We’re back! This eight-hour course developed to instruct building and facility managers in basic principles aimed at improving energy efficiency and system performance was so popular, we’re offering a virtual (four two-hour webinar) online training option! Attendees learn energy management strategies, including evaluating energy bills, establishing building energy baselines and other performance metrics; developing facility benchmarks, low cost/no cost techniques for improving efficiency and performance, and code compliance.
You may be eligible for a cash rebate: This course is preapproved for incentives provided by the following utility companies that are available to contractors and building operation personnel who operate in Maryland. Eligible participants will receive a cash rebate of 80% of enrollment costs per course. For more information and to download the incentive application, follow these links:
Pepco Operations & Maintenance Training
Delmarva Power Operations and Maintenance Training
Module 1: Energy Audits & Building Tune-up Program Requirements
Introduction: An overview of the topics to be covered in the series.
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.
Module 2a: Energy Consumption, Documentation and Analysis; Energy Balance, Baseline and Benchmarking
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).
Module 2b: No Cost/Low Cost Strategies for Building Energy Savings
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.
Module 3: Monitoring Building Performance & Ensuring and Maintaining Savings through MBCx
- 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)
Module 4: Evaluating ECMs, Calculating Return on Investment & Prioritization of Energy Savings Measures
- 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
INSTRUCTOR BIOS
Al LaPera, CxA, EMP, TLC Engineering Solutions, (Lead Instructor)
With 42 years of professional experience, Al has worked on a broad range of building types, including educational, healthcare, and commercial facilities. He is well versed in the design and analysis of HVAC systems and providing engineering services, including planning, analysis and construction observation from project inception through construction administration. His engineering expertise focuses on systems commissioning, energy analysis and energy auditing.
Darren Draper, PE, CxA, LEED AP, Epsten Group (MBCx Instructor)
Darren has 16 years of experience in the building services industry. He serves as commissioning agent on a wide range of facilities including university buildings, research laboratories, healthcare facilities, and data centers. He performs commissioning and retro-commissioning for HVAC, DDC controls, electrical, and plumbing systems. He also performs site investigation, equipment evaluation, corrective action, replacement part orders, energy-use evaluation, and reporting.