Merge branch 'master' of https://code.ornl.gov/evw/EnergyPlus-PBC

README.md

+This is python code that can be used to evaluate the Peak Shaving abilities of 
+Priority Based Control (PBC)
+
+Dependencies:
+This study has three main requirements --
+
+1) EnergyPlus v8.7
+   https://energyplus.net/
+
+2) Volttron must be installed. Volttron documentation can be found here
+   https://volttron.readthedocs.io/en/releases-4.1/
+
+3) 2 PNNL developed Volttron agents are also needed. These are the 
+   volttron-energyplus and volttron-pubsub agents. These can be found here
+
+   https://github.com/cdcorbin-pnnl/volttron-energyplus
+
+   https://github.com/cdcorbin-pnnl/volttron-pubsub
+
+   I suggest working through the examples listed
+
+Once everything has been installed, activate the volttron virtualenv and start
+the platform and the pubsub agent.
+
+Now, with the virtualenv activated, navigate to the EnergyPlus-PBC directory.
+You must alter the config.json file to hold the locations pointing towards your:
+    1) volttron home directory
+    2) the maximum number of zones that you would like to limit the PBC control
+       to
+       
+The suggested max number for peak shaving is half the available loads.
+
+Allowing all the zones to run will correspond to uncoordinated control.
+
+You must copy the buildings idf files you wish to simulate from the buildingIDF
+directory into the test_buildings directory. The idf's in the test_buildings
+directory currently correspond to a 50 building, 146 zone study.
+
+For each new study, the buildings directory must be empty. 
+
+From here simply run python run_experiment.py, and the simulation should commence.
+
+It typically takes 20-30 minutes. Output can be found in the eplusout.eso and 
+eplusout.mtr files. 
+
+Errors can be found in the volttron log or the eplusout.err files