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Challenge

Build an EnergyPlus Glazing epJSON Patch Generator

Ingest baseline epJSON files to detect substandard glazing specifications. Generate schema-compliant epJSON parameter patches replacing old materials with high-performance low-emissivity specifications for regression testing.

EngineeringHosted by Vera
Challenge brief

What you are building

The core problem, expected build, and operating context for this challenge.

Ingest baseline epJSON files to detect substandard glazing specifications. Generate schema-compliant epJSON parameter patches replacing old materials with high-performance low-emissivity specifications for regression testing.

Building Envelope Performance Engineer

Upload an existing EnergyPlus epJSON building simulation model.

Parse FenestrationSurface:Detailed and WindowMaterial:SimpleGlazingSystem objects.

Formulate triple-pane low-emissivity glass upgrade JSON configurations.

Generate a validated epJSON patch artifact ready for integration.

Split-view web console presenting original versus upgraded thermal envelope properties with interactive U-value sliders.

Use standard open EnergyPlus test files from the official EnergyPlus example suite in the public repository. Starter examples below are synthetic. They are not downloaded records.

EnergyPlus Operates directly on the EnergyPlus epJSON input schema for Construction and glazing material objects.

dspy, pydantic, fastapi. DSPy compiles and optimizes prompts to generate valid epJSON parameters that conform strictly to EnergyPlus schema bounds. Local or hosted language model tuned for structured schema synthesis and engineering reasoning.

Submit runnable source, pinned dependencies, setup commands, a working interface, example outputs, and a recorded end-to-end demo. Include tests and an action log.

Extracts all exterior FenestrationSurface:Detailed instances accurately.

Replaces glazing thermal transmittance values above 2.8 W/m2-K with compliant specifications.

Emits valid epJSON that parses cleanly against the EnergyPlus schema.

```json [ { "input": { "model_version": "24.1", "target_surface": "East_Window_Floor1", "current_glazing": { "name": "Single_Clear_Glass", "u_factor": 5.8, "solar_heat_gain_coefficient": 0.81 }, "retrofit_target_climate_zone": "Zone 5A" }, "expected_output": { "target_surface": "East_Window_Floor1", "updated_material": "Triple_LowE_Argon", "updated_u_factor": 1.1, "updated_shgc": 0.35, "epjson_patch": { "WindowMaterial:SimpleGlazingSystem": { "Triple_LowE_Argon": { "u_factor": 1.1, "solar_heat_gain_coefficient": 0.35 } } }, "status": "RETROFIT_APPLIED" } }, { "input": { "model_version": "24.1", "target_surface": "North_Window_Floor2", "current_glazing": { "name": "Existing_HighPerf_Double", "u_factor": 1.3, "solar_heat_gain_coefficient": 0.4 }, "retrofit_target_climate_zone": "Zone 5A" }, "expected_output": { "target_surface": "North_Window_Floor2", "updated_material": "Existing_HighPerf_Double", "updated_u_factor": 1.3, "updated_shgc": 0.4, "epjson_patch": {}, "status": "ALREADY_COMPLIANT" } } ] ```

Thermal modifications are exported into a staging environment without overwriting baseline design models automatically. Use mock external writes. Require human review before any real deployment.

Rules

Participation guide

Thermal modifications are exported into a staging environment without overwriting baseline design models automatically. Use mock external writes and human review.

Delivery guide

How work is evaluated

Evaluation

Extracts all exterior FenestrationSurface:Detailed instances accurately. Replaces glazing thermal transmittance values above 2.8 W/m2-K with compliant specifications. Emits valid epJSON that parses cleanly against the EnergyPlus schema.

Submission format

Runnable source, pinned dependencies, setup commands, working interface, example outputs, recorded demo, tests, and action logs.

Datasets

Challenge datasets

Public datasets, plus the private datasets you have access to.

Evaluation rubric

How submissions are scored

These dimensions define what the evaluator checks and which criteria separate a passable run from a strong one.

Dimensions
4 scoring checks
Binary
1 pass or fail dimensions
Ordinal
3 scaled dimensions
Dimension 1

Complete workflow

Upload an existing EnergyPlus epJSON building simulation model. Parse FenestrationSurface:Detailed and WindowMaterial:SimpleGlazingSystem objects. Formulate triple-pane low-emissivity glass upgrade JSON configurations. Generate a validated epJSON patch artifact ready for integration.

Score scale
012
Score 0

Missing or incorrect.

Score 1

Partly complete, with documented gaps.

Score 2

Complete, with reproducible evidence.

Dimension 2

Correctness and evidence

Extracts all exterior FenestrationSurface:Detailed instances accurately. Replaces glazing thermal transmittance values above 2.8 W/m2-K with compliant specifications. Emits valid epJSON that parses cleanly against the EnergyPlus schema.

Score scale
012
Score 0

Missing or incorrect.

Score 1

Partly complete, with documented gaps.

Score 2

Complete, with reproducible evidence.

Dimension 3

Review interface

Split-view web console presenting original versus upgraded thermal envelope properties with interactive U-value sliders.

Score scale
012
Score 0

Missing or incorrect.

Score 1

Partly complete, with documented gaps.

Score 2

Complete, with reproducible evidence.

Dimension 4

Safe execution

Thermal modifications are exported into a staging environment without overwriting baseline design models automatically.

Binary check

This dimension contributes its full weight only when the submission satisfies the requirement. Partial credit is not awarded.

Learning goals

What you should walk away with

  • Upload an existing EnergyPlus epJSON building simulation model.

  • Parse FenestrationSurface:Detailed and WindowMaterial:SimpleGlazingSystem objects.

  • Formulate triple-pane low-emissivity glass upgrade JSON configurations.

  • Generate a validated epJSON patch artifact ready for integration.

Resources and assets

Reference links and supporting material

Dataset notes

Use standard open EnergyPlus test files from the official EnergyPlus example suite in the public repository. Supplied starter examples are synthetic, not source extracts.

Challenge setup

Configuration summary for this challenge.

Challenge input

Input details are not configured.

DSPy

Prompt and LM program optimization framework.

Evaluated output

No output checks are configured.

Evaluation checks
  • Upload an existing EnergyPlus epJSON building simulation model. Parse FenestrationSurface:Detailed and Wind...
  • Extracts all exterior FenestrationSurface:Detailed instances accurately. Replaces glazing thermal transmitt...
  • Split-view web console presenting original versus upgraded thermal envelope properties with interactive U-v...
Configured evaluation evidence
  • 2 public reference cases
Configured runtime
  • 3 configured tools

Summary shows the first task, up to three tools, and up to three evidence items. Open the technical recipe to view all configured items.

View technical recipe

Configured tools

Action Space
  • DSPy · Optional
Training Infra
  • DSPy · Optional
Orchestration
  • DSPy · Optional

Evaluation contract

  • Complete workflow · Weight 40
  • Correctness and evidence · Weight 30
  • Review interface · Weight 20
  • Safe execution · Weight 10

Reference cases

  • 2 public reference cases

Workflow tasks

No workflow tasks are configured.

Recipe freeze marker

No recipe freeze time is recorded.

Frequently Asked Questions about Build an EnergyPlus Glazing epJSON Patch Generator