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Summary
When replacing old equipment with new equipment, it can be challenging to calculate accurate energy savings with traditional building energy modeling tools. Gathering existing HVAC system, hot water heating, lighting, and building envelope equipment specifications is a time-consuming process—and it becomes increasingly more difficult to calibrate the model to billed data when that information is not readily available.
NEO’s new “Building Vintages” feature provides a quick and simplified approach to entering building details by calibrating the model to the billed data and calculating accurate energy savings estimates.
Building Vintages
The new “Building Vintages” enhancement dials in existing building details and applies derating factors for HVAC system efficiencies, lighting controls and power density, wall and roof R-Values, and window properties. This is accomplished by independently selecting an age for the building envelope, lighting, and mechanical systems. By utilizing data from past energy codes, building type, and climate zone, NEO “vintages” decipher what may be installed, along with the respective performance, simply based on the age of the equipment. “Vintages” can be selected for the entire building to provide a reference point, and can then be dialed in for each individual space within the building. This process allows users to calibrate the model to the billed data by making just a few selections.
Fast and Accurate Energy Savings Estimates
To calculate accurate energy savings estimates from the replacement of old equipment, the inputs specified in the model must match the actual building and equipment characteristics. By providing a quick and streamlined method for dialing in existing building parameters with NEO’s building “vintages,” users can access energy savings estimates to make informed decisions based on the most cost-effective solutions. The chart below shows how accurate energy savings estimates can be visualized and proven, where the grey dashed line represents 12 months of billed data, the blue line represents the modeled existing building energy consumption, and the teal green line represents the proposed design and how the building will perform with the user-selected energy conservation measures.
This new NEO “Building Vintages” feature expedites the renovation and equipment replacement process, saves project teams time when completing an energy analysis, and allows users to make informed decisions for optimal project outcomes. To learn more about how Net Energy Optimizer can help you save on costs and energy, connect with our team today.