## Render by Outside Boundary Condition The default rendering mode (shown below) for OpenStudio renders surfaces based on class. This allows doors to be quickly distinguished from roofs or floors by color. Render by Outside Boundary Condition instead renders surfaces based on their boundary condition. In this mode, a wall and a roof would be rendered with the same color if they have the same boundary condition (e.g. 'Outdoors'). (Credit: David Goldwasser/NREL) Here is the same model as shown above, but this time with the render mode set to show boundary conditions. The tan is 'Ground', blue is 'Outdoors', and the green represents the 'Surface' boundary condition which allows heat transfer through inter-zone surfaces. If you look at the exterior of a model, you should normally see a lot of blue with tan for surfaces on grade. If you want to see what is going on inside, the section cut tool works great. You can also turn on x-ray mode, but it may be tough to see what you are looking at. (Credit: David Goldwasser/NREL) Below is an example with x-ray mode turned on. (Credit: David Goldwasser/NREL) There are 18 different colors for the outside boundary conditions. Some of these are grouped. Four are outside conditions, and nine are ground conditions. Look at EnergyPlus's documentation to learn more about the boundary conditions. (Credit: David Goldwasser/NREL)
Back to Top |

U.S. Department of Energy