[BLDG-SIM] Weather Normalization?

Jeff Haberl jeffhaberl at tees.tamus.edu
Wed Mar 22 06:49:01 PST 2006


Mike:
 
I'd be careful with using simple HDD/CDD analysis as this can lead to errors that are larger than what you're trying to measure. Energy use in commercial buildings is usually not well described by HDD/CDD, especially if one is looking at comparing different building types. EPA's Portfolio Manager provides an general index for comparison. However, if you are trying to discover why a building is more/less consumptive that another, you'll need a stronger tool.
 
ASHRAE has outlined many of these procedures in Guideline 14-2002. Also, ASHRAE has developed the Inverse Model Toolkit (IMT), that will perform linear, change-point linear, variable-based degree day and combined multiple linear regression. The IMT can be had for $30 from ASHRAE, and includes the FORTRAN source code to encourage folks to embed this into their own tools. Several ASHRAE Transactions paper are available on this as well. 
 
Demand modeling is not as simple. However, ASHRAE has provided some help in this area as well with their RP-1093 Diversity Factor Toolkit. Additional toolkits from ASHRAE include RP-1004 for thermal storage, RP-827 for in-situ measurements, RP-1092 for AHU performance measurement, and RP-1051 for calibrated simulations. All have ASHRAE Transactions papers describing the projects, and reports available from ASHRAE. ASHRAE has also recently released a Scoping Study, available on their website, that outlines a new effort to develop procedures for measuring the performance of a building, including energy, IEQ and water.
 
The IPMVP also provides good advice on this matter, which are based in part on Guideline 14-2002. You can download their reports from their website www.bmvp.org. <http://www.bmvp.org> 
 
I think you'll find these very valuable.
 
Jeff
 
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________________________________

From: BLDG-SIM at gard.com on behalf of Misuriello, Harry
Sent: Mon 3/20/2006 12:59 PM
To: BLDG-SIM at gard.com
Subject: [BLDG-SIM] Weather Normalization?



You might also look into some of the EPA Energy Star tools.

See: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=tools_resources.bus_energy_management_tools_resources

 

Also see the EPA portfolio manager at: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=evaluate_performance.bus_portfoliomanager

 

You can use Portfolio Manager on existing buildings.  Enter the energy bills and some other data and your buildings will be compared to a national database of similar buildings in similar climates and you will receive a "score."  Your score is what percentile an individual building is in when compared to its peers.  A score of 75 or higher can get you an Energy Star building rating.

 

For new buildings or building designs, look at Target Finder at: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=new_bldg_design.bus_target_finder

 

It's a similar service that can "normalize" building energy performance through a scoring method.

 

Harry

-----------------------

Harry Misuriello

Director of Buildings and Utility Programs

Alliance to Save Energy

1200 18th Street, NW, Suite 900

Washington, DC 20036

Tel: 202 530 2214

Fax: 202 331 9588

 

________________________________

From: BLDG-SIM at GARD.COM [mailto:BLDG-SIM at GARD.COM] On Behalf Of Mike Tillou
Sent: Monday, March 20, 2006 1:36 PM
To: BLDG-SIM at GARD.COM
Subject: [BLDG-SIM] Weather Normalization?

 

The simplist way to compare a collection of energy consumption from different climates is to normalize using Heating or Cooling Degree Days.  This can be done in excel and you can get HDD/CDD data from any number of sources online.

 

Mike

 

 

Michael Tillou, PE
etc Group, Inc.
PO Box 7, Williamstown, MA 01267
ph. (413) 458-9870 fx. (413) 458-9875

	-----Original Message-----
	From: BLDG-SIM at gard.com [mailto:BLDG-SIM at gard.com] On Behalf Of Dillon, Mike
	Sent: Monday, March 20, 2006 12:16 PM
	To: BLDG-SIM at gard.com
	Subject: [BLDG-SIM] Weather Normalization?

	I'm trying to find a way to normalize a collection of energy consumptions of similar buildings in different climates to help compare energy performances. Has anyone done this before? And if so, can this be accomplished in excel, or some other software application? Thank you in advance for any help.

	Mike 

	 
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