Paul Mathew

Monitoring Based Commissioning: Benchmarking Analysis of 24 UC/CSU/IOU Projects

FINAL REPORT Monitoring-Based Commissioning: Benchmarking Analysis of 24 UC/CSU/IOU Projects Evan Mills, Ph.D Paul Mathew, Ph.D. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Berkeley, California Report Prepared for: California Energy Commission Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) Technology Demonstration Program April 2009

Towards a Very Low Energy Building Stock: Modeling the U.S. Commercial Building Sector to Support Policy and Innovation Planning

The origin, structure and continuing development of a model of time-varying energy consumption in the US commercial building stock is described. The model is based on a flexible structure that disaggregates the stock into various categories (e.g. by building type, climate, vintage and life cycle stage) and with attributes assigned to each of these (e.g. floor area and energy-use intensity by fuel type and end use) based on historical data and user-defined scenarios for future projections. In addition to supporting the interactive exploration of building stock dynamics, the model has been used to study the likely outcomes of specific policy and innovation scenarios targeting very low future energy consumption in the building stock. Model use has highlighted the scale of the challenge of meeting targets stated by various government and professional bodies, and the importance of considering both new construction and existing buildings. Sont décrits lorigine, la structure et le développement continu dun modèle de consommation d’énergie variable dans le temps pour le parc bâti commercial américain. Le modèle est basé sur une structure souple qui décompose le parc en différentes catégories (par ex. selon le type de bâtiment, le climat, lancienneté et le stade dans le cycle de vie) et avec des attributs assigné à chacune de celles-ci (par ex. surface au plancher et intensité dutilisation de l’énergie selon le type de combustible et lutilisation finale) en se basant sur les données historiques et les scénarios définis par lutilisateur pour de futures prévisions. Outre le soutien apporté à lexploration interactive de la dynamique du parc bâti, le modèle a été utilisé pour étudier les résultats probables dune politique spécifique et de scénarios innovants visant à une très faible consommation énergétique future dans le parc bâti. Lutilisation du modèle a mis en évidence lampleur de la difficulté à atteindre les objectifs fixés par les différents organismes publics et les diverses organisations professionnelles, et limportance quil y a à prendre en compte à la fois les constructions neuves et les bâtiments existants. Mots clés: parc bâti, changement climatique, rendement énergétique, émissions, énergie, basse énergie, constructions neuves, planification, rénovation, postcâblage/solarisation

Action-Oriented Benchmarking: Concepts and Tools

Most energy benchmarking tools provide static feedback on how one building compares to a larger set of loosely similar buildings, without providing information at the end-use level or on what can be done to reduce consumption, cost, or emissions. In this article—Part 1 of a two-part series—we describe an “action-oriented benchmarking” approach, which extends whole-building energy benchmarking to include analysis of system and component energy use metrics and features. Action-oriented benchmarking thereby allows users to generate more meaningful metrics and to identify, screen and prioritize potential efficiency improvements. This opportunity assessment process can then be used to inform and optimize a full-scale audit or commissioning process. We introduce a new web-based action-oriented benchmarking system and associated software tool—EnergyIQ. The benchmarking methods, visualizations, and user interface design are informed by an end-user needs assessment survey and best-practice guidelines from ASHRAE.

Action-Oriented Benchmarking: Using the CEUS Database to Benchmark Commercial Buildings in California

The 2006 Commercial End Use Survey (CEUS) database developed by the California Energy Commission is a far richer source of energy end-use data for non-residential buildings than has previously been available and opens the possibility of creating new and more powerful energy benchmarking processes and tools. In this article--Part 2 of a two-part series--we describe the methodology and selected results from an action-oriented benchmarking approach using the new CEUS database. This approach goes beyond whole-building energy benchmarking to more advanced end-use and component-level benchmarking that enables users to identify and prioritize specific energy efficiency opportunities - an improvement on benchmarking tools typically in use today.

Right-Sizing Laboratory Equipment Loads

Laboratory equipment such as autoclaves, glass washers, refrigerators, and computers account for a significant portion of the energy use in laboratories. However, because of the general lack of measured equipment load data for laboratories, designers often use estimates based on nameplate rated data, or design assumptions from prior projects. Consequently, peak equipment loads are frequently overestimated. This results in oversized HVAC systems, increased initial construction costs, and increased energy use due to inefficiencies at low part-load operation. This best-practice guide first presents the problem of over-sizing in typical practice, and then describes how best-practice strategies obtain better estimates of equipment loads and right-size HVAC systems, saving initial construction costs as well as life-cycle energy costs. This guide is one in a series created by the Laboratories for the 21st Century (Labs21) program, a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy. Geared towards architects, engineers, and facilities managers, these guides provide information about technologies and practices to use in designing, constructing, and operating safe, sustainable, high-performance laboratories.

Monitoring-based Commissioning: Benchmarking Analysis of 24 University Buildings in California

Chemical Emissions of Residential Materials and Products: Review of Available Information Monitoring-xad‐based Commissioning: Benchmarking Analysis of 24 University Buildings in California Evan Mills, Paul A. Mathew Environmental Energy Technologies Division April 2012 Submitted for publication to Energy Engineering.

Packaged scalable energy information systems for hotels

Purpose n n n n nBuilding energy information systems (EIS) are performance monitoring software, data acquisition hardware and communication systems used to store, analyze and display building energy data. Some

Labs21 environmental performance criteria Version 2.0

60bn are spent annually on wasted energy in the US buildings, and actions taken based on EIS data can enable operational energy savings of approximately 10 per cent in the US commercial sector (approximately two quads of primary energy). However, EIS adoption is low because of various technical and market challenges. This paper aims to provide technical specifications for standardized EIS packages that can help overcome barriers and accelerate scale. n n n n nDesign/methodology/approach n n n n nA five-step approach was followed: identifying business drivers as key determinants for hotel sector-specific packages; addressing heterogeneity to develop standardized, tiered packages; determining performance metrics for key stakeholders; recommending streamlined data architecture; and developing visualization enabling insights and actions. n n n n nFindings n n n n nTechnical specifications for two tiers (entry and advanced) of EIS packages for hotels have been developed. EIS vendor, integrator and client organization’s facilities and IT staff have been considered as key stakeholders. Findings from six field demonstrations show benefits of cost-effectiveness, through reduced transactional, first and operational costs, scalability, by accommodating heterogeneity across the building sub-sector, simplicity, by integrating meters, gateways and software in the package and actionability in organizations, across various decision-making levels. n n n n nOriginality/value n n n n nBuilding owners and operators can use these specifications to ease procurement and installation of EIS in their facilities. EIS software vendors can use them to develop new product offerings for underserved sectors.

Uncertainties in Energy Consumption Introduced by Building Operations and Weather for a Medium-Size Office Building

Laboratory facilities present a unique challenge for energy efficient and sustainable design, with their inherent complexity of systems, health and safety requirements, long-term flexibility and adaptability needs, energy use intensity, and environmental impacts. The typical laboratory is about five times as energy intensive as a typical office building and costs about three times as much per unit area. The Labs21 Environmental Performance Criteria (EPC) is a rating system for use by laboratory building project stakeholders to assess the environmental performance of laboratory facilities. Currently, the U.S. Green Building Councils LEED{trademark} Rating System is the primary tool used. However, LEED{trademark} was designed for U.S. commercial office buildings and as such, lacks some attributes essential to the sustainable design of this unique and complex building type. To facilitate widespread use and to avoid re-inventing the wheel this effort builds on the existing LEED{trademark} Rating System 2.0.