Decision Support Tool for Deep Energy Efficiency Retrofits in DoD Installations
EW-201257
Objective
Department of Defense (DoD) goals for energy use reduction can be met with deep retrofits. Existing approaches to commission upgraded equipment or controls achieve 10-30% efficiency gains. Deep retrofits can reduce energy use by 50% or more if multiple efficiency measures are integrated for specific building types and climates. But selection and specification of such systems typically require level 3 (detailed) audits and energy simulations that can take weeks to months for an individual building. A systematic process and tools to easily identify facilities where the energy usage and the energy use reduction potential from deep retrofits are the highest, combined with economic analysis, will enable installation and service-level portfolio managers to plan cost-effective deployment of energy efficient retrofits. The objective of this project is to demonstrate an innovative decision-making tool for assessing DoD facility energy use and planning deep retrofits across the DoD building stock (250,000 domestic, 300,000 worldwide). Demonstrations will be conducted at Fort Bragg in North Carolina and at Fort Sam Houston, Randolph Air Force Base, and Lackland Air Force Base in Texas.
Technology Description
An energy performance analysis methodology was developed by UTRC to analyze solutions with the potential to reduce energy use in existing DoD facilities by 50% or more under SERDP project EW-1709. The methodology includes models to estimate facility energy use and tools to rank retrofit measures based on system performance. Initial applications of the tools to DoD's domestic building stock have shown promise for evaluating deep retrofits involving integration of energy efficient envelope, lighting, HVAC, and control systems. This project will improve the underlying building models and validate them across a large sample of DoD facilities, incorporate a life-cycle cost analysis capability with initial capital and operating cost estimates for prioritizing energy efficiency investments, and transition tools to DoD users.
Benefits
The models to estimate energy use will be created with easily accessible building information, eliminating time-consuming audits and detailed energy simulations, and will enable building energy performance assessment for integrated retrofit system options. As a result, energy efficient retrofits will be easily prioritized for economic payback and return on investment, at an installation level or across the entire stock. The tool will also help benchmark facility energy performance relative to the Federal High Performance and Sustainable Buildings, Guiding Principles requirements. (Anticipated Project Completion - 2014)
Points of Contact
Principal Investigator
Dr. Satish Narayanan
United Technologies Research Center
Phone: 860-610-7412
Fax: 860-660-1291
Document Types
- Fact Sheet - Brief project summary with links to related documents and points of contact.
- Final Report - Comprehensive report for every completed SERDP and ESTCP project that contains all technical results.
- Cost & Performance Report - Overview of ESTCP demonstration activities, results, and conclusions, standardized to facilitate implementation decisions.
- Technical Report - Additional interim reports, laboratory reports, demonstration reports, and technology survey reports.
- Guidance - Instructional information on technical topics such as protocols and user’s guides.
- Workshop Report - Summary of workshop discussion and findings.
- Multimedia - On demand videos, animations, and webcasts highlighting featured initiatives or technologies.
- Model/Software - Computer programs and applications available for download.
- Database - Digitally organized collection of data available to search and access.