooling simultaneously
• Utility usage and costs for variable billing periods and for different fuel and electric bill periods
• Pie charts for loads and utility costs

New customizable report table includes:

• Numerous user-selectable columns reporting energy and financial analysis.
• User editable item descriptions.
• User editable item headings.
• Expandable section of additional improvements beyond the standard energy improvements.

New user editable bid sheet

• The bid sheet is accessible to the user as an Excel file that can be edited and revised.
• Multiple bidsheets can be saved and edited.
• Users can create and customize bid sheet templates.

Multi-family analysis

• Users can more easily model single units in a multi-family building.
• Simple “% shared” controls allow user to specify which envelope components are shared adiabatically with other units.

Detailed duct loss analysis

• Full ASHRAE 152 duct loss analysis available for more accurate efficiency calculations

Improved infiltration interface

• Automatic conversions between CFM50, NACH, ACH50, ELA, and SLA
• NACH N-factor calculated from user inputs

Improved mechanical ventilation analysis

• Allows for intermittent fan cycling
• Provides inputs for  HVI performance data for more accurate modeling

Improved attic heat transfer analysis

• Accounts for venting, radiant barriers, and roof color.