ESP-r is a research-oriented open-sourcebuilding performance simulation software.[1][2] ESP-r can model heat flow in thermal zones, fluid flow using networks or CFD, electrical power flow, moisture flow, contaminant flow, hygrothermal and fluid flow in HVAC systems, as well as visual and acoustic performance aspects within a modeled energy system/building.
It was initially developed in 1974, as Joe Clarke's PhD research at the University of Strathclyde, and has been since extended by researchers from several countries.[3][4] ESP-r was made available in 2002 in the public domain subject to the GNU Public License.
ESP-r is designed to work on Unix, but it can run on Windows using Windows Subsystem for Linux (or in any other operational system using a virtual machine). The current ESP-r archivist is Professor Joseph Clarke, of the University of Strathclyde.
ESP-r`s holistic nature, flexibility, and range of features enable a well-informed user to optimize the energy and environmental performance of a building and/or associated energy systems.[5] The user experience provided by ESP-r, however, cannot be compared to the one provided by commercial software. ESP-r learning curve is steep, but there is a growing amount of training material available online. [6][7]
ESP-r has been extensively validated. [8][9] Among other projects, ESP-r was part of BESTEST,[10] an IEA initiative that created a benchmark for quality assessment of energy simulation software. This benchmark was later incorporated on ASHRAE Standard 140 - Method of Test for Evaluating Building Performance Simulation Software.[11][12]
