Building Energy Analysis
Chelsea Group’s building energy analysis provides managers with a
baseline report that identifies energy conservation measures (ECMs)
and evaluates the potential investment, energy cost savings, and
resulting cost/benefit of implementing each of those ECMs. The
report includes preliminary estimates of utility rebates for each
measure or group of measures.
 With
recommendations developed from this careful study of the facility,
building managers can make informed choices about prioritizing
projects for design and implementation.
Chelsea Group’s Approach
The Chelsea team evaluates each facility based on its own unique
needs and circumstances. For many buildings, the analysis begins
with the following goals:
- Provide a written analysis of baseline energy consumption of
the building and a description of existing energy-consuming
systems at the property
- Conduct a walk-through of the building to identify potential
energy conservation measures
- Conduct an analysis of the costs and savings associated with
each of the recommended energy conservation measures
 The
scope of Chelsea Group’s building energy analysis varies for each
building, but a typical process includes the following steps:
1. Observations and data collection
- Interviews with the property manager and other building
maintenance staff
- Review of building plans and specifications
- Utility data analysis using monthly consumption and cost
data from utility bills for at least the last twelve months
2. Site assessment walk-through
- Visual observation of different types of building space
- Observation and documentation of HVAC equipment and
condition
- Observation and documentation of lighting and electrical
systems
 3.
Operational review and analysis
- Review and analysis of existing operation and maintenance
procedures
- Review and analysis of service contracts to verify their
appropriateness
4. Analysis and presentation of opportunities and related costs
and savings
- Identification of potential low/no-cost operational changes
and repairs that will produce energy savings
- Definition of capital investment opportunities in major
energy saving measures
- Evaluation of the estimated savings and rebate potential of
these measures
- Documentation in a written report of the findings and
recommendations of the assessment, together with potential
utility incentives, including a prioritized list of potential
projects
Application of Energy Analysis
 In
a 23-story commercial office building, the building management
wanted to implement an energy conservation program in order to
reduce annual operating expenditures. The availability of utility
rebates made this an especially attractive project for them.
Chelsea Group conducted a site visit to observe the existing
systems, obtained price quotations for identified projects,
collected utility bills, interviewed the building engineer, and
reviewed a copy of the building mechanical plans.
In this building, the Chelsea team identified six ECMs for
evaluation. These measures included the following:
- Replace inlet vanes with variable frequency drives on 15 air
handling unit supply systems
- Convert the existing chilled water pumping system from
constant speed to variable speed
- Retrofit indoor lighting to incorporate reflectors and fewer
lamps
-
 Retrofit
the existing parking garage lighting to replace the existing
high pressure sodium fixtures with new T8 or compact fluorescent
lamp fixtures, and incandescent exit signs with LED
- Install a computer room air conditioning system with
air-cooled condensing unit in order to enable shutdown of the
chiller, cooling tower, condenser water and chilled water pumps
during unoccupied periods
- Install variable frequency drives on cooling tower fan
motors for improved part load control
All six ECMs that were evaluated were recommended for
implementation. The final report summarized the ECMs with their
corresponding energy savings, cost estimates, payback periods, and
utility company rebates. The total savings in kWh represents 30.1%
of 2004 consumption, with a payback period of 2.26 years.
The Value of Energy Analysis
When you are concerned with efficient energy use in your
building, Chelsea Group can provide you with a customized energy
analysis:
- Establish baseline energy consumption for your facility
- Identify baseline mechanical and electrical equipment
conditions, including typical operating characteristics,
conditions, controls and opportunities to improve these systems
- Describe and evaluate Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs)
that appear to be cost effective for your building
- Prioritize these projects for design and implementation
When you are ready to move forward toward the energy conservation
measures identified in your building energy analysis, Chelsea Group
can work with you and your property managers to design an effective
plan and manage the implementation of the ECMs you choose.
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