Virtual O&M Training for Engineers & Facility Managers

Introduction: An overview of the topics to be covered in the series, materials, hand-outs, and slides featuring info obtained through a pre-event survey participant is presented.

Introduction Part 2: An overview of the Maryland-applicable energy codes, regulations, and laws, culminating with the Empower Maryland Act and introduction of ICF representative to briefly outline the elements of the incentive programs including the Building Tune-Up (materials pre-distributed).

An Audit of Audits: What are the types of audits that are typically performed in facilities (ASHRAE 1-3, investment grade, building or system-specific etc.). What type of audit is appropriate for what purpose, desired outcomes?

Planning Energy Audits: Provides a checklist for pre-audit activities and considerations.

Energy Audit Scope/Methodology: The EMP 7-phase methodology is introduced. (Participants are provided with PDF of 246-page EMA Guideline.)

Development of Audit Plan: Includes introduction of ASHRAE Standard 211 with emphasis on the Level 2 audit requirements relevant to incentive requirements.

Standardized Industry Practices/Minimum Reporting Requirements: Material is presented from ASHRAE 211, EMA Guideline references and other applicable guidance.

Discussion of ECMs and FIMs: Provides context in the desired outcomes and key differences in ECMs and FIMs.

Sample Audit Exercises: Relates to pre-event materials distributed to participants.

Preparation of Audit Report: Samples reports are explained; recommended best practices are provided.

Introduction: Elements of effective facility documentation and tracking energy use. Units of measurement kWH, therms, gallons, etc. Discussion of metrics, degree days, metering, submetering (including BTU and smart metering).

Gathering Data: Monthly bills, supplier contract info. Discuss Portfolio Manager and its uses

Organizing Data: By building, operating entity, department, etc. Discuss submetering, BAS trend logs,

dataloggers, other means of stratifying consumption data, interval data.

Energy Balance: Demonstrate the four-part process for calculating.

Energy Baseline: Develop a baseline against which estimated energy consumption can be measured going forward. Baseline metrics (boundaries, year, fuel source, units of output, etc.)

Discussion of Influences on Energy Consumption: weather, occupancy patters, seasonal activities, behavioral, etc.

Energy Use Intensity: Introduce formula, sample calculations, EUI uses

Principles of Energy Benchmarking: What is energy benchmarking? Tools and resources, developing a benchmarking plan. The Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS).

Introduction: Site assessment / investigation techniques – key data collection

techniques; visual observations, measurements, trend logs, etc. Introduction of relevant principles of Facility Condition Assessment.

BAS-related Strategies: No Cost / Low Cost strategies for energy savings – examination of common control strategies, sequences, adjustments, BAS tips

Mechanical Part 1: Energy opportunities – common opportunities associated with building envelopes, lighting systems, filters, and domestic hot water systems

Mechanical Part 2: Energy opportunities – common opportunities associated with boilers, steam systems, and heating water systems

Mechanical Part 3: Energy opportunities – common opportunities associated with refrigeration & cooling systems (chillers, DX and CHW / CW distribution)

Mechanical Part 4: Energy opportunities – common opportunities associated with various HVAC terminal distribution systems (AHUs, various terminal units, etc.)

Office Part 1: Energy opportunities printers, copiers, fax machines, scanners, and multifunction devices

Office 2: Energy opportunities behavioral techniques featuring providing occupants with awareness, feedback, and actionable insight on their own energy usage.

Procurement: Overview of energy procurement with emphasis on auditing skills.

•       Describe types of commissioning [including Cx, RCx and MBCx]
•       Describe benefits of commissioning 
•       Introduce MBCx

•     Standard definition [LBNL] is: “Monitoring based commissioning (MBCx) combines ongoing building energy system monitoring with standard retro-commissioning (RCx) practices with the aim of providing substantial, persistent, energy savings.”
•     Other uses, fault detection, predictive maintenance, etc.
•     Applications, enterprise wide, campus, single location, etc.

•       Basic MBCx principles: baseline, analysis, actions, etc.
•       BG&E, Pepco, Delmarva Power & Light, SMECO incentives [this information will be presented by ICF personnel].
•       Case studies.
•       Implementing MBCx [including “royalty-free” reference from LBNL “Monitoring-Based Commissioning (MBCx) Plan Template, Section 3 Implementation Phase.”]
•       Using MBCx to ensure a persistence of energy savings and prevent building drift.

·        Q&A (With time available)

• Introduction: This webinar establishes how to evaluate and calculate various measures that are revealed by the audit work. It provides a basis for the decision-making that goes into creating a retrofit plan for the facility. Participants receive advance materials and sample problems relating to the concepts covered.
• Evaluating energy opportunities (various measures): Calculating energy and cost savings, examination of payback and ROI. The examples used will be to the extent possible designed to incorporate actual conditions derived from the pre-event survey submitted by participants.
• Ranking and Prioritizing Various Energy Savings Measures: Participants will learn methods of creating criteria for rank and prioritization. Issues such as owner goals, regulatory compliance, leveraging incentives, system lifetime expectations, etc. will be discussed.
• Establishing the Project Evaluation Criteria: Building on the material in the previous section, candidates will learn how to consider the information collectively and make key recommendations regarding their facility.
• Preparing the Report of Findings/Recommendations: Putting it all together. Sample reports will be presented and explained. Participants will be challenged to make the hard decisions that result in their recommendations and provide a rationale for same.
• Strategies for Ensuring a Persistence of Savings: The concept of “drift” is discussed. Measures that can prevent drift covered including, Ongoing Cx programs, monitoring strategies (sub-metering, trends, MBCx, etc.), and preventative / predictive maintenance