EEO in Practice in the Commercial Sector

1. EEO in Practicein the Commercial Sector Dr Paul Bannister

2. Overview • EEO in the commercial sector • How can EEO processes inform improved practices in the commercial sector? • Examples of EEO process in action • Example of enhanced analysis informed by EEO process • Costs and benefits

3. What is the Core of the EEO Process? Monitoring , data collection Analysis, presentation Stakeholders, business process DATA INFORMATION ACTION

4. Data • Gathering and collation of data is a critical starting point for any energy efficiency process • Types of data • Energy data – Bills, sub-meters • BMS data – System operation • Usage/activity data – operating hours, vacancies • Scale data – floor area, hotel rooms

5. Energy Data – Sub-Metering • Sub-metering needs to be designed to be useful, which means it must be: • Accurate • Of known coverage • Targeted to answer specific questions • Many sub-metering systems don’t meet these basic requirements • Need to do a gap analysis

6. Sub-metering Gap Analysis • Step 1: What is the layout of reticulation? • Single line drawing, schematic • Step 2: Where are the existing meters? • Mark them on the schematic • Step 3: What do they cover? • Identify all downstream loads • Step 4: Are they valid? • Validation, e.g. NABERS methodology • Check sum • Step 5: Would more information be useful? • Break up loads into end-uses

7. Example: University of Queensland • St Lucia Campus, Brisbane • A challenging environment: • 35 main buildings, 100 buildings total • Diverse, specialist building types • Limited data, limited budgets • Complex institutional structure • Data was a critical issue

8. UQ – Travelling the EEO Route • Originally: • Limited visibility of costs (not in FM budget) • No sub-metering • Poor BMS visibility • So no data, no information, no action!

9. UQ – Gathering Data • Energy costs transferred to FM budget • Savings investments rewarded • Immediately improved visibility • Gap analysis of sub metering • Develop “map” and identify what is poorly covered • Targeted installation of new sub-metering • Visibility of energy use leads to savings

10. Data: Discussion Questions • Can you provide examples of where data has been central to understanding energy efficiency in your buildings? • Do you have examples of sites where lack of data is preventing you from moving forward with further energy efficiency? • What do you see as the “next wave” for data gathering in the commercial sector?

11. Information • Information only arises where data is put into a useful context and framework • Keys to converting data into information are: • Accessibility of data • Presentation of data • Analysis of data

12. Bills and manual meter reads don’t tell us very much Accessibility of Data

13. Nor do some power reading systems Accessibility of Data

14. Presentation of data to create information Historical data Useful categories Summary information

15. UQ – Data accessibility • Originally, poor visibility of energy data on Johnson BMS • Response • SCADA sub-metering rolled out • Submetering information collected through SCADA • Dedicated metering interface used to present data • Result • Much better visibility of data • Ability to drill down to investigate issues in more detail

16. Analysis – Example EEO Investigation • Case study is an example of a building where a “Stretch investigation” was conducted • Strong comparison to proposed Type 2 audits under current AS3598 revision • But will these, too, run out of steam in a 4.5 star portfolio? • Application of EEO Guidelines an opportunity to test new methods • Interpretation used to mould best fit to commercial environment

17. Standard Audit Process Site visit Identify Measures Calculate savings Write report Add pie-chart EUB Provide to client

18. Proposed AS3598 Type 2 Audit Site visit Identify Measures Energy-time balance (ETB) Pie chart EUB Calculate savings Review post-measure EUB Write report Present EUB and ETB Provide to client

19. Review material flow issues Compare to Codes & standards Detailed operational review EEO Audit Site visit Identify Measures Energy-time balance (ETB) Pie chart EUB Sankey diagram (Energy & water) Calculate savings Review post-measure EUB Write report Present EUB and ETB Provide to client Post-audit testing

20. Energy Time Balance • Commercial Buildings are heavily driven by cycles • Day-night • Summer-autumn-winter-spring • Usage cycles • Energy time balance is critical • Combination of metered data and built-up estimates based on observation and equipment inventory

21. Audit: Detailed annual EUB

22. Audit: Detailed annual EUB

23. Audit: Detailed annual EUB

24. Audit: Detailed annual EUB

25. Review Possible Material Flow Issues • What a simple energy end use breakdown (or even an ETB) doesn’t make obvious is things like: • How much chilled water energy goes on losses? • How much air leaks from the ducts? • What are the interactions between the water use and the energy use? • These are issues not normally checked in an audits (partly because they may require specialist measurement) • But increasingly important in efficient buildings

26. Detailed Operational Review • Extensive investigation into: • VAV system performance • Revealed that VAV system control was inconsistent • Chiller operation • Particularly cooling tower/chiller optimisation • Sankey diagram

27. VAV system snapshots Irregular VAV control

28. VAV system snapshots One foot on the gas, one foot on the brakes

29. VAV system snapshots Lots of VAVs not making flow set-point

30. Chiller System Analysis

31. Chiller System Analysis Rate of cooling tower fan increase is less than increase in chiller efficiency

32. Sankey Diagram Seems fairly straightforward…but it’s a simple building

33. Sankey Diagram But modern green buildings can be so much more complex! Distribution losses

34. Post Audit Testing • For this site: • Check temperature loss in chilled water circuit to confirm standing losses • Simple test, answer – appx 5% of system capacity • Check for air leakage by undertaking an air balance • Complex test, complex answers! • Indication that flow sensors not calibrated • Potential balance problems • Further support of BMS observations

35. Results • What would have been found under a simple audit? • About 40% of savings • About 70%(?) of the Type 2 audit cost • What would have been found under a Type 2 audit? • About 90% of savings • But the full scope changed the scope for some of the savings in the 90% • Extra cost 50% premium • Next time, a smarter approach could reduce this

36. Information – Discussion Questions • What is the potential for improved data collation and analysis in the commercial sector today? • How might this contribute to the achievement of improved energy efficiency?

37. Turning Information into Action • Energy savings require implementation • Implementation requires: • Adequate engineering justification • Agreement of engineering stakeholders • A business case • Agreement of financial/organisational stakeholders • Detailed measure scoping • Correctly designed, constructed and commissioned works • Monitoring and verification • Loss of just one of these can ruin the entire process

38. Common Commercial Sector Failures • Inadequate data • Poorly scoped measures • Insufficient depth of analysis • Line loss due to: • Measures getting lost in the mix • Original auditors not involved in implementation • Lack of M&V follow up • Lack of organisational support • Poor decision making structures

39. Improving Commercial Sector Outcomes Revised AS3598 Revised EEO Guidelines • Better audits • Better scoped, more specific measures • Improved decision making processes • Involvement of stakeholders • More M&V and follow up EEO Processes Important to take a holistic, outcomes based approach – not just a compliance approach

40. Conclusions • Implementation of effective energy efficiency requires: • Data→ information → action • Each translation stage is important • Examples provided of what needs to be considered EEO provides a framework for best practice