Abstract
EnergyPlus-MCP is the first open-source Model Context Protocol server specifically designed for EnergyPlus building energy simulation. This innovative software enables AI assistants and other applications to interact programmatically with EnergyPlus through a standardized, secure interface, eliminating traditional technical barriers in building energy modeling.
The software provides specialized tools across five functional domains: server management, model configuration and loading, comprehensive building component inspection, systematic model modification, and simulation execution with results visualization. Key features include automated HVAC system discovery and topology mapping, advanced schedule analysis, intelligent model validation, and interactive visualization capabilities.
EnergyPlus-MCP's layered architecture ensures robust separation between protocol communication and domain expertise, enabling scalable deployment across organizations, educational institutions, and research teams. Unlike direct LLM approaches that suffer from inconsistent results and security gaps, EnergyPlus-MCP provides validated, reliable interactions while maintaining scientific rigor. This democratizes sophisticated building energy analysis, making EnergyPlus accessible to broader audiences through conversational interfaces and streamlined workflows.
- Developers:
-
Li, Han [1] ; Hong, Tianzhen [1] ; Xu, Yujie [1]
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
- Release Date:
- 2025-10-09
- Project Type:
- Open Source, Publicly Available Repository
- Software Type:
- Scientific
- Licenses:
-
BSD 3-clause "New" or "Revised" License
- Sponsoring Org.:
-
USDOEPrimary Award/Contract Number:AC02-05CH11231
- Code ID:
- 167294
- Site Accession Number:
- 2025-203
- Research Org.:
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
- Country of Origin:
- United States
Citation Formats
Li, Han, Hong, Tianzhen, and Xu, Yujie.
EnergyPlus Model Context Protocol Server (EnergyPlus-MCP) v0.1.
Computer Software.
https://github.com/LBNL-ETA/EnergyPlus-MCP.
USDOE.
09 Oct. 2025.
Web.
doi:10.11578/dc.20251017.1.
Li, Han, Hong, Tianzhen, & Xu, Yujie.
(2025, October 09).
EnergyPlus Model Context Protocol Server (EnergyPlus-MCP) v0.1.
[Computer software].
https://github.com/LBNL-ETA/EnergyPlus-MCP.
https://doi.org/10.11578/dc.20251017.1.
Li, Han, Hong, Tianzhen, and Xu, Yujie.
"EnergyPlus Model Context Protocol Server (EnergyPlus-MCP) v0.1." Computer software.
October 09, 2025.
https://github.com/LBNL-ETA/EnergyPlus-MCP.
https://doi.org/10.11578/dc.20251017.1.
@misc{
doecode_167294,
title = {EnergyPlus Model Context Protocol Server (EnergyPlus-MCP) v0.1},
author = {Li, Han and Hong, Tianzhen and Xu, Yujie},
abstractNote = {EnergyPlus-MCP is the first open-source Model Context Protocol server specifically designed for EnergyPlus building energy simulation. This innovative software enables AI assistants and other applications to interact programmatically with EnergyPlus through a standardized, secure interface, eliminating traditional technical barriers in building energy modeling.
The software provides specialized tools across five functional domains: server management, model configuration and loading, comprehensive building component inspection, systematic model modification, and simulation execution with results visualization. Key features include automated HVAC system discovery and topology mapping, advanced schedule analysis, intelligent model validation, and interactive visualization capabilities.
EnergyPlus-MCP's layered architecture ensures robust separation between protocol communication and domain expertise, enabling scalable deployment across organizations, educational institutions, and research teams. Unlike direct LLM approaches that suffer from inconsistent results and security gaps, EnergyPlus-MCP provides validated, reliable interactions while maintaining scientific rigor. This democratizes sophisticated building energy analysis, making EnergyPlus accessible to broader audiences through conversational interfaces and streamlined workflows.},
doi = {10.11578/dc.20251017.1},
url = {https://doi.org/10.11578/dc.20251017.1},
howpublished = {[Computer Software] \url{https://doi.org/10.11578/dc.20251017.1}},
year = {2025},
month = {oct}
}