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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Engineering methods for estimating the impacts of demand-side management programs

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:7102067
; ; ; ; ;  [1]
  1. Architectural Energy Corp., Boulder, CO (United States)

Engineering methods play an important role in the planning and evaluation of demand-side management (DSM) programs. Fundamental decisions on the technologies to include in programs, which programs are cost effective, and what customer rebate or incentive levels should be offered often rest on the results of engineering calculations. However, impact evaluations, which measure actual DSM program savings have shown that engineering estimates are sometimes inaccurate in predicting the level of savings that a DSM program will realize. The purpose of this handbook is to improve the state-of-the-art in estimating DSM program savings with engineering methods. The handbook focuses on the use of the building energy simulation programs ASEAM, BLAST, COMTECH, DOE-2, ESPRE, and micro-AXCESS. A description of each program is presented, along with a comparison of their respective strengths and weaknesses. Information on general modeling techniques, development of prototype building models, model calibration, and measure combination analysis is presented. Specific techniques are provided for modeling the performance of common residential and commercial technologies, including lighting, appliances, water heating, weatherization, HVAC, cool storage, motors and refrigeration. This handbook was written for utility DSM program managers responsible for program design and implementation, and utility personnel directly responsible for preparing engineering estimates.

Research Organization:
Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (United States); Architectural Energy Corp., Boulder, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
EPRI; Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (United States)
OSTI ID:
7102067
Report Number(s):
EPRI-TR-100984-Vol.1
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English