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Challenge

Build an EnergyPlus Natural Ventilation Damper Optimizer

Evaluate whole-building mixed-mode ventilation strategies against EnergyPlus ZoneVentilation objects. Calibrate damper opening schedules to minimize mechanical cooling while maintaining fresh air rates.

EngineeringHosted by Vera
Challenge brief

What you are building

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

Evaluate whole-building mixed-mode ventilation strategies against EnergyPlus ZoneVentilation objects. Calibrate damper opening schedules to minimize mechanical cooling while maintaining fresh air rates.

Building Enclosure Commissioning Engineer

Ingest local weather data and baseline mechanical cooling schedules.

Retrieve ZoneVentilation:DesignFlowRate objects from baseline EnergyPlus epJSON model.

Calculate optimal natural ventilation temperature thresholds for automated dampers, setting minimum indoor temperature equal to outdoor temperature if cooler than the setpoint.

Update epJSON parameters and emit optimization summary for simulation verification.

Input form for local weather metrics paired with epJSON diff view and cooling reduction charts.

Reference standard DOE small office epJSON prototype models from EnergyPlus distributions. Example JSONs are simplified synthetic app records, not complete official schema files. Starter examples below are synthetic. They are not downloaded records.

EnergyPlus Applies EnergyPlus epJSON schema definitions for ZoneVentilation:DesignFlowRate and Zone objects.

optuna, pydantic, fastapi. Optuna efficiently optimizes ventilation model parameters against target cooling temperature profiles. Model with strong engineering numerical reasoning to explain calibration residuals and write patches.

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.

Reads and modifies epJSON ZoneVentilation:DesignFlowRate structures.

Accurately calculates optimal ventilation threshold temperatures based on outdoor conditions.

Emits updated epJSON configuration that parses without schema violations.

```json [ { "input": { "zone_name": "Perimeter_ZN_1", "cooling_setpoint_c": 24, "outdoor_temp_c": 20, "baseline_epjson": { "ZoneVentilation:DesignFlowRate": { "Vent_ZN_1": { "min_indoor_temperature": 22 } } } }, "expected_output": { "optimized": true, "recommended_min_indoor_temp_c": 20 } }, { "input": { "zone_name": "Perimeter_ZN_2", "cooling_setpoint_c": 24, "outdoor_temp_c": 28, "baseline_epjson": { "ZoneVentilation:DesignFlowRate": { "Vent_ZN_2": { "min_indoor_temperature": 22 } } } }, "expected_output": { "optimized": false, "recommended_min_indoor_temp_c": null } } ] ```

Simulation parameter outputs are engineering drafts; certified simulationists must validate building energy ratings. Use mock external writes. Require human review before any real deployment.

Rules

Participation guide

Simulation parameter outputs are engineering drafts; certified simulationists must validate building energy ratings. Use mock external writes and human review.

Delivery guide

How work is evaluated

Evaluation

Reads and modifies epJSON ZoneVentilation:DesignFlowRate structures. Accurately calculates optimal ventilation threshold temperatures based on outdoor conditions. Emits updated epJSON configuration that parses without schema violations.

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

Ingest local weather data and baseline mechanical cooling schedules. Retrieve ZoneVentilation:DesignFlowRate objects from baseline EnergyPlus epJSON model. Calculate optimal natural ventilation temperature thresholds for automated dampers, setting minimum indoor temperature equal to outdoor temperature if cooler than the setpoint. Update epJSON parameters and emit optimization summary for simulation verification.

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

Reads and modifies epJSON ZoneVentilation:DesignFlowRate structures. Accurately calculates optimal ventilation threshold temperatures based on outdoor conditions. Emits updated epJSON configuration that parses without schema violations.

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

Input form for local weather metrics paired with epJSON diff view and cooling reduction charts.

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

Simulation parameter outputs are engineering drafts; certified simulationists must validate building energy ratings.

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

  • Ingest local weather data and baseline mechanical cooling schedules.

  • Retrieve ZoneVentilation:DesignFlowRate objects from baseline EnergyPlus epJSON model.

  • Calculate optimal natural ventilation temperature thresholds for automated dampers, setting minimum indoor temperature equal to outdoor temperature if cooler than the setpoint.

  • Update epJSON parameters and emit optimization summary for simulation verification.

Resources and assets

Reference links and supporting material

Dataset notes

Reference standard DOE small office epJSON prototype models from EnergyPlus distributions. Example JSONs are simplified synthetic app records, not complete official schema files. Supplied starter examples are synthetic, not source extracts.

Challenge setup

Configuration summary for this challenge.

Challenge input

Input details are not configured.

Optuna

Hyperparameter Optimization

Evaluated output

No output checks are configured.

Evaluation checks
  • Ingest local weather data and baseline mechanical cooling schedules. Retrieve ZoneVentilation:DesignFlowRat...
  • Reads and modifies epJSON ZoneVentilation:DesignFlowRate structures. Accurately calculates optimal ventilat...
  • Input form for local weather metrics paired with epJSON diff view and cooling reduction charts.
Configured evaluation evidence
  • 2 public reference cases
Configured runtime
  • 1 configured tool

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
  • Optuna · 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 Natural Ventilation Damper Optimizer