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Optimira Energy Savings Reports

posted May 19, 2009

References

In May 2009 CELOS obtained the Optimira Energy Savings report for year one (first two references above). The reports were obtained as the result of a Freedom Of Information request filed with the City of Toronto by CELOS (2009-0109). This is a highly technical report, best reviewed by an engineer specializing in the field.

In the meantime we have a number of initial questions:

The Executive Summary of the report indicates that actual savings are assessed at $1,278,019, about $23K greater than the the estimated savings of $1,255,452. This conclusion is unqualified, whereas the body of the report indicates several areas that may require further investigation (with amojnts involved much greater than $23K).

Many of the facilities are assessed using "Calculated Savings", which, although the method is not detailed in full, are suggested to be calculated by applying manufacturer's specifications (of applied energy savings measures) to base energy figures. In other words these may be the savings estimates simply applied to the assessed savings, without a separate monitoring or verification process at all. In our cursory review of the cited methodologies, we have not seen a method like this.

The methodologies appear to allow for results qualified with confidence assessments (such as "80% confidence 19 times out of 20"). These confidence assessments are absent.

The methodologies allow for, and indeed encourage, third party assessments of the energy savings report, where the client has less knowledge of cost savings approaches than the provider. No such third party was involved (as far as we know).

Many assessment results are systematically excluded.

  • According to the report the Whole Building Method (metered) is excluded where a meter savings is less than $6,500 per year or 15% of total utility use. Such cases are presumably assessed using the Calculated Method.
  • Whole meter results which were "negative" savings were systematically "zeroed".

The report suggests that some of the issues resulting in exclusions may be the result of problematic base line measures. However as baselines may (in principle) be both over and under stated, as a sampling method excluding one may introduce the risk of systematic bias.

The "zeroed amounts" summarized do not agree with the "zeroed amounts" in the body of the report.

The Report indicates that the methods of Monitoring and Verification are based on Guideline 14P above (as well as the IPMVP and "Optimira's experience"). However the ASHRAE informs us that Guideline 14P is "proposed" (hence the "P") and not published, replaced by the full Guideline in 2002. Why is Optimira using the proposed and not the published Guideline?

Although we requested details of calculation methods, no details were provided.

We requested the information in "electronic format", which was provided, but in a way that cannot be parsed by software. We should have requested the information in "machine-readable" format (for example excel spreadsheets).

There is an interesting "Misc. Energy Awareness" figure listed with summary estimates as an aggregate only figure. We would be interested to know how this is calculated, and how it is distributed and used. In particular, is it indirectly rolled into the "Calculated Method" of "Monitoring and Verification".


Content last modified on May 20, 2009, at 05:45 PM EST