ENERGY CONSERVATION MEASUREMENT EVALUATION
Whether your business is manufacturing, real estate, retail, healthcare, mission critical facility or government, controlling and cutting costs is important for success. Reducing energy use and increasing energy efficiency is a proven strategy for cutting and controlling costs with good returns. Even with good returns, energy waste is still prevalent throughout organizations.
Unfortunately, capturing energy waste has been hampered by a lack of focus on energy management. Organizations that have adopted effective energy conservation measurement (ECM) strategies and built successful energy programs have had good results.
- USAA Real Estate has realized a 5% annual energy savings and increased the asset value of a California building by $1.5 million due to energy efficiency upgrades.
- Hines estimates the difference in operational costs between its energy efficient buildings and inefficient buildings at more than $13 million.
- Fairfax County Public Schools estimates an annual energy savings of $4.5 million from energy efficiency improvements.
The bottom line - good energy management is good business, and adopting an energy conservation measurement strategy is a business decision you cannot afford to ignore.
Energy Conservation Measurement (ECM) Program
Energy Audit
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Identify ECMs
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Evaluating Impacts of ECMs
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Developing ECMs
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Implementing ECM
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Monitoring Energy Conservation Measurement
ENERGY MODELING AND SIMULATION
We also specialize in energy modeling and simulation. Using purpose-built software we can develop a detailed energy model of your facility to help estimate energy usage and savings associated with improving a building’s systems and their operation.
When building a new facility, or expanding an existing facility, you will likely evaluate several different options for the building and its MEP systems. Developing an energy model for the building, with appropriate changes for each option, will allow you to compare the estimated energy usage of each option to help you determine which solution is best for you.
For upgrading an existing facility, we develop the energy model based on your building’s existing configuration. We calibrate the model using the actual utility bills from the building (typically, the average of the past 5 years). Next, we use the completed model to help evaluate how the energy in your building is being used, as well as opportunities to improve equipment efficiency and operating practices. The savings estimated by the model gives you that extra piece of information you need when you decide to upgrade your facility or whether or not to implement a particular ECM.
ENERGY STAR® CERTIFICATION
1. Determine if the building meets the eligibility requirements.
2. Login to EPA’s Portfolio Manager and enter the required energy and building information. To receive an energy performance rating, you must enter energy meters that account for all energy use (regardless of fuel type) in the building. To ensure accurate analysis, EPA applies limitations on this data which are as follows:
- There must be at least 11 full consecutive calendar months of energy data for all active meters. If there are multiple meters, there must be 11 consecutive and overlapping months.
- No individual electrical meter entry can be for a period longer than 65 days.
3. Determine if the building achieves a rating of 75 or above.
4. Validate the Statement of Energy Performance (SEP) and Data Checklist by having a Licensed Professional (i.e. Professional Engineer or Registered Architect) sign and stamp the SEP and sign the Data Checklist.
The role of the Licensed Professional is to verify that all energy use is accounted for accurately, that the building characteristics have been properly reported (including the square footage of the building), that the building is fully functional in accordance with industry standards, and that each of the indoor environment criteria (thermal comfort, illumination and indoor air quality) has been met.
5. Read and understand the
ENERGY STAR Identity Guidelines.
6. Mail the signed Letter of Agreement and signed and stamped Statement of Energy Performance (SEP) along with the signed Data Checklist to EPA (postmarked within 120 days of the SEP Period Ending Date).
