Low-risk and cost-effective prior savings estimates for large-scale energy conservation projects in housing: Learning from the Fort Polk GHP project

Shonder, J A; Hughes, P J; Thornton, J W

Title: Low-risk and cost-effective prior savings estimates for large-scale energy conservation projects in housing: Learning from the Fort Polk GHP project

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Abstract

Many opportunities exist for large-scale energy conservation projects in housing. Energy savings performance contracting (ESPC) is now receiving greater attention, as a means to implement such projects. This paper proposes an improved method for prior (to construction) savings estimates for these projects. The proposed approach to prior estimates is verified against data from Fort Polk, LA. In the course of evaluating the ESPC at Fort Polk, the authors have collected energy use data which allowed them to develop calibrated engineering models which accurately predict pre-retrofit energy consumption. They believe that such calibrated models could be used to provide much more accurate estimates of energy savings in retrofit projects. The improved savings estimating approach described here is based on an engineering model calibrated to field-collected data from the pre-retrofit period. A dynamic model of pre-retrofit energy use was developed for all housing and non-housing loads on a complete electrical feeder at Fort Polk. The model included the heat transfer characteristics of the buildings, the pre-retrofit air source heat pump, a hot water consumption model and a profile for electrical use by lights and other appliances. Energy consumption for all 200 apartments was totaled, and by adjusting thermostat setpoints and outdoor airmore »« less

Authors:

Shonder, J A; Hughes, P J ^[1]; Thornton, J W ^[2]

Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States)
Thermal Energy Systems Specialists, Inc., Madison, WI (United States)

Publication Date:: 1997-08-01

Research Org.:: Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:: USDOE Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Washington, DC (United States)

OSTI Identifier:: 578623

Report Number(s):: CONF-970868-3
ON: DE97008245; BR: EB402000; TRN: AHC29806%%96

DOE Contract Number:: AC05-96OR22464

Resource Type:: Conference

Resource Relation:: Conference: 1997 international energy program evaluation conference, Chicago, IL (United States), 27 Aug 1997; Other Information: PBD: [1997]

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: 32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION; ENERGY AUDITS; RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS; ENERGY CONSERVATION; MILITARY FACILITIES; ENERGY CONSUMPTION; RETROFITTING; HEAT PUMPS; LIGHTING SYSTEMS; MATHEMATICAL MODELS

Citation Formats


                    Shonder, J A, Hughes, P J, and Thornton, J W. Low-risk and cost-effective prior savings estimates for large-scale energy conservation projects in housing: Learning from the Fort Polk GHP project.  United States: N. p., 1997. 
        Web.

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                    Shonder, J A, Hughes, P J, & Thornton, J W. Low-risk and cost-effective prior savings estimates for large-scale energy conservation projects in housing: Learning from the Fort Polk GHP project.  United States.

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                    Shonder, J A, Hughes, P J, and Thornton, J W. 1997.  
        "Low-risk and cost-effective prior savings estimates for large-scale energy conservation projects in housing: Learning from the Fort Polk GHP project".  United States.  https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/578623.

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@article{osti_578623,

  title        = {Low-risk and cost-effective prior savings estimates for large-scale energy conservation projects in housing: Learning from the Fort Polk GHP project},

  author       = {Shonder, J A and Hughes, P J and Thornton, J W},

  abstractNote = {Many opportunities exist for large-scale energy conservation projects in housing. Energy savings performance contracting (ESPC) is now receiving greater attention, as a means to implement such projects. This paper proposes an improved method for prior (to construction) savings estimates for these projects. The proposed approach to prior estimates is verified against data from Fort Polk, LA. In the course of evaluating the ESPC at Fort Polk, the authors have collected energy use data which allowed them to develop calibrated engineering models which accurately predict pre-retrofit energy consumption. They believe that such calibrated models could be used to provide much more accurate estimates of energy savings in retrofit projects. The improved savings estimating approach described here is based on an engineering model calibrated to field-collected data from the pre-retrofit period. A dynamic model of pre-retrofit energy use was developed for all housing and non-housing loads on a complete electrical feeder at Fort Polk. The model included the heat transfer characteristics of the buildings, the pre-retrofit air source heat pump, a hot water consumption model and a profile for electrical use by lights and other appliances. Energy consumption for all 200 apartments was totaled, and by adjusting thermostat setpoints and outdoor air infiltration parameters, the models were matched to field-collected energy consumption data for the entire feeder. The energy conservation measures were then implemented in the calibrated model: the air source heat pumps were replaced by geothermal heat pumps with desuperheaters; hot water loads were reduced to account for the low-flow shower heads; and lighting loads were reduced to account for fixture delamping and replacement with compact fluorescent lights. The analysis of pre- and post-retrofit data indicates that the retrofits have saved 30.3% of pre-retrofit electrical energy consumption on the feeder modeled in this paper.},

  doi          = {},

  url          = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/578623},
  journal      = {},
number       = ,

  volume       = ,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {1997},

  month        = {8}

}

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