WSU Energy Program Logo
Bonneville Power Administration Logo
  • Home
  • About
  • Database
      • Browse
      • Energy Systems
        • Building Envelope
        • Electronics
        • HVAC
        • Irrigation
        • Lighting
        • Motors & Drives
        • Multiple Energy Systems
        • Power Systems
        • Process Loads & Appliances
        • Refrigeration
        • Transportation
        • Water Heating
      • Sector
        • Agricultural
        • Commercial
        • Industrial
        • Residential
        • Utility
  • TAG Portal
      • 2017 Residential Lighting TAG (#14)
      • 2016 Multifamily Building TAG (#13)
      • 2015-1 Commercial HVAC TAG (#11)
      • 2014 Residential Building TAG (#10)
      • 2014 Commercial Building TAG (#9)
      • 2013 Information Technology TAG (#8)
      • 2013 ALCS TAG (#7)
      • 2012 Smart Thermostat TAG (#6)
      • 2012 LED Lighting TAG (#5)
      • 2011 Energy Management TAG (#4)
      • 2010 HVAC TAG (#3)
      • 2009 HVAC TAG (#2)
      • 2009 Lighting TAG (#1)
  • Webinars
    • Webinar Archives
  • Glossary
>

Summary

Energy Use Benchmarking Tool Using Utility Meter Data

Utility Meter Information: Benchmarking vs. No Benchmarking

Reports for building managers that summarize their building energy use (based on utility meter) and compares it to other buildings of a similar type.

Synopsis:

Benchmarking energy use of commercial properties, comparing to peers on a monthly basis, similar to O-Power.

Energy Savings: 5%
Energy Savings Rating: Limited Assessment  What's this?
LevelStatusDescription
1Concept not validatedClaims of energy savings may not be credible due to lack of documentation or validation by unbiased experts.
2Concept validated:An unbiased expert has validated efficiency concepts through technical review and calculations based on engineering principles.
3Limited assessmentAn unbiased expert has measured technology characteristics and factors of energy use through one or more tests in typical applications with a clear baseline.
4Extensive assessmentAdditional testing in relevant applications and environments has increased knowledge of performance across a broad range of products, applications, and system conditions.
5Comprehensive analysisResults of lab and field tests have been used to develop methods for reliable prediction of performance across the range of intended applications.
6Approved measureProtocols for technology application are established and approved.

Status:

Details

Energy Use Benchmarking Tool Using Utility Meter Data

Utility Meter Information: Benchmarking vs. No Benchmarking

Reports for building managers that summarize their building energy use (based on utility meter) and compares it to other buildings of a similar type.
Item ID: 365
Sector: Commercial
Energy System: Multiple Energy Systems--Energy Management
Technical Advisory Group: 2011 Energy Management TAG (#4)
Average TAG Rating: 2.8 out of 5
TAG Ranking Date: 09/29/2011
TAG Rating Commentary:
  1. Standard comments for this type of measure apply: limited effectiveness as a stand-alone item.  This needs to be put into a larger framework, like a utility incentive program, to meet "energy "efficiency criteria. To meet the "Technically sound" criteria, innovations in human interface and behavioral attributes are needed.  Scores low on ease of implementation because it seems to require large scale standardization and market acceptance for effectiveness.

  2. Not a technology per se.

  3. It's what you do with the data that's important, not the data itself.

  4. Doesn't energy star already do this.

  5. We are learning that energy awareness produces very little behavioral change.  Perhaps these reports could incorporate interactive coaching and tasks to trigger behavioral change.

  6. Energy Star Portfolio Manager already does this, doesn't it?

Technical Advisory Group: 2013 Information Technology TAG (#8)
Average TAG Rating: 2.31 out of 5
TAG Ranking Date: 10/25/2013
TAG Rating Commentary:
  1. Useful to identify potential measures; must be able to differentiate DC load from whole building load.
  2. Utility meter data is not fine grained enough especially for mixed use buildings.
  3. Again, not useful for data center managers unless DC is a stand-alone.
  4. Not an ET unless new benchmarks are adopted.
  5. Its called EnergyStar and they have a category for data centers.
  6. A better informed manager can make better decisions about optimizing their IT operations.

Synopsis:

Benchmarking energy use of commercial properties, comparing to peers on a monthly basis, similar to O-Power.

Baseline Example:

Baseline Description: Unmanaged commercial building
Baseline Energy Use: 16.7 kWh per year per square foot

Comments:

Taken from 2007 CBSA (http://neea.org/docs/reports/2009NorthwestCommercialBuildingStockAssessment021CA220F212.pdf?sfvrsn=10). Used overall average of all commercial buildings, since any of them can use integrated design.

Manufacturer's Energy Savings Claims: Currently no data available.
Best Estimate of Energy Savings:

"Typical" Savings: 5%
Energy Savings Reliability: 3 - Limited Assessment

Comments:

Benchmarking by itself does not save energy, but beginning to benchmark suggests a new awareness of energy use, and energy usage awareness alone should produce some savings. A new commitment to energy savings will produce much more aggressive results. An automated system using utility data will be much easier to keep up with and is therefore more likely to produce sustained results than a manual system that requires a new commitment each time the enterprise is benchmarked.

Energy Use of Emerging Technology:
15.9 kWh per square foot per year What's this?

Energy Use of an Emerging Technology is based upon the following algorithm.

Baseline Energy Use - (Baseline Energy Use * Best Estimate of Energy Savings (either Typical savings OR the high range of savings.))

Technical Potential:
Units: square foot
Currently no data available.
First Cost: Currently no data available.

Cost Effectiveness:

Simple payback, new construction (years): N/A

Simple payback, retrofit (years): N/A

What's this?

Cost Effectiveness is calculated using baseline energy use, best estimate of typical energy savings, and first cost. It does not account for factors such as impacts on O&M costs (which could be significant if product life is greatly extended) or savings of non-electric fuels such as natural gas. Actual overall cost effectiveness could be significantly different based on these other factors.

Reference and Citations:

FEMP, 04/15/2010. Building Energy Use Benchmarking Guidance
Federal Energy Management Program

Rank & Scores

Energy Use Benchmarking Tool Using Utility Meter Data

2013 Information Technology TAG (#8)


Technical Advisory Group: 2013 Information Technology TAG (#8)
TAG Ranking: 41 out of 57
Average TAG Rating: 2.31 out of 5
TAG Ranking Date: 10/25/2013
TAG Rating Commentary:

  1. Useful to identify potential measures; must be able to differentiate DC load from whole building load.
  2. Utility meter data is not fine grained enough especially for mixed use buildings.
  3. Again, not useful for data center managers unless DC is a stand-alone.
  4. Not an ET unless new benchmarks are adopted.
  5. Its called EnergyStar and they have a category for data centers.
  6. A better informed manager can make better decisions about optimizing their IT operations.


2011 Energy Management TAG (#4)


Technical Advisory Group: 2011 Energy Management TAG (#4)
TAG Ranking: 8 out of 59
Average TAG Rating: 2.8 out of 5
TAG Ranking Date: 09/29/2011
TAG Rating Commentary:

  1. Standard comments for this type of measure apply: limited effectiveness as a stand-alone item.  This needs to be put into a larger framework, like a utility incentive program, to meet "energy "efficiency criteria. To meet the "Technically sound" criteria, innovations in human interface and behavioral attributes are needed.  Scores low on ease of implementation because it seems to require large scale standardization and market acceptance for effectiveness.

  2. Not a technology per se.

  3. It's what you do with the data that's important, not the data itself.

  4. Doesn't energy star already do this.

  5. We are learning that energy awareness produces very little behavioral change.  Perhaps these reports could incorporate interactive coaching and tasks to trigger behavioral change.

  6. Energy Star Portfolio Manager already does this, doesn't it?



Contact
Copyright 2023 Washington State University
disclaimer and privacy policies

Bonneville Power Administration Logo