Virtual Energy Audits: The Promise and the Reality

Transcription

1 Optimal Building Performance Strategies Virtual Energy Audits: The Promise and the Reality John Avina, CEM, CEA, CMVP, CxA, President Abraxas Energy Consulting August 16, 2017 Tampa Convention Center Tampa, Florida

2 A Vacation Story 2

3 A Vacation Story 3

4 A Vacation Story The moral of the story When you make your vacation decisions you must decide first what is your outcome, and then make decisions based on your desired outcome. You do not take vacations to save money. You take vacations to relax, seek adventure, or see things. 4

5 Problems with Traditional Audits 5

6 Problems with Traditional Audits Audits are expensive Audits take facility operators time Audits have different formats and level of quality Audit information cannot be easily aggregated 6

7 How Virtual Audits Work 7

8 How Virtual Audits Work Computer analysis of electric interval meter data Address of building Telephone or web survey of facility operator Presentation of results to client via conference call and/or online Aggregation of results online 8

9 Virtual Audits Strengths Less expensive Very little time required by facility O&M staff Audits are done quickly Scalable: Thousands of audits can be completed in identical format. Excellent online aggregation of results 9

10 Clients of Virtual Audits Utility Programs Federal Government: GSA Department of Defense 10

11 Virtual Audit Weaknesses Problems with Interview Inability to Identify Root Cause of Problems Limited List of Measures Limited Measure Descriptions Inaccurate Measure Pricing Construction Contractors are not Energy Experts 11

12 Virtual Audit Weaknesses Problems with Interview Inability to Identify Root Cause of Problems Limited List of Measures Limited Measure Descriptions Inaccurate Measure Pricing Construction Contractors are not Energy Experts 12

13 Virtual Audit Weaknesses Problem with the Interview: They don t know They are new to the building They are not technically proficient The guy you need to speak to is not available Sometimes nobody knows the equipment They are afraid you will make them look bad They tell you what they think you want to hear They intentionally leave things out They lie They think an audit is a waste of time They are terse, rude, try to intimidate 13

14 Virtual Audit Weaknesses Problems with Interview Inability to Identify Root Cause of Problems Limited List of Measures Limited Measure Descriptions Inaccurate Measure Pricing Construction Contractors are not Energy Experts 14

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23 What Causes Too Much Cooling Usage in Building? Inefficient chillers Running inefficient chiller Bad chiller staging practices Running all CHW pumps when cooling is needed Cooling tower too small Bad cooling tower control strategies Not enough condenser water flow Fouled cooling tower CHW loop heat gain Running CHW through chillers that are turned off Supply air temperature too low Zone cooling temperature setpoint too low Preheat coil not closing all the way Heating coil not closing all the way Cooling fighting with radiant heating or some other zonal heating system Supply fan oversized Multi-zone or terminal reheat systems with faulty controls 100% outside air AHUs Large south-facing window area needs tinting Single story building with black roof 23

24 Virtual Audit Weaknesses Problems with Interview Inability to Identify Root Cause of Problems Limited List of Measures Limited Measure Descriptions Inaccurate Measure Pricing Construction Contractors are not Energy Experts 24

25 Virtual Audit Weaknesses ECM Cost Savings Implementation Cost Repair Economizers $30,000 $4,000 to $120,000 Lighting Retrofit $73,450 Investigate Misc Elec Loads $320,000 to $640,000 $30,300 $8,000 to $328,000 Simple Payback 0.1 to 60 years 4.3 to 8.7 years 0.3 to 10.8 years Plug Load Management $46,500 $350,000 to $510, to 10.8 years 25

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31 Virtual Audit Weaknesses Problems with Interview Inability to Identify Root Cause of Problems Limited List of Measures Limited Measure Descriptions Inaccurate Measure Pricing Construction Contractors are not Energy Experts 31

32 Virtual Audit Weaknesses 32

33 We want to provide usable information. An energy audit is not a stack of paper, or a set of procedures routinely executed. An energy audit is expert guidance! And substantial energy savings can result from quality auditing! 33

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35 Specifically what we are recommending How it works Controls sequences References for more information 35

36 Virtual Audit Weaknesses Problems with Interview Inability to Identify Root Cause of Problems Limited List of Measures Limited Measure Descriptions Inaccurate Measure Pricing Construction Contractors are not Energy Experts 36

37 Virtual Audit Weaknesses ECM Cost Savings Implementation Cost Repair Economizers $30,000 $4,000 to $120,000 Lighting Retrofit $73,450 Investigate Misc Elec Loads $320,000 to $640,000 $30,300 $8,000 to $328,000 Simple Payback 0.1 to 60 years 4.3 to 8.7 years 0.3 to 10.8 years Plug Load Management $46,500 $350,000 to $510, to 10.8 years 37

38 Virtual Audit Weaknesses Problems with Interview Inability to Identify Root Cause of Problems Limited List of Measures Limited Measure Descriptions Inaccurate Measure Pricing Contractors are not Energy Experts 38

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40 Conclusions about Virtual Audits They are fast. They are cheap. They are hassle-free. Great aggregation of results. Great web interface. Best ECMs are likely not found. Client may end up not implementing the best ECMs. Client does not know that there is untapped savings potential in the building and continues to waste money. Cannot estimate savings or costs accurately. How does client prioritize which ECMs to implement? Lack of development of ECMs can lead to disappointing savings. Contractors have to infer what needs to be done 40

41 Conclusions about Virtual Audits Problem Description of Problem End Result 41 Bad Audit Bad Installation No Energy Savings Oriented Cx and/or No M&V Best ECMs are missed. Wrong ECMs are recommended. ECMs not adequately described. Inaccurate savings estimates. Inaccurate ECM costing. Contractor understands how to install equipment, but does not understand energy efficiency. If Cx is done, it is focused on ensuring equipment works, not that equipment is saving energy. Client implements 2nd-rate ECMs. Client does not implement best ECMs. Client implements ECMs that are not cost effective. Client thinks they have exhausted all EE potential in building, and continues to waste money. Equipment works, but does not save energy. Client does not know they are not saving energy.

42 Conclusions about Virtual Audits Energy Consultants provide a service to the client. An energy audit is not a stack of paper, or a set of procedures routinely executed. An energy audit is thoughtful expert guidance! Substantial energy savings can result from quality auditing! Poor audits lead to poor EE decisions. Virtual audits do provide fast, less expensive audits, but can lead the client into making poor EE decisions. 42

43 Virtual Energy Audits: The Promise and the Reality John Avina, CEM, CEA, CMVP, CxA, President Abraxas Energy Consulting August 16,