Facility Energy Modeling and Assessments
Posted on Nov 14, 2008 - 04:50 PM
By: Jayanth Krishnappa
The level of energy consumed in a building has to be assesses in order to come up with a conservation program. Assessment of energy consumption (aka: Energy Modeling) is done in three main ways:
- Conducting and Energy Audit
- Monitoring Energy Consumption over time
- Conducting a full energy survey
Energy Audit: It involves a systematic investigation of energy consumed in the building over a specific time period. Using fuel invoices and available site data, an audit helps to determine where, when and how energy is utilized. Measure efficiency of the equipment in the installation, unnecessary wastage of energy and identify possible energy savings by improving the same.
Energy Monitoring: Regular recording of energy use and cost in relation to all the parameters that affect the pattern of usage. This helps to set targets for conservation and incremental improvements of the energy management procedure adopted over time.
Energy Survey: A comprehensive investigation procedure involving energy demand data, energy input, conversion, distribution, pattern of usage, output and waste associated with the given facility, building or an operation in particular.
Though the overall objectives of all the three ways have a similar objective, they are associated with different circumstances and time scales. Energy audits are periodic checks normally undertaken every 3-5 years, while energy monitoring is done to maintain control on energy usage on a weekly or monthly basis. Energy Surveys are however conducted on a one-off basis in situation where there is evidence of a lot of wastage of energy and the facility requires a major improvement programme.
In view of present energy costs and shortage of supply on a large scale, such assessments are mandatory for most of the commercial sectors. It is also being introduced to the residential domain on a county or district basis by local councils to improve conditions on their front. Building regulations and also construction practices are being revised to suit the energy needs and the best possible materials used in order to reduce losses and improve energy efficiency.
The basic tasks involved in the process of energy assessments are:
- To identify and measure the primary inputs and outputs of energy for a given building
- To examine energy supply and distribution infrastructure
- To asses the impact on the energy consumption from the building services and structural attributes like the building’s fabric, shape and controls on the energy usage.
- To investigate the impact of occupancy patterns, building usage pattern and environmental conditions on the energy consumed
- To evaluate actual energy performance of the facility in relation to standards/ benchmarks and performance indicators
- To review the existing energy management policy and procedures, if in place
- To identify opportunities for improvements in the adopted procedures
- To implement cost effective solutions to optimize energy performance
Energy assessments can result in benefits from a personal to a global level. They are profitable for the facility or building owners, the national economy and the global environment.
The potential benefits involve reduction in operating costs, reduced energy costs, plant and services cost. For the end user, operational benefits are improved comfort, productivity and well being of the occupants of the building or facility. In a national sense, there is reduction in the overall energy demand and improved energy governance. As a result there are ecological benefits through the conservation of natural resources, particularly fossil fuels and the reduction in green house gas emissions and the resulting environmental damage.
Energy Mangers and Auditors globally have a unified opinion that the possibilities for improved energy performance of a building or a facility should always be reviewed whenever changes in an infrastructure or organization are being considered. Actions to improve energy performance on a broad sense could be the following:
- Corporate energy commitment – changes to energy policy and strategy
- Improved day to day management – Adjustments in working practices that can result in low/no cost solutions
- Physical improvements – technical improvement of the facility, its fabric, lighting, heating and cooling systems and by introduction of a building energy management system
- Briefing for adaptation – for high cost measures like replacement of plant, re-cladding building facades, spatial reconfiguration and change in the energy regime
- Briefing and design for new build – making use of the knowledge from energy management practice to inform the briefing, planning, design and management of new facilities
Demand side management is as important as the improvements in supply side in order to achieve energy security. Energy audits, monitoring and energy surveys help to better manage the energy demand and hence in a broad perspective postpones and/or reduces the need for additional supply capacity. This means a postponement of capital investment, which delays the next energy price rise to some extent.
It has been noted that by only altering how the buildings are used by the occupants and their individual energy needs controlled without compromising comfort can bring about a huge amount of energy savings and hence cost savings. If it also benefits the environment, making our home a better place to live, such changes are essential.
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