U.S. Department of Energy Better Buildings Case Competition 2014 Smart Power Electri-City

U.S. Department of Energy Better Buildings Case Competition 2014

Smart Power

Electri-City

introductionIntroduction Data Collection &

Analysis Finance/Implementation Behavior Modification Goal

Challenge: 20% Energy use reduction within 10 years• Mid-Sized US city • Focus on ~150 Publicly owned Buildings

Obstacles Data

Lack of collection No centralization/standardization

Buildings Antiquated Structure/ out-of-date

equipment Varying building size, location, and usage

Employee Resources Over-extended maintenance staff Misaligned incentives

Funding Competition against non-energy projects Securing Funds

Solution Data Collection & Analysis

Hardware installation for collection & analysis

Software (Smart Power Application) for building profiles/inventory

Financing/Implementation Self Sustaining Internal Energy Savings

Performance Contract (ESPC) Behavior Modification

Gamification Re-aligned incentives

Data collection & analysisIntroduction Data Collection &


Collection of Data Through Hardware Self-Reporting Smart Hardware - total cost of 500k

Estimate from Aquicore, a business that specializes in energy monitoring in commercial settings Installation of ~30 buildings per year over 5 years

Used to track Energy usage Baseline formation Identifying energy spikes/unusual consumption (Real Time)



Collection of Data Through Software During the first year, software can be used to make energy decisions with little investment while

hardware is being implemented Once hardware is fully implemented software and hardware can be used to supplement each other

1) Create an EnergyStar Portfolio Manager account2) Classify Buildings and square footage3) If available compile buildings utility bills4) Create broad energy consumption profile using

Federal Energy Information Administration database

• Used to gain broad picture of energy consumption• Used to highlight “hot spots” of energy consumption• Focus early energy projects on “hotspots”

(inefficient buildings)

“Smart Power” Application• App that can be download on phones; asks

questions about individual buildings• Builds detail building profile over time• Can spend 1-2 minutes on App or Hours

Sample Questions 1) How many elevators does the building

have?2) Age of HVAC system?3) Is building occupied on weekends?4) Hours of operation for HVAC?



Data Summary: Hardware for real time data and baseline formation Energy Star Portfolio for board classification Application for detail inventory

Identifying Projects Hardware – look for spike increases / above average consumption

Example: Weekend consumption of a building higher than similar buildings Example: Energy spikes noticed at 2:00 am (Automatic settings for lights/HVAC off schedule?)

EnergyStar Portfolio - focusing on certain buildings or areas Focus on buildings classified as high energy use Focus on older “obsolete” buildings

Application – ideas for specific projects identified by EnergyStar Portfolio Bulk buying to reduce costs - ex: replace inefficient refrigerators through out multiple buildings Hardware/EnergyStar identifies high energy consumption building; app gives info on possible

projects (age of HVAC system, incandescent lights present, single pane windows, etc.)

Finance/implementationIntroduction Data Collection &


Initial Bond offering to Fund an Internal Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC)• Managed between Energy Office and Finance Department• Used for Energy related projects only; no competition against non-energy projects• Focus on low hanging fruit with High IRR and quick payback for cash flow at the beginning Ex: lights



Internal Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC)• Over time less money goes towards bills and debt repayment; more towards projects• Once established with cash flow; can focus on larger projects with longer payback periods



Implementation• Procurement process stays the same as with any other contract

• Minimum three qualified bidders• Standard remittance schedules• Final approval from Energy Office, Finance Dept. and Maintenance Dept.

Behavior modificationIntroduction Data Collection &


GamificationDefinition: about taking the essence of games—fun, play, transparency, design and challenge—and applying it to real world objectives rather than pure entertainment

• Use EnergyStar Guide to Energy Efficiency Competition for Buildings & Plants

• Buildings & agencies compete against each other• Team leaders appointed

• Promotes the competition• Receives recognition and possible monetary

awards• Winning team(s) receive monetary award

• Allowed to spend on upgrades/improvements as they please

*Nike, Google, Volkswagen & City of El Paso Texas have all used Gamification

Empowerment• Energy projects only competing against each

other due to ESPC• Maintenance staff provided “cheat sheets” for

optimal building settings• Takes thinking out of the process• Feeling of contributing by manually

adjusting settings• Maintenance staff use of Application

• Can recommend questions• Recognition for completing certain amount

of questions• Gamification Team Leaders

• Cheerleaders for Energy Reductions• Distribute Energy Reports to team members

for awareness• Opower – Comparing your team against

others

goalIntroduction Data Collection &


Estimated Energy Reduction of up to 36%

Energy Projects – 20 to 25%In short, based on the average commercial building energy portfolio, we’ve established that we can expect a 20 to 25% energy use reduction through energy efficiency upgrade projects.

Behavior Modification – 9 to 11%With large variances between examples of Gamification and potential overlaps with other energy reduction techniques, conservative estimate of 9% to 11% in energy reduction.

Awareness contributes 2 to 4% Gamification and empowerment contributes 7%.

questions

Questions?

Introduction Data Collection & Analysis Finance/Implementation Behavior

Modification Goal

Documents

U.S. Department of Energy Better Buildings Case Competition 2014 Smart Power Electri-City