Need for a Professional Approach in Building Energy Audit

Pradeep KumarSr. Technical Specialist

Mission Statement:

The Alliance to Save Energy promotes energy efficiency worldwide to achieve a healthier economy, a cleaner environment, and greater energy security.

What is the Alliance to Save Energy?

Established in 1977 Non-Profit A leader in energy efficiency in all relevant sectors:

• buildings • industry • municipal

• utilities • appliances • transportation

• research • policy • education

• federal government (e.g., FEMP) Experience in over 30 countries Recognized as the municipal water and energy efficiency

expert in India

Commercial Building Energy Assessment –

A Professional Approach

Objectives

To provide “buyers” and “providers” of energy analysis services with a templates of good procedures for an energy survey and analysis.

To provide a consistent format for defining buildings and their energy use that will allow data to be shared in meaningful ways:- Developing performance metrics (kWh/sq. m., Rs./person) for

buildings- Conducting benchmarking analysis- Developing baseline data for inviting performance contracts- Identifying and implementing EE measures

Ensuring quality of building energy assessments that will be performed in future

Purpose

Educate building owners/operators on the basics of building energy assessments

Give a framework for selecting appropriate level of assessment and the required steps

Provide guidance on steps to be taken after the assessment Provide specific information to carry the tasks Assist in benchmarking Provide list of references for those wishing to dig deeper and

looking for detailed technical information Act as a resource for ESCOs, energy consultants and state

designated agencies

Building Energy Assessment Basics

Building assessments are different from industrial assessments

Utility bill analysis together with historical O&M data should be the starting point for most assessments

Indoor environmental quality (IEQ) conditions can significantly affect total energy consumption

Level of effort should be commensurate with expected end result

Collect data in a format that is helpful for other efforts

- benchmarking of energy use

- Reporting to the government

- Creation of baseline for performance contracts

What are “Commercial Buildings”

Different organizations define commercial buildings differently Proposed definition: Any building that is not in the residential,

agricultural, and industrial sector.

- Office buildings (incl. IT parks)

- Government buildings

- Hospitals

- Retail malls

- Hotels Prime candidates for ECBC implementation Prime candidates for “Designated Consumers” under the EC

Act - Need for energy audit and reporting

Drivers for Energy Assessment

Energy Conservation Act- Future regulatory requirements for reporting

Simple, inexpensive and effective way to achieve operating cost reductions- Low-cost projects- Large capital intensive projects

Multiple funding sources available to perform assessments- Operating and maintenance budget- Capital improvement budgets- Central and State funding – check your region- External funding sources

Corporate social responsibility

Conducting Building Energy Assessment

Preparing for Building Energy Assessment - I

As a building owner/manager, why do you want to commission an energy audit for your building/facility?

Concerned about the electricity cost and want to identify opportunities to save energy and cost.

Compare how my building compares with other similar buildings.

Interested in finding the end use (lighting, cooling, pumping, elevator, etc.) consumption pattern

Better understand my utility bill and the rate structure

Energy Assessment – I…

Do you know what sort of qualifications to look for in energy auditors?

I want a certified energy auditor. Certification provides me with enough confidence that the audit quality will be acceptable.

Can I hire an architect to conduct an energy audit?

What is the budget for commissioning and completing the energy audit? Fixed Budget Want to use any government subsidy

Can you direct your staff to help with the collection and compilation of all building related data that is required for preparing the final assessment report? Am paying energy auditor, why should my staff assist him

in his job? Can I bring down the cost of conducting a building energy

audit if my staff assists the energy auditor in providing information?

Will it help improve the quality of the building energy audit?

Preparing for Building Energy Assessment - II

Energy Assessment – II…

Are you planning any follow on activities based on the energy audit findings?

Have unused funds that we’ll have to forfeit if not used. Can use those funds to undertake some energy efficiency projects.

Can ESCOs install energy efficiency measures in my building without any upfront costs?

Steps Involved in Conducting Building Energy Assessment

Screening to decide if energy assessments will be effective Formation of Energy Assessment Committee Decide on level of assessment to pursue Initial data gathering by building owner Develop bidding documents (EOI and RFP) Develop evaluation criterion Select energy auditor or ESCO Internal awareness campaign and cooperation Data collection and analysis by auditor Report review Implementation, operation and maintenance changes,

measurement and verification, and review process

Recommended Energy Efficiency Committee Members:

Designated project champion Building owner / operator Operation and maintenance staff Financial specialist Technical specialist Other concerned personal

Sample Bid Evaluation Criteria

Accreditation of the firm Certified energy auditors on staff Audit instruments available Specific experience of the firm

- Experience in similar projects- Experience in related projects

Qualification of key staff Annual turnover

For performance contracts onlyExperience in performance contractsExperience in M&V

Technical Steps Involved in Conducting Building Energy Assessment

Collect and analyze historical energy usage. Study the building and its operational characteristics. Identify potential modifications that will reduce the energy

usage and/or cost. Perform an engineering and economic analysis of potential

modifications. Prepare a rank-ordered list of appropriate modifications. Prepare a report to document the analysis process and

results.

Levels of Assessment

Level I Assessment – Preliminary Energy Use Analysis & Walk Through Analysis; simple assessment based on available documents and information, physical inspection, and staff interviews to create a baseline and identify obvious energy efficiency measures which are easy to implement

Level II Assessment – Energy Survey and Analysis; review of data, existing and newly gathered, to identify all energy saving measures and identify high potential measures for further investigation

Level III Assessments – Detailed Analysis of Capital Intensive Measures; also known as Investment Grade Audit used to give a detailed assessment of costs and benefits derived from capital intensive energy conservation measures

Steps for Implementing an Energy Efficiency Program

Pre-Assessment: Screening to decide if audit necessary Preliminary data collection Formation of Energy Efficiency Committee Determine level of assessment to pursue Expression of Interest Request for Proposal

Assessment:- Data collection and analysis for:

Level I Assessment Level II Assessment Level III Assessments

- Performance contracts- Report

Post-Assessment Implementation Operation and maintenance Measurement and verification Review

For More Information

Pradeep KumarSr. Technical SpecialistSr. Technical Specialist

Alliance to Save Energy - IndiaAlliance to Save Energy - India

Bangalore Bangalore

IndiaIndia

0-98457750080-9845775008

pkumar@ase.org

www.ase.org or www.watergy.org