HUD
CHP Screening Tool, version 2.1
The HUD CHP Screening Tool was developed under a collaborative
effort between the U.S.
Departments of Housing and Urban Development and Energy as a tool to
evaluate combined cooling, heating, and power in multi-family
housing. This version (2.1)
was completed in April 2008, following testing on several beta versions,
and is now recommended for preliminary CHP screenings for HUD multifamily
housing.
(Download
version 2.1 Installation Setup File;
4,012 kB)
The compiled HELP file should be downloaded separately and copied to a
location easily found by the user.
Double-clicking on the HELP file will cause it to open for
use. HELP is disabled in the
tool itself.
(Download
version 2.1 HELP file, HUD CHP Feasibility Screening Tool Version 2.1.chm,
(1,154 kB)
Also, a draft “User Manual,” dated April 30, 2008, has been developed and can
be downloaded.
(Download version
2.1 draft User Manual, Word file, (1,985 kB)
Introduction
The economic evaluation of proposed installations of combined cooling,
heating, and power (CHP) systems in multi-family housing units requires
calculations that consider building heating, cooling, hot water, and
electrical loads, the costs of power and natural gas, and the simulated
performance of generators, chillers, boilers, and water heaters.
Sometimes it is possible to simplify this process to get a
“go/no-go” answer as to whether or not a building owner or
operator should look more carefully into CHP and perhaps enlist some
engineering support in conducting a site inspection and conducting a
rigorous economic analysis. The HUD CHP Screening Tool is one of several
programs available for “screening level” CHP analysis; this
tool is “non-technical” and is directed specifically toward
building owners and operators.
Summary
Users of the HUD CHP Screening Tool need to type in data from their
monthly power and fuel bills for one consecutive 12 month period as well
as some utility rate information. The program uses these data to estimate
fuel use for space and water heating and power consumption for air
conditioning. The utility costs and rate information are combined with
correlations for costs of generator equipment, installation, and
maintenance to estimate simple payback periods for a hypothetical CHP
system relative to the non-CHP system reflected in the utility data.
Sites with low estimated simple payback periods are encouraged to look
more seriously into CHP for both its energy savings and cost savings opportunities.
Sites with high simple payback periods can save the time and effort of
examining CHP in detail with assurances that they are not missing a great
opportunity.
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