The ICP Efficiency Project Framework enables a clear definition of the complete process necessary to ensure performance from initial audit through ongoing commissioning and M&V. This structure can be used to describe the specific attributes of many protocols based on different building types or investor risk models.
Each of these steps is required to ensure projects are engineered and operated properly to deliver expected results.
A combination of standards designed for a specific building type or risk model creates an Energy Performance Protocol.
Baselining A sound energy usage baseline is the starting point for accurate projection of potential energy savings as well as for measurement after retrofits and/or retro-commissioning. A baseline should indicate how much fuel and electricity a building can be expected to use in a day given heating and cooling conditions and occupancy of the building (and potentially other influential factors).
Depending upon the location of the building in question, the time of day at which energy is saved can have a significant impact on the dollar value of the savings achieved. Where demand charges are in effect or where rates for on-peak electric usage, load profiles must be provided to show the pattern of daily demand. An annual electrical load profile must be constructed for peak demand (KW) as recorded and billed by the utility. Rates that include Ratchet provisions must be identified. The same procedure must be followed for any other energy source that is sold with a peak demand charge separate from energy usage.
Savings Projections Savings calculations for projects of the scale anticipated must be based on a calibrated building simulation model that meets the procedural requirements outlined in this section and by referenced documents. Once the simulation model is established and calibrated, iterative runs are conducted for individual measures. The total package of all measures must be run together for the final projection of package energy reductions.
Design and Construction Verification The design and construction team must commit to realize the intent of the energy audit recommendations accepted by the Project Owner. As part of that effort, the construction team is required to perform operational performance verification on the measures implemented as part of the project:
The installation conforms to what was intended and specified.
The equipment and systems are operating correctly, as specified, demonstrated by tests.
System documentation has been provided and operators have been trained.
Operations, Maintenance, and Monitoring Operations, Maintenance, and Monitoring is the practice of systematic monitoring of energy system performance and instituting corrective actions to ensure “in specification” energy performance. (Often referred to as Ongoing Commissioning, Continuous Commissioning, Monitoring-based Commissioning, Performance-based Monitoring, and Building Re-Tuning.)
Measurement and Verification (M&V) Measurement and Verification is the process of using measurement to reliably determine actual savings created within an individual facility by an energy management, energy conservation or energy efficiency project or program. As savings cannot be directly measured, the savings can be determined by comparing measured use before and after implementation of a project, making appropriate adjustments for changes in conditions.
The following overarching principles should govern any M&V Plan:
Transparency: all input data, baseline calculations, and variable derivation should be made available to all parties and any authorized reviewers.
Reproducibility: given the same source data and a description of the adjustment methodology, any competent practitioner should be able to produce identical or nearly identical results.
Fairness: baseline adjustments should show no meaningful statistical bias toward a positive or negative outcome (however defined, e.g. higher or lower savings).
