Getting value from your energy metering data, with samples for three types of real-world situations. Presented at 2016 EnergyExchange conference, Providence, RI.

1. Rhode Island Convention Center • Providence, Rhode Island
Making Sense of Metering Data
Session: Metering Strategies: Opportunity Identification &
Implementation Using Energy Data
Charles Simchick, P.E.
Select Engineering Services
August 10, 2016

2. Energy Exchange: Federal Sustainability for the Next Decade
• Why Do We Care?
• What Should We Meter?
• Where Should We Meter?
• What Does It Mean?
• Examples
• Challenges
• Lessons Learned
2
Overview

3. Energy Exchange: Federal Sustainability for the Next Decade
Why Do We Care About Metering?
Bottom Line:
The value of metering is in what we do with the data.
3
Mandates / Regulations Somebody is telling you to do it.
Billing / Budgeting Need to apportion costs to different
entities.
Operations & Maintenance Tracking metrics to alert maintenance staff
to potential issues.
Measurement & Verification Verify performance of an effort (ESPC) or
measure (ECM).
Resource Profiling Understand and quantify resource
consumption patterns to support intelligent
decision making for energy management.

4. Energy Exchange: Federal Sustainability for the Next Decade
What information is important for the energy
management decisions at your facilities?
4
What Should We Meter?
• Metering is the ongoing measurement (and recording) of the flow
of a resource over a period of time.
– Energy Flows (electricity, natural gas, steam, chilled water)
– Non-Energy Flows (potable water, wastewater)
• Need sufficient granularity in time intervals to correlate changes in
energy use with variations in process variables.
– weather, occupancy, usage patterns
• Meters generally sense the flow rate (demand), but record the
volume (consumption) over a specified time interval.
– Interval consumption is related to average demand during the interval
– Peak demand is often important for managing system capacity.

5. Energy Exchange: Federal Sustainability for the Next Decade
• Meter at the “boundary of interest”, where the resource is
delivered.
– Installation (utility billing)
– Whole-building (EUI benchmarking)
– Tenants (billing)
– Thermal zones (HVAC)
– Sub-systems (lighting, refrigeration, etc.)
• Need sufficient granularity in space to correlate with the different
energy uses within the space.
• Meter inflows and outflows to determine process efficiencies.
5
Where Should the Meters Be Located?
What information is important for the energy
management decisions at your facilities?

6. Energy Exchange: Federal Sustainability for the Next Decade6
What does this data mean?
I don’t even see the code. All I see is…
process variation, inefficiency, opportunity

7. Energy Exchange: Federal Sustainability for the Next Decade
Monthly billing data can be augmented by site observations and
industry benchmarks to provide useful predictive models.
7
Example 1 : Monthly Billing Data
• 110,000 sf food distribution warehouse, with natural gas boiler for
heating, hot water and process steam, and rooftop air conditioning units.
• Electricity and Natural Gas.
• Monthly utility bills.
– Two full years of data is typically available from utility companies. This helps
to account for normal variation from one year to the next.
• ASHRAE Level II energy assessment.
• CBECS 2003 energy consumption benchmark.

8. Energy Exchange: Federal Sustainability for the Next Decade8
Example 1 : Monthly Billing Data (continued)
Benchmarking Summary - Percentages
End Use
Percentages
Reference
End Use Electricity Natural Gas Fuel Oil
District
Steam
All Fuels Warehouse
Heating 1.0% 54.0% 65.0% 0.0% 22.6% 42.5%
Cooling 5.3% 0.0% 3.1% 3.1%
Hot Water 10.0% 35.0% 0.0% 4.1% 4.4%
Lighting 14.5% 8.6% 28.9%
Other 79.2% 36.0% 0.0% 100.0% 61.6% 21.1%
TOTAL 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%
Estimated End-Use Breakdown by Fuel Type
based on analysis of utility billing data [kBtu]
59%
41%
Total Energy Consumption Breakdown by Fuel
Type
Electricity
Natural Gas
Total - All Fuels: 7,346,695 kBtu/yr
Jan-12
Feb-12
Mar-12
Apr-12
May-12
Jun-12
Jul-12
Aug-12
Sep-12
Oct-12
Nov-12
Dec-12
-
100,000
200,000
300,000
400,000
500,000
600,000
700,000
800,000
900,000
kBtu
Total Energy Consumption Profile by Fuel Type
Electricity
Natural Gas
Fuel Oil
District
Steam
Total - All Fuels: 7,346,695 kBtu/yr
Breakdown of
consumption by fuel
type is of limited
interest without
knowing where that
fuel is being used.
Create a simple model using
CBECS benchmarking data and
daily weather history, and
make adjustments based on
site-specific observations to
calibrate to the billing data.
Normalize the billing data to calendar months,
and use average values for a 24-month period…

9. Energy Exchange: Federal Sustainability for the Next Decade
With a little bit of tuning to calibrate the model, we can get a useful
breakdown of the fuel consumption by end uses, and a reasonably
accurate model for monthly consumption by fuel type and end use.
9
Example 1 : Monthly Billing Data (continued)
22%
3%
4%
9%
62%
Total Energy Consumption Breakdown by End Use
Heating
Cooling
Hot Water
Lighting
Other
Total - All Fuels: 7,346,695 kBtu/yr
Jan-12
Feb-12
Mar-12
Apr-12
May-12
Jun-12
Jul-12
Aug-12
Sep-12
Oct-12
Nov-12
Dec-12
-
100,000
200,000
300,000
400,000
500,000
600,000
700,000
800,000
900,000
kBtu
Total Energy Consumption Profile by End Use
Heating
Cooling
Hot Water
Lighting
Other
Total - All Fuels: 7,346,695 kBtu/yr
1% 5% 0%
15%
79%
Electricity Consumption Breakdown by End Use
Heating
Cooling
Hot Water
Lighting
Other
Total - Electricity: 4,359,163 kBtu/yr [1,277,598 kWh/yr]
Jan-12
Feb-12
Mar-12
Apr-12
May-12
Jun-12
Jul-12
Aug-12
Sep-12
Oct-12
Nov-12
Dec-12
-
50,000
100,000
150,000
200,000
250,000
300,000
350,000
400,000
450,000
500,000
kBtu
Electricity Consumption Profile by End Use
Heating
Cooling
Hot Water
Lighting
Other
Total - Electricity: 4,359,163 kBtu/yr [1,277,598 kWh/yr]
54%
0%
10%
0%
36%
Natural Gas Consumption Breakdown by End Use
Heating
Cooling
Hot Water
Lighting
Other
Total - Natural Gas: 2,987,532 kBtu/yr [29,875 therms/yr]
Jan-12
Feb-12
Mar-12
Apr-12
May-12
Jun-12
Jul-12
Aug-12
Sep-12
Oct-12
Nov-12
Dec-12
-
100,000
200,000
300,000
400,000
500,000
600,000
kBtu
Natural Gas Consumption Profile by End Use
Heating
Cooling
Hot Water
Lighting
Other
Billed Gas
Total - Natural Gas: 2,987,532 kBtu/yr [29,875 therms/yr]

10. Energy Exchange: Federal Sustainability for the Next Decade10
Example 1 : Monthly Billing Data (continued)
Simple model provides sufficient accuracy to
quantify and prioritize our energy measures…
Appendix E - Master List of ECMs
Energy Saved
kWh MMBtu
ECM-1
Implement regular boiler efficiency testing
program
R
natural
gas
- 68 $520 $300 7 mo
7.5% savings on total Process steam energy.
Based on 1 boiler(s).
ECM-2
Check/repair economizers on roof top
packaged units
R electricity 13,950 - $1,674 $3,000 22 mo
100% savings on total excess energy
consumption due to malfunctioning
economizers. Based on 3 rooftop air
ECM-3
Enhance compressed air leak detection and
repair program
R electricity 7,047 - $846 $300 5 mo
100% savings on total energy consumption
due to leaks. Based on 5 air leak(s).
ECM-4
Enhance packaged HVAC equipment annual
maintenance program
R electricity 6,771 - $813 $450 7 mo 10% savings on total cooling energy.
ECM-5
Program thermostat to setback temperature
during unoccupied periods
R
natural
gas
- 464 $3,572 $110 1 mo 28% savings on total heating energy.
ECM-6
Install insulation on boiler room steam
piping
R
natural
gas
- 70 $538 $450 11 mo
100% savings on total heat loss from
inadequate steam piping. Based on 100 feet
of piping.
ECM-7
Enhance regular preventive maintenance
program to test steam traps
R
natural
gas
- 90 $693 $120 3 mo
10% savings on total Process steam energy.
Based on minimal program, and replacement
of failed traps.
ECM-8 Install insulation on DHW piping R
natural
gas
- 6 $46 $225 59 mo
100% savings on total heat loss from
inadequate DHW piping. Based on 50 feet of
piping.
ECM-9
Enhance packaged HVAC equipment annual
maintenance program
R
natural
gas
- 83 $638 $450 9 mo 5% savings on total heating energy.
ALL IDENTIFIED ECMs 27,769 780 $9,340 $5,405 7 mo
ECM Status: R =Recommended, I =Implemented, NR =Not Recommended; RS =Further Study Required
Appendix E - Master List of ECOs (continued)
Basis of Savings EstimatesID ECM Description ECM Status
Fuel
Type
Saved
Fuel
Annual Cost
Savings
Estimated
Costs
Simple
Payback
Appendix E - Master List of ECMs
Energy Saved
kWh MMBtu
ECM-1
Implement regular boiler efficiency testing
program
R
natural
gas
- 68 $520 $300 7 mo
7.5% savings on total Proce
Based on 1 boiler(s).
ECM-2
Check/repair economizers on roof top
packaged units
R electricity 13,950 - $1,674 $3,000 22 mo
100% savings on total exces
consumption due to malfun
economizers. Based on 3 roo
ECM-3
Enhance compressed air leak detection and
repair program
R electricity 7,047 - $846 $300 5 mo
100% savings on total energ
due to leaks. Based on 5 air
ECM-4
Enhance packaged HVAC equipment annual
maintenance program
R electricity 6,771 - $813 $450 7 mo 10% savings on total coolin
ECM-5
Program thermostat to setback temperature
during unoccupied periods
R
natural
gas
- 464 $3,572 $110 1 mo 28% savings on total heatin
ECM-6
Install insulation on boiler room steam
piping
R
natural
gas
- 70 $538 $450 11 mo
100% savings on total heat
inadequate steam piping. Ba
of piping.
ECM-7
Enhance regular preventive maintenance
program to test steam traps
R
natural
gas
- 90 $693 $120 3 mo
10% savings on total Proces
Based on minimal program,
of failed traps.
ECM-8 Install insulation on DHW piping R
natural
gas
- 6 $46 $225 59 mo
100% savings on total heat
inadequate DHW piping. Ba
piping.
ECM-9
Enhance packaged HVAC equipment annual
maintenance program
R
natural
gas
- 83 $638 $450 9 mo 5% savings on total heating
ALL IDENTIFIED ECMs 27,769 780 $9,340 $5,405 7 mo
ECM Status: R =Recommended, I =Implemented, NR =Not Recommended; RS =Fu
Appendix E - Master List of ECOs (continued)
Basis of Savings EID ECM Description ECM Status
Fuel
Type
Saved
Fuel
Annual Cost
Savings
Estimated
Costs
Simple
Payback

11. Energy Exchange: Federal Sustainability for the Next Decade
Natural gas consumption has baseload and weather-dependent components.
11
Example 2 : Daily Gas Consumption Data
• Weather-dependent consumption is approximately linear correlation.
• Agrees with the building science: 𝑄 = 𝑈 𝐴 ∆𝑇 ∝ 𝐻𝐷𝐷
• Identification of balance point temperature: 𝑇𝑏𝑝 ≅ 56°𝐹
Data:
• Daily operator’s log of natural gas consumption.
• Average daily outdoor air temperature from weather station.

12. Energy Exchange: Federal Sustainability for the Next Decade
15-minute interval data illustrates how electric demand changes
along with variations in weather, occupancy, and processes.
12
Example 3 : 15-minute Electric Interval Data
• Residential Housing facility with central HVAC systems.
• Electricity only, but excluding chiller load.
• 12-months of data (35,000 data points).
• Supplement with site observations and operator / occupant interviews.
• Analysis and visualizations using spreadsheet tools.

13. Energy Exchange: Federal Sustainability for the Next Decade13
Example 3 : 15-minute Electric Interval Data (cont.)
3D visualization can provide pretty pictures, but…
Time varying profile suggests
seasonal operational patterns.
Load duration chart indicates time
spent at part load conditions.

14. Energy Exchange: Federal Sustainability for the Next Decade14
Example 3 : 15-minute Electric Interval Data (cont.)
Statistical “box plot” shows variation
around average demand values at each
time interval.
Seasonal changes evident with monthly averaging
Weekly occupancy variations evident for
day-of-week averaging

15. Energy Exchange: Federal Sustainability for the Next Decade
• Availability of appropriate metering data
• Availability of correlating variables
– weather, occupancy, process
• Inconsistent data reporting intervals
• Large data sets
• Inappropriate metering objectives
15
Challenges for Effective Metering Analysis

16. Energy Exchange: Federal Sustainability for the Next Decade
• There is value in any self-consistent metering
data – just need to know where to look.
• Need to normalize the data and use averages
for generalized comparisons and predictions.
• Develop energy model using metering data, site
observations, and benchmarks.
• Use variety of visualization tools to illustrate
different aspects of the data.
• Simple models can yield surprisingly “accurate”
predictions.
16
Lessons Learned

17. Rhode Island Convention Center • Providence, Rhode Island
Making Sense of Metering Data
Session: Metering Strategies: Opportunity Identification &
Implementation Using Energy Data
Charles Simchick, P.E.
Select Engineering Services
charles.simchick@sesincusa.com
www.sesincusa.com