John Avina - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by John Avina

Energy Engineering, Jan 17, 2017

Although created with best intentions, several city-run energy efficiency programs actually hinde... more Although created with best intentions, several city-run energy efficiency programs actually hinder energy efficiency. The two programs we are familiar with (San Francisco's Energy Performance Ordinance and New York City's Local Law 87) require energy audits on larger commercial buildings. The intent of the programs is to save energy, but the result is instead that energy audits are performed, reports filed, but energy efficiency does not necessarily result. Instead many building owners have told us that they view the ordinance as a tax, and are motivated to pay as little as possible for the audit while fulfilling the ordinance requirements. This has led to a "race to the bottom" on pricing and quality of the resulting energy audits. Audit prices have dropped by over 50% in both markets. Lower costs generally mean less time is devoted to the audit, and the work is done by less experienced and lower cost personnel. This paper presents a side-by-side comparison of the differences between a traditional energy audit conducted by experienced auditors and a compliance audit provided by a firm focused on taking advantage of the market created by these local ordinances-both audits on the same building. Results of these city ordinances are that comprehensive energy efficiency services become crowded out of the market, there is less need for accomplished energy professionals, and significantly less energy efficiency is achieved overall.

Strategic planning for energy and the environment, Mar 1, 2018

Some building owners find that implementing energy efficiency projects may not provide the antici... more Some building owners find that implementing energy efficiency projects may not provide the anticipated energy savings. Why do energy conservation measures (ECMs) sometimes fail to deliver the expected energy savings? This is often due to a predictable set of causes. Some owners rely on contractors, who are proficient in installing technologies, but not necessarily expert at configuring their new equipment to maximize energy savings. When contractors are not provided with a detailed scope of work written by the energy engineer who uncovered the energy savings opportunity, critical knowledge can be lost, and the improvements may not perform as intended. It is important to employ third party commissioning agents who are versed in energy efficiency, to ensure that the new technologies are performing as specified. For the ECMs to be successful in meeting their objectives, the facilities management staff must accept the new technologies. They need to understand how the improvements reduce energy use, how to maintain the new equipment, and how to troubleshoot problems when they occur. These potential problems are avoidable. This article details specific methodologies (e.g., commissioning, measurement and verification and training) that ensure your energy efficiency improvements will perform as intended.

Strategic planning for energy and the environment, Apr 1, 2008

Today's utility bill tracking software can deliver excellent results for energy managers who ... more Today's utility bill tracking software can deliver excellent results for energy managers who want to gain a comprehensive understanding of utility usage and costs in their facilities. All of the major commercially available utility bill tracking software programs are good at what they do; however, they are distinctly different in functionality and capacity. Savvy energy managers have discovered-sometimes the hard way-the importance of selecting the appropriate software package to meet their needs. Before reviewing software packages, it is best to understand the needs of your organization and the resources available. Then you can compare each program's capabilities (such as budgeting and forecasting, temperature correction, rate analysis, report generation, etc.) against your needs. Making the wrong choice can result in wasted time and hours of frustration, or worse-dissatisfied clients or management This article will help you to identify what tasks you want to accomplish with your utility bill tracking software.

Energy Engineering, Oct 1, 2013

ABSTRACTThere are a few problems that work against you when trying to find a company to perform a... more ABSTRACTThere are a few problems that work against you when trying to find a company to perform a good energy audit. • Everybody and their brother now claims to do energy audits.• Nobody quite agrees on exactly what an energy audit is. In this article, I will cover these problems and tell you how to select a quality energy auditor without being ripped off.

River Publishers eBooks, Dec 22, 2020

Energy Engineering, Sep 1, 2016

In recent years a new service offering, virtual audits, has appeared in the market, which claims ... more In recent years a new service offering, virtual audits, has appeared in the market, which claims to provide energy audits on buildings at a faster rate, and a lower cost by completing the audit virtually. Several vendors offer this service, and have directed their marketing efforts at the utility and Federal sector. This paper examines claims made by purveyors of virtual audits against the reality. Positive aspects of virtual audits include: lower cost, less time required of building employees, faster audits, and better aggregation of results. Negative aspects of virtual audits include small number of energy efficiency measures found, lack of specificity on measures that are found, and inability to properly cost the measures. This paper presents the inherent shortcomings of virtual audits, and suggests the net effect of deficient audit reports on the building owner.

A model of a natural convection heat exchanger (NCHE) in a solar domestic hot water (SDHW) system... more A model of a natural convection heat exchanger (NCHE) in a solar domestic hot water (SDHW) system is presented for use with the TRNSYS program. The model, based upon crossflow heat exchanger correlations, requires only geometric specifications of the NCHE. By varying heat exchanger geometric parameters (such as the number of helices, diameters of helices, diameter and length of the heat exchanger shell) the model can be used to design an optimum NCHE. Comparisons of the model to correlations of experimental data reported by Fraser (1) show reasonable agreement.

Energy Engineering, Mar 1, 2008

Every year energy managers need to report how much energy they saved and whether or not they met ... more Every year energy managers need to report how much energy they saved and whether or not they met their energy savings targets. Most energy managers present reports comparing their current year’s usage to energy usage from a previous year. Savings targets are typically a percentage of that previous year’s usage. Setting targets and comparing in this manner usually does not generate an accurate estimate of energy actually saved. Inconsistencies arise from year-to-year fluctuations in weather, occupancy, production or other factors, which can interfere with savings results. Instead, an energy manager’s performance should be determined by comparing current year usage to a normalized baseline, which represents how much energy the building would have used given current year weather conditions, production, occupancy, and base year usage patterns. Energy savings targets should be set based upon this dynamic baseline . Using dynamic targeting, variations in weather conditions, occupancy, production or other factors will not hinder the accurate measure of how much the energy manager saved, and whether energy savings goals were indeed met. This paper explains, with an example, the differences between using a static and dynamic (weather normalized) targeting to demonstrate energy savings.

Energy Engineering, 2008

Every year energy managers need to report how much energy they saved and whether or not they met ... more Every year energy managers need to report how much energy they saved and whether or not they met their energy savings targets. Most energy managers present reports comparing their current year’s usage to energy usage from a previous year. Savings targets are typically a percentage of that previous year’s usage. Setting targets and comparing in this manner usually does not generate an accurate estimate of energy actually saved. Inconsistencies arise from year-to-year fluctuations in weather, occupancy, production or other factors, which can interfere with savings results. Instead, an energy manager’s performance should be determined by comparing current year usage to a normalized baseline, which represents how much energy the building would have used given current year weather conditions, production, occupancy, and base year usage patterns. Energy savings targets should be set based upon this dynamic baseline . Using dynamic targeting, variations in weather conditions, occupancy, production or other factors will not hinder the accurate measure of how much the energy manager saved, and whether energy savings goals were indeed met. This paper explains, with an example, the differences between using a static and dynamic (weather normalized) targeting to demonstrate energy savings.

Energy Engineering, 2013

ABSTRACTThere are a few problems that work against you when trying to find a company to perform a... more ABSTRACTThere are a few problems that work against you when trying to find a company to perform a good energy audit. • Everybody and their brother now claims to do energy audits.• Nobody quite agrees on exactly what an energy audit is. In this article, I will cover these problems and tell you how to select a quality energy auditor without being ripped off.

Under the supervision of Professors William Beckman and Sanford Klein; 255pp.The use of simulatio... more Under the supervision of Professors William Beckman and Sanford Klein; 255pp.The use of simulations can greatly aid in optimizing the design of natural convection heat exchangers (NCHEs) in solar domestic hot water (SDHW) systems. Fraser et al. (1992) presented a NCHE model that is used in the WATSUN solar simulation program, that requires experimental measurements of the heat exchanger thermal performance and shear pressure losses. Two TRNSYS models are here presented for a NCHE in a SDHW loop. The simple model, based on Fraser et al.'s work, requires experimental testing on the particular heat exchanger. The simple model can be used for optimizing SDHW system parameters (i.e. pipe lengths and diameters, collector areas, tank volume etc.) excluding the NCHE itself which is represented by the experimental curves. A detailed model, based upon cross flow correlations, requires geometric specifications of the NCHE being simulated and is applicable to shell and coil and counterflow configurations. By varying heat exchanger geometric parameters (such as the number of helices, diameters of helices, diameter and length of the heat exchanger shell) the detailed model can be used to design an optimum NCHE. Results comparing the detailed model with Fraser et al.'s experiments show reasonable agreement. Using the detailed model and the least cost savings economic analysis, simulations were performed to discover the optimal shell and coil NCHE geometry. It was found that considerably reducing the heat exchanger size led to enhanced economic performance over a 10 year period of economic analysis. Coil spacing and tube diameter had a lesser impact upon system performance than heat exchanger shell length and number of helices. Thermo Dynamics Inc. manufactures a shell and coil NCHE that contains 4 coils and is 0.635 m. The optimal heat exchanger design contains 2 helices and is 0.45 m long. For a given set of system parameters, a SDHW system containing the optimally designed heat exchanger would save the consumer an extra 110ininitialequipmentcost,and110 in initial equipment cost, and 110ininitialequipmentcost,and52 over a 10 year period. Heat exchanger designs were subject to variations in system parameters, such as collector area, hot water draw, location and glycol flow rate. Although each set of system parameters suggested a different optimal design, overall, the optimal design found for the initial set of system parameters remained adequate. As different economic assumptions will lead to differing optimal heat exchanger lengths, this work can serve as a guide for those who desire to optimize a shell and coil NCHE based upon a prevailing set of economic assumptions

Web Based Enterprise Energy and Building Automation Systems, 2020

Energy Engineering, 2016

In recent years a new service offering, virtual audits, has appeared in the market, which claims ... more In recent years a new service offering, virtual audits, has appeared in the market, which claims to provide energy audits on buildings at a faster rate, and a lower cost by completing the audit virtually. Several vendors offer this service, and have directed their marketing efforts at the utility and Federal sector. This paper examines claims made by purveyors of virtual audits against the reality. Positive aspects of virtual audits include: lower cost, less time required of building employees, faster audits, and better aggregation of results. Negative aspects of virtual audits include small number of energy efficiency measures found, lack of specificity on measures that are found, and inability to properly cost the measures. This paper presents the inherent shortcomings of virtual audits, and suggests the net effect of deficient audit reports on the building owner.

Energy Engineering, 2016

Over the decades, the determination of energy savings in performance contracting has undergone an... more Over the decades, the determination of energy savings in performance contracting has undergone an evolution from a utility bill based approach towards a more limited exercise which may sometimes be difficult to relate to actual energy savings in the later years of the contract. These limited measurement and verification (M&V) approaches can reduce the value of performance contracting in the customer's mind, and ultimately hurt the industry. The authors propose a new strategy of determining energy savings which combines the original utility bill based approach with a retrofit isolation approach and annual recommissioning. This combined approach should address the customers' need to more easily understand how energy savings are determined, the ESCOs' need to reduce risk from increases in customer energy usage behavior which can decrease measured savings, and should help sustain energy savings over the length of the guaranteed savings period. BACKGROUND The Value of Measurement and Verification within Performance Contracting Performance Contracting, when implemented properly, is an almost irresistible proposition. An Energy Services Company (ESCO) finds energy waste in your facility, installs equipment to make your facility run more efficiently, and guarantees that there will be no net cost to your organization. And if the savings do not appear, the customer still doesn't have to pay for anything. How could a potential customer refuse this? However, we have all heard stories of projects where the amount of savings delivered was in dispute. Ideally, measurement and verification (M&V) is the means by which such disputes are settled.

Energy Engineering, 2013

It is shortsighted to hire a low cost energy auditor. In the long run, a poor quality energy audi... more It is shortsighted to hire a low cost energy auditor. In the long run, a poor quality energy audit can end up costing a building owner many times the cost of the audit. This paper details eight ways in which a poor quality energy audit can result in decreased energy savings, higher installation costs, and squandered opportunities. Some of the ways in which energy audits lead to less than desirable results include: missing the most beneficial energy efficiency measures, suggesting measures that do not save energy, and not including a scope of work. Examples of problems we have encountered in poor quality energy audits are provided in this paper. Ultimately, it is up to the building owner to ensure that energy audit quality does not hinder energy efficiency goals.

Energy Engineering, 2017

Although created with best intentions, several city-run energy efficiency programs actually hinde... more Although created with best intentions, several city-run energy efficiency programs actually hinder energy efficiency. The two programs we are familiar with (San Francisco's Energy Performance Ordinance and New York City's Local Law 87) require energy audits on larger commercial buildings. The intent of the programs is to save energy, but the result is instead that energy audits are performed, reports filed, but energy efficiency does not necessarily result. Instead many building owners have told us that they view the ordinance as a tax, and are motivated to pay as little as possible for the audit while fulfilling the ordinance requirements. This has led to a "race to the bottom" on pricing and quality of the resulting energy audits. Audit prices have dropped by over 50% in both markets. Lower costs generally mean less time is devoted to the audit, and the work is done by less experienced and lower cost personnel. This paper presents a side-by-side comparison of the differences between a traditional energy audit conducted by experienced auditors and a compliance audit provided by a firm focused on taking advantage of the market created by these local ordinances-both audits on the same building. Results of these city ordinances are that comprehensive energy efficiency services become crowded out of the market, there is less need for accomplished energy professionals, and significantly less energy efficiency is achieved overall.

Strategic Planning for Energy and the Environment, 2008

Today's utility bill tracking software can deliver excellent results for energy managers who ... more Today's utility bill tracking software can deliver excellent results for energy managers who want to gain a comprehensive understanding of utility usage and costs in their facilities. All of the major commercially available utility bill tracking software programs are good at what they do; however, they are distinctly different in functionality and capacity. Savvy energy managers have discovered-sometimes the hard way-the importance of selecting the appropriate software package to meet their needs. Before reviewing software packages, it is best to understand the needs of your organization and the resources available. Then you can compare each program's capabilities (such as budgeting and forecasting, temperature correction, rate analysis, report generation, etc.) against your needs. Making the wrong choice can result in wasted time and hours of frustration, or worse-dissatisfied clients or management This article will help you to identify what tasks you want to accomplish with your utility bill tracking software.

Strategic Planning for Energy and the Environment, 2018

Some building owners find that implementing energy efficiency projects may not provide the antici... more Some building owners find that implementing energy efficiency projects may not provide the anticipated energy savings. Why do energy conservation measures (ECMs) sometimes fail to deliver the expected energy savings? This is often due to a predictable set of causes. Some owners rely on contractors, who are proficient in installing technologies, but not necessarily expert at configuring their new equipment to maximize energy savings. When contractors are not provided with a detailed scope of work written by the energy engineer who uncovered the energy savings opportunity, critical knowledge can be lost, and the improvements may not perform as intended. It is important to employ third party commissioning agents who are versed in energy efficiency, to ensure that the new technologies are performing as specified. For the ECMs to be successful in meeting their objectives, the facilities management staff must accept the new technologies. They need to understand how the improvements reduce energy use, how to maintain the new equipment, and how to troubleshoot problems when they occur. These potential problems are avoidable. This article details specific methodologies (e.g., commissioning, measurement and verification and training) that ensure your energy efficiency improvements will perform as intended.

Energy Engineering, Jan 17, 2017

Although created with best intentions, several city-run energy efficiency programs actually hinde... more Although created with best intentions, several city-run energy efficiency programs actually hinder energy efficiency. The two programs we are familiar with (San Francisco's Energy Performance Ordinance and New York City's Local Law 87) require energy audits on larger commercial buildings. The intent of the programs is to save energy, but the result is instead that energy audits are performed, reports filed, but energy efficiency does not necessarily result. Instead many building owners have told us that they view the ordinance as a tax, and are motivated to pay as little as possible for the audit while fulfilling the ordinance requirements. This has led to a "race to the bottom" on pricing and quality of the resulting energy audits. Audit prices have dropped by over 50% in both markets. Lower costs generally mean less time is devoted to the audit, and the work is done by less experienced and lower cost personnel. This paper presents a side-by-side comparison of the differences between a traditional energy audit conducted by experienced auditors and a compliance audit provided by a firm focused on taking advantage of the market created by these local ordinances-both audits on the same building. Results of these city ordinances are that comprehensive energy efficiency services become crowded out of the market, there is less need for accomplished energy professionals, and significantly less energy efficiency is achieved overall.

Strategic planning for energy and the environment, Mar 1, 2018

Some building owners find that implementing energy efficiency projects may not provide the antici... more Some building owners find that implementing energy efficiency projects may not provide the anticipated energy savings. Why do energy conservation measures (ECMs) sometimes fail to deliver the expected energy savings? This is often due to a predictable set of causes. Some owners rely on contractors, who are proficient in installing technologies, but not necessarily expert at configuring their new equipment to maximize energy savings. When contractors are not provided with a detailed scope of work written by the energy engineer who uncovered the energy savings opportunity, critical knowledge can be lost, and the improvements may not perform as intended. It is important to employ third party commissioning agents who are versed in energy efficiency, to ensure that the new technologies are performing as specified. For the ECMs to be successful in meeting their objectives, the facilities management staff must accept the new technologies. They need to understand how the improvements reduce energy use, how to maintain the new equipment, and how to troubleshoot problems when they occur. These potential problems are avoidable. This article details specific methodologies (e.g., commissioning, measurement and verification and training) that ensure your energy efficiency improvements will perform as intended.

Strategic planning for energy and the environment, Apr 1, 2008

Today's utility bill tracking software can deliver excellent results for energy managers who ... more Today's utility bill tracking software can deliver excellent results for energy managers who want to gain a comprehensive understanding of utility usage and costs in their facilities. All of the major commercially available utility bill tracking software programs are good at what they do; however, they are distinctly different in functionality and capacity. Savvy energy managers have discovered-sometimes the hard way-the importance of selecting the appropriate software package to meet their needs. Before reviewing software packages, it is best to understand the needs of your organization and the resources available. Then you can compare each program's capabilities (such as budgeting and forecasting, temperature correction, rate analysis, report generation, etc.) against your needs. Making the wrong choice can result in wasted time and hours of frustration, or worse-dissatisfied clients or management This article will help you to identify what tasks you want to accomplish with your utility bill tracking software.

Energy Engineering, Oct 1, 2013

ABSTRACTThere are a few problems that work against you when trying to find a company to perform a... more ABSTRACTThere are a few problems that work against you when trying to find a company to perform a good energy audit. • Everybody and their brother now claims to do energy audits.• Nobody quite agrees on exactly what an energy audit is. In this article, I will cover these problems and tell you how to select a quality energy auditor without being ripped off.

River Publishers eBooks, Dec 22, 2020

Energy Engineering, Sep 1, 2016

In recent years a new service offering, virtual audits, has appeared in the market, which claims ... more In recent years a new service offering, virtual audits, has appeared in the market, which claims to provide energy audits on buildings at a faster rate, and a lower cost by completing the audit virtually. Several vendors offer this service, and have directed their marketing efforts at the utility and Federal sector. This paper examines claims made by purveyors of virtual audits against the reality. Positive aspects of virtual audits include: lower cost, less time required of building employees, faster audits, and better aggregation of results. Negative aspects of virtual audits include small number of energy efficiency measures found, lack of specificity on measures that are found, and inability to properly cost the measures. This paper presents the inherent shortcomings of virtual audits, and suggests the net effect of deficient audit reports on the building owner.

A model of a natural convection heat exchanger (NCHE) in a solar domestic hot water (SDHW) system... more A model of a natural convection heat exchanger (NCHE) in a solar domestic hot water (SDHW) system is presented for use with the TRNSYS program. The model, based upon crossflow heat exchanger correlations, requires only geometric specifications of the NCHE. By varying heat exchanger geometric parameters (such as the number of helices, diameters of helices, diameter and length of the heat exchanger shell) the model can be used to design an optimum NCHE. Comparisons of the model to correlations of experimental data reported by Fraser (1) show reasonable agreement.

Energy Engineering, Mar 1, 2008

Every year energy managers need to report how much energy they saved and whether or not they met ... more Every year energy managers need to report how much energy they saved and whether or not they met their energy savings targets. Most energy managers present reports comparing their current year’s usage to energy usage from a previous year. Savings targets are typically a percentage of that previous year’s usage. Setting targets and comparing in this manner usually does not generate an accurate estimate of energy actually saved. Inconsistencies arise from year-to-year fluctuations in weather, occupancy, production or other factors, which can interfere with savings results. Instead, an energy manager’s performance should be determined by comparing current year usage to a normalized baseline, which represents how much energy the building would have used given current year weather conditions, production, occupancy, and base year usage patterns. Energy savings targets should be set based upon this dynamic baseline . Using dynamic targeting, variations in weather conditions, occupancy, production or other factors will not hinder the accurate measure of how much the energy manager saved, and whether energy savings goals were indeed met. This paper explains, with an example, the differences between using a static and dynamic (weather normalized) targeting to demonstrate energy savings.

Energy Engineering, 2008

Every year energy managers need to report how much energy they saved and whether or not they met ... more Every year energy managers need to report how much energy they saved and whether or not they met their energy savings targets. Most energy managers present reports comparing their current year’s usage to energy usage from a previous year. Savings targets are typically a percentage of that previous year’s usage. Setting targets and comparing in this manner usually does not generate an accurate estimate of energy actually saved. Inconsistencies arise from year-to-year fluctuations in weather, occupancy, production or other factors, which can interfere with savings results. Instead, an energy manager’s performance should be determined by comparing current year usage to a normalized baseline, which represents how much energy the building would have used given current year weather conditions, production, occupancy, and base year usage patterns. Energy savings targets should be set based upon this dynamic baseline . Using dynamic targeting, variations in weather conditions, occupancy, production or other factors will not hinder the accurate measure of how much the energy manager saved, and whether energy savings goals were indeed met. This paper explains, with an example, the differences between using a static and dynamic (weather normalized) targeting to demonstrate energy savings.

Energy Engineering, 2013

ABSTRACTThere are a few problems that work against you when trying to find a company to perform a... more ABSTRACTThere are a few problems that work against you when trying to find a company to perform a good energy audit. • Everybody and their brother now claims to do energy audits.• Nobody quite agrees on exactly what an energy audit is. In this article, I will cover these problems and tell you how to select a quality energy auditor without being ripped off.

Under the supervision of Professors William Beckman and Sanford Klein; 255pp.The use of simulatio... more Under the supervision of Professors William Beckman and Sanford Klein; 255pp.The use of simulations can greatly aid in optimizing the design of natural convection heat exchangers (NCHEs) in solar domestic hot water (SDHW) systems. Fraser et al. (1992) presented a NCHE model that is used in the WATSUN solar simulation program, that requires experimental measurements of the heat exchanger thermal performance and shear pressure losses. Two TRNSYS models are here presented for a NCHE in a SDHW loop. The simple model, based on Fraser et al.'s work, requires experimental testing on the particular heat exchanger. The simple model can be used for optimizing SDHW system parameters (i.e. pipe lengths and diameters, collector areas, tank volume etc.) excluding the NCHE itself which is represented by the experimental curves. A detailed model, based upon cross flow correlations, requires geometric specifications of the NCHE being simulated and is applicable to shell and coil and counterflow configurations. By varying heat exchanger geometric parameters (such as the number of helices, diameters of helices, diameter and length of the heat exchanger shell) the detailed model can be used to design an optimum NCHE. Results comparing the detailed model with Fraser et al.'s experiments show reasonable agreement. Using the detailed model and the least cost savings economic analysis, simulations were performed to discover the optimal shell and coil NCHE geometry. It was found that considerably reducing the heat exchanger size led to enhanced economic performance over a 10 year period of economic analysis. Coil spacing and tube diameter had a lesser impact upon system performance than heat exchanger shell length and number of helices. Thermo Dynamics Inc. manufactures a shell and coil NCHE that contains 4 coils and is 0.635 m. The optimal heat exchanger design contains 2 helices and is 0.45 m long. For a given set of system parameters, a SDHW system containing the optimally designed heat exchanger would save the consumer an extra 110ininitialequipmentcost,and110 in initial equipment cost, and 110ininitialequipmentcost,and52 over a 10 year period. Heat exchanger designs were subject to variations in system parameters, such as collector area, hot water draw, location and glycol flow rate. Although each set of system parameters suggested a different optimal design, overall, the optimal design found for the initial set of system parameters remained adequate. As different economic assumptions will lead to differing optimal heat exchanger lengths, this work can serve as a guide for those who desire to optimize a shell and coil NCHE based upon a prevailing set of economic assumptions

Web Based Enterprise Energy and Building Automation Systems, 2020

Energy Engineering, 2016

In recent years a new service offering, virtual audits, has appeared in the market, which claims ... more In recent years a new service offering, virtual audits, has appeared in the market, which claims to provide energy audits on buildings at a faster rate, and a lower cost by completing the audit virtually. Several vendors offer this service, and have directed their marketing efforts at the utility and Federal sector. This paper examines claims made by purveyors of virtual audits against the reality. Positive aspects of virtual audits include: lower cost, less time required of building employees, faster audits, and better aggregation of results. Negative aspects of virtual audits include small number of energy efficiency measures found, lack of specificity on measures that are found, and inability to properly cost the measures. This paper presents the inherent shortcomings of virtual audits, and suggests the net effect of deficient audit reports on the building owner.

Energy Engineering, 2016

Over the decades, the determination of energy savings in performance contracting has undergone an... more Over the decades, the determination of energy savings in performance contracting has undergone an evolution from a utility bill based approach towards a more limited exercise which may sometimes be difficult to relate to actual energy savings in the later years of the contract. These limited measurement and verification (M&V) approaches can reduce the value of performance contracting in the customer's mind, and ultimately hurt the industry. The authors propose a new strategy of determining energy savings which combines the original utility bill based approach with a retrofit isolation approach and annual recommissioning. This combined approach should address the customers' need to more easily understand how energy savings are determined, the ESCOs' need to reduce risk from increases in customer energy usage behavior which can decrease measured savings, and should help sustain energy savings over the length of the guaranteed savings period. BACKGROUND The Value of Measurement and Verification within Performance Contracting Performance Contracting, when implemented properly, is an almost irresistible proposition. An Energy Services Company (ESCO) finds energy waste in your facility, installs equipment to make your facility run more efficiently, and guarantees that there will be no net cost to your organization. And if the savings do not appear, the customer still doesn't have to pay for anything. How could a potential customer refuse this? However, we have all heard stories of projects where the amount of savings delivered was in dispute. Ideally, measurement and verification (M&V) is the means by which such disputes are settled.

Energy Engineering, 2013

It is shortsighted to hire a low cost energy auditor. In the long run, a poor quality energy audi... more It is shortsighted to hire a low cost energy auditor. In the long run, a poor quality energy audit can end up costing a building owner many times the cost of the audit. This paper details eight ways in which a poor quality energy audit can result in decreased energy savings, higher installation costs, and squandered opportunities. Some of the ways in which energy audits lead to less than desirable results include: missing the most beneficial energy efficiency measures, suggesting measures that do not save energy, and not including a scope of work. Examples of problems we have encountered in poor quality energy audits are provided in this paper. Ultimately, it is up to the building owner to ensure that energy audit quality does not hinder energy efficiency goals.

Energy Engineering, 2017

Although created with best intentions, several city-run energy efficiency programs actually hinde... more Although created with best intentions, several city-run energy efficiency programs actually hinder energy efficiency. The two programs we are familiar with (San Francisco's Energy Performance Ordinance and New York City's Local Law 87) require energy audits on larger commercial buildings. The intent of the programs is to save energy, but the result is instead that energy audits are performed, reports filed, but energy efficiency does not necessarily result. Instead many building owners have told us that they view the ordinance as a tax, and are motivated to pay as little as possible for the audit while fulfilling the ordinance requirements. This has led to a "race to the bottom" on pricing and quality of the resulting energy audits. Audit prices have dropped by over 50% in both markets. Lower costs generally mean less time is devoted to the audit, and the work is done by less experienced and lower cost personnel. This paper presents a side-by-side comparison of the differences between a traditional energy audit conducted by experienced auditors and a compliance audit provided by a firm focused on taking advantage of the market created by these local ordinances-both audits on the same building. Results of these city ordinances are that comprehensive energy efficiency services become crowded out of the market, there is less need for accomplished energy professionals, and significantly less energy efficiency is achieved overall.

Strategic Planning for Energy and the Environment, 2008

Today's utility bill tracking software can deliver excellent results for energy managers who ... more Today's utility bill tracking software can deliver excellent results for energy managers who want to gain a comprehensive understanding of utility usage and costs in their facilities. All of the major commercially available utility bill tracking software programs are good at what they do; however, they are distinctly different in functionality and capacity. Savvy energy managers have discovered-sometimes the hard way-the importance of selecting the appropriate software package to meet their needs. Before reviewing software packages, it is best to understand the needs of your organization and the resources available. Then you can compare each program's capabilities (such as budgeting and forecasting, temperature correction, rate analysis, report generation, etc.) against your needs. Making the wrong choice can result in wasted time and hours of frustration, or worse-dissatisfied clients or management This article will help you to identify what tasks you want to accomplish with your utility bill tracking software.

Strategic Planning for Energy and the Environment, 2018

Some building owners find that implementing energy efficiency projects may not provide the antici... more Some building owners find that implementing energy efficiency projects may not provide the anticipated energy savings. Why do energy conservation measures (ECMs) sometimes fail to deliver the expected energy savings? This is often due to a predictable set of causes. Some owners rely on contractors, who are proficient in installing technologies, but not necessarily expert at configuring their new equipment to maximize energy savings. When contractors are not provided with a detailed scope of work written by the energy engineer who uncovered the energy savings opportunity, critical knowledge can be lost, and the improvements may not perform as intended. It is important to employ third party commissioning agents who are versed in energy efficiency, to ensure that the new technologies are performing as specified. For the ECMs to be successful in meeting their objectives, the facilities management staff must accept the new technologies. They need to understand how the improvements reduce energy use, how to maintain the new equipment, and how to troubleshoot problems when they occur. These potential problems are avoidable. This article details specific methodologies (e.g., commissioning, measurement and verification and training) that ensure your energy efficiency improvements will perform as intended.