Users and Uses

To define performance metrics, it is important to understand who the users are and how they use the information. Many individuals and groups are involved with a building over its lifetime, and they all have different interests and requirements of the building. The level of interest in energy performance ranges from global, to regional, to individual buildings, and finally to specific end uses. Across this broad range of interests, the value of measuring and tracking building energy performance metrics can be traced to a small number of driving factors:

1. Controlling energy costs/energy consumption
2. Minimizing environmental impact
3. Improving image/marketing
4. Load forecasting/energy management/reliability

Many tools or approaches exist to help users analyze building energy consumption in different ways, at different levels, and at different stages in the life of a building:

1. Design guidelines
2. Performance rating systems
3. Energy audits
4. Measurement and verification
5. Energy management systems
6. Building science research

The building energy performance is quantified to fit the needs of the users for each tool. However, the process and numbers used are often not consistent across or within the methods when conducted by different practitioners. In addition, performance numbers are sometimes misrepresented or misused to predict performance savings beyond the accuracy of the numbers.

To improve metric accuracy, we defined two levels or tiers of energy performance metrics that can be used from the design stage through the operational life of a building. We also developed a list of possible users and uses of these metrics. Figure 1 presents a graphical view of the users of performance metrics and how this research supports them. High-level interested parties and how they benefit from these metrics include:

Policy makers

• Accurate information needed to support policies that will encourage implementation of high-performance building design and operation strategies.

Sponsors of building rating systems

• Established metrics for developing rating systems.
• Standardized mechanisms for collecting and reporting the data to improve the credibility of the rating systems and minimize questions on how to perform the measurements.

Energy Suppliers

• Accurate information needed for load predictions and for buying on-site generated net-metered energy data.

Building owners

• Defensible performance data to help finance and market energy efficiency features.
• Consistent methods of tracking building performance to ensure targets are met and models for developing metrics in other areas.

Building designers

• Reliable information on proven energy-efficient strategies to assist in making educated decisions on appropriate design and operation strategies

Users with a more detailed interest in building energy performance will draw on the metrics in the standardized measurement procedures. Users and benefits include:

Operators/Managers

• Simple and consistent procedures to track energy performance and indicate when building recommissioning or revisions to building operating procedures are needed to improve performance.

Energy service professionals

• Accurate and repeatable measurements of energy performance to help identify and implement the most cost effective efficiency measures and establish a basis for achievement of contracted targets.

Researchers

• Rigorous procedures for accurate comparison of the performance of building energy systems.

Figure 1: Schematic of Building Performance Evaluation