Assessing real world performance of LED fixtures is becoming a crucial step in the rapidly changing LED market.  Manufacturer’s claims are not always what they seem, especially regarding fixture life and lumen depreciation.  Recently we developed a testing protocol for three LED demonstration sites for a large electric utility that evaluates photometry and energy savings. Each demonstration site includes multiple products from different vendors in order to do a side by side comparison of products.

The testing protocol is similar to the Department of Energy’s Gateway Program, and includes performing onsite evaluations shortly after installation and at the 6,000 hour mark. Why is the 6,000 hour mark important? Currently most LEDs performance changes after running for 1,000 hours. Many times the light output increases, but some LED products actually perform worse after they have reached this level of burn time.  By evaluating the products for such a long period of time, any lumen depreciation can be accounted for and the electric utility can determine whether any products would be eligible to pay an incentive on.

Initial baseline testing and research was completed by MWE2 during Q4 of 2009 and installation of the new fixtures is currently underway.  LEDs are increasing in popularity, but in many applications they are still unproven, which makes evaluating real world performance a crucial step before deciding to jump on the bandwagon.

Energy efficiency is a hot topic, and it seems more and more funding is allocated to this sector every day. Despite the increased focus, many organizations don’t know where to start. There are many tools and programs available (most are free) that can help organizations or individuals develop a comprehensive energy management plan to control costs and increase your bottom line.

Where to Start?

One of the best sources available is the U.S. EPA’s ENERGY STAR program. Why? Well first because the program is free, and second because the program is good.  Based on the successful practices of ENERGY STAR partners, the EPA has developed guidelines for establishing and running an effective energy management program. Statistics show that organizations that formerly adopt a comprehensive approach to energy management achieve significantly greater results than those without formal energy management programs. To get started, check out the ENERGY STAR Guidelines for Energy Management.

Step One: Make a Commitment

Form a dedicated team to set goals, track progress and be the on-site "Energy Leader" for your business.  Senior management should have a written policy to drive the organization's culture and operational behaviors.

Step Two: Assess Performance

Benchmarking energy use is a first step to assess energy performance and to measure ongoing progress.  To get started collect past energy use data and continue to document it over time.  Free online tools including the EPA’s Portfolio Manager and Target Finder enable building owners and managers to rate their individual commercial buildings on a scale of 1 to 100 against similar buildings, track energy performance, and target investments in energy efficiency.

What if my building rating is already above 75? Skip to Step 7.

Step Three: Set Goals

Utilizing the results of your benchmark, the "Energy Leader" and senior management should develop the organization's goals.  Goals can vary from reducing energy use by 10% to becoming LEED certified, but ultimately the goals should be realistic, timely, attainable, measurable, and a little bit of a stretch. 

Step Four: Create an Action Plan

There are several resources available to help pinpoint areas for improvement.  If you are interested in finding specific projects to implement that will reduce energy costs and have qualified staff available, Washington State University’s Energy Audit Workbook is free to download.  If LEED certification is your goal, an energy audit meeting the requirements of ASHRAE Level 1 and 2 is essential, and the guidelines can be purchased for a nominal fee.

Check with your local utility or government to take advantage of available rebates and technical assistance. A national listing of programs is available here. In many cases, the cost of hiring an outside engineering firm to perform the energy audit will be paid in full as long as you commit to implement cost effective projects. Sprinkle in federal tax credits of up to $1.80/ft² for qualifying energy efficiency improvements, and we’re talking about serious money.

Step Five: Implement the Action Plan

Communicating your program to all employees has a critical impact on the overall success. Execution of the plan is dependent on the acceptance, awareness and commitment of your peers and operational efficiencies can be attained when all employees are motivated to see the program succeed.  

Step Six: Evaluate your Progress

As projects are implemented be sure to evaluate your progress and communicate the results with your fellow employees.  Energy savings from measures that are not weather dependent, such as, lighting are easily demonstrated and usually will show up in the form of lower monthly energy bills. Energy savings from measures that are weather dependent, such as, heating and air conditioning are a bit harder to demonstrate as performance is based on weather conditions that can vary from year to year. The most common method of “weather normalization” is by comparing the electric and/or natural gas use versus outside air temperature or degree days. If you are good at statistics, then perform a regression analysis with the data, or if Excel is your thing, a simple trend line will do the trick.  Once results are established many organizations will use this data to create new action plans, identify best practices, and set new performance targets.

Step Seven: Recognize Achievements

We are all human and enjoy recognition for good deeds, so recognizing the people in your organization that significantly contributed to your program is extremely important. Outside of the individual, your organization deserves to be recognized for making the commitment to reduce energy use and subsequently green house gas emissions. One common method is by earning the ENERGY STAR Label.  Buildings can earn the ENERGY STAR by achieving a score of 75 or higher on EPA’s energy performance rating system and meeting relevant requirements for indoor air quality.  These buildings typically use 35 percent less energy than average buildings. Through 2008, more than 6,200 top performing buildings earned the ENERGY STAR for being energy all stars. In order to receive recognition, a professional engineer certifies the building’s past energy performance and tests several parameters to make sure the building meets all requirements for indoor air quality. To find a qualified PE, use the EPA’s Professional Engineer directory, or you can always call us.

MWE2 is a proud ENERGY STAR partner and provides assistance to help businesses implement a comprehensive energy management strategy. For further information, please contact Kyle Dunn, PE at 630-219-1615 or kdunn@mwe2.com.

The Jonesville Eye Care building in Jonesville, MI is a single-story medical office building housing the optometry practice of Michael A. Biddle, O.D. The building, constructed in 2004, is owned by Dr. Biddle and is self managed. Recognizing the importance of energy efficient design, the building was constructed with energy efficiency technologies, including T8 lighting, properly sized heating and cooling systems, and above code insulation. Jonesville Eye Care turned to the proven strategy of EPA’s ENERGY STAR program in 2009 for the tools and resources necessary to help maintain superior energy performance.

As a first step, the Jonesville Eye Care energy management team sought to assess the building’s baseline energy performance using the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager tool.  The first building assessment occurred in 2009, and the tool returned a baseline rating of 97, placing the building well above the national average. The strong energy performance rating is attributed to efficient initial design and solid construction practices. Professional engineering services, including the ENERGY STAR rating, was provided by Kyle Dunn, PE of MWE2. 

With the strong building results in hand, the Jonesville Eye Care energy management team has developed an ongoing process with staff to continue the effective use of energy at the facility. The building owner strives to spread the word that energy efficiency is good for the bottom line as well as good for the environment. An ongoing energy monitoring plan is in place to assure that this facility continues to operate in a highly efficient manner, in order to continuously earn the ENERGY STAR in the coming years.

Last week the House passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act (HR 2454), setting the stage for a large scale cap and trade program.  The path through the Senate is expected to be much tougher, but if the act passes, how would it work and what would it mean for energy efficiency? Well for starters, the act will establish a national building code, provide additional funding for State Energy Efficiency Development (SEED), and provide continuation of the massive funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for the DOE’s State Energy Program. 

For a much more detailed breakdown of the potential program, surf on over to this article at greenerbuildings.com. 

The USDA recently announced a request for grant and guaranteed loan applications from agricultural producers and rural small businesses for Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements.  The Rural Energy for America Program Grants/Renewable Energy Systems/Energy Efficiency Improvement Program (REAP/RES/EEI) is accepting applications through July 31, 2009.

The REAP/RES/EEI Grants Program will provide grants for energy audits and renewable energy development assistance. It also provides funds to agricultural producers and rural small businesses to purchase and install renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements.

The energy efficiency improvement projects are eligible for up to 25% of eligible project costs but will not exceed $250,000.  Most rural projects that reduce energy use and result in savings for the agricultural producer or small business are eligible as energy efficiency projects. These include projects such as retrofitting lighting or insulation, or purchasing or replacing equipment with more efficient units (variable speed drives, vacuum pumps, ventilation fans, etc).

Today at sustainablebusiness.com, an article was featured about Environment America's recent release of a plan to reduce US Emissions by at least 34% through implementation of energy efficiency measures in our homes and businesses. Building a Better Future: Moving Toward Zero Pollution with Highly Efficient Homes and Businesses outlines policy steps that local and state officials and the federal government can take to significantly cut energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. It's a good read, check it out.

As the energy efficiency tidal wave continues to strengthen, Big Oil has decided to join in on the fun. Whether it's just a PR move or more sincere, the participation of companies such as those that are Big Oil (ExxonMobil, BP America, Chevron, Shell, and ConocoPhillips) and their large funding resources will be important to bring this industry to a higher level. After reading this article, a previous Wall Street Journal piece on “The Climate Change Lobby” came to mind. Here Jim Rogers, CEO of Duke Energy, perhaps said it best: “If you don't have a seat at the table, you'll wind up on the menu."

There seem to be two main methods of labeling a building as green or energy efficient. First of course is LEED, where Chicago tops the nation with 68 certified buildings. The second is Energy Star Ratings, where Chicago shows up on the list in the number 6 spot with 125 rated buildings. It will be interesting to see if any of the top 10 shift in a few years as a result of the stimulus money allocation. For more, check out this article.

Rackmount servers with one to four processors will be eligible to receive an Energy Star Rating on May 1 of this year. The ratings will include energy performance at full load and during idle conditions. Data center energy usage is a major issue, which is expected to get even worse. If current trends continue, data center energy usage and peak demand is expected to exceed over 100 billion kWh and 12 GW by 2011, requiring an additional 10 power plants. To read more about data centers and their energy usage, read the EPA's report to Congress on the issue. Energy Star Ratings are a drop in the bucket, but it is a move in the right direction.

With both the U.S. House and Senate debating the issues over President Obama's $900 Billion stimulus package, the renewable and energy efficiency sector stands to benefit greatly. The House proposes $24 Billion to go towards energy conservation programs, while the Senate offers up a more conservative $15 Billion. To read more about the proposals, follow the link to Money Magazine's article.