Abstract

While M&V is typically seen as increased overhead to a project, we contend that when M&V is used as an opportunity to enhance performance, this allows program administrators to capture significant additional savings with very modest incremental cost.

Commissioning is the last voluntary step in a retrofit project. When a change is made, there’s a good chance it won’t work the first time, which leaves retrofits prone to under-performance of energy savings. Performing M&V not only helps ensure that the project is performing as expected, but it also provides the implementer with a valuable chance to gain more savings than originally anticipated or recover savings that would have otherwise been lost.

These incremental savings gained through combined commissioning and M&V can be harvested for a fraction of the cost of the initial savings. This will be explored through a series of case studies comparing project performance as initially completed vs post M&V/commissioning performance. Using real data and observations from multiple real-world examples, we will demonstrate that this value-added service is capable of producing some of the cheapest energy savings available to utility efficiency programs.

Presenter

Mike Christianson, CEM, CMVP
Director Customer Engagement
Energy 350

Mike Christianson is the Director of Customer Engagement at Energy 350. He oversees 350’s customer engagement efforts including outreach, marketing, Strategic Energy Management (SEM) delivery and external business development. Mike has been a Program Delivery Contractor and SEM Coach for Energy Trust of Oregon’s Industrial program since 2014 and 2018, respectively, and holds both a Certified Energy Manager (CEM) and Certified Measurement and Verification Professional (CVMP) credential with the Association of Energy Engineers. Mike serves on the board of directors of The Northwest Energy Efficiency Council (NEEC) and is Vice President of the Association of Energy Engineers Columbia River Chapter.

Mike has over 15 years of experience in the areas of energy efficiency, environmental policy and R&D in both the public and private sectors. In a past life before joining Energy 350, he held senior engineering positions at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Daimler Trucks North America, working on federal motor vehicle emission regulations, renewable fuel policy and automotive research program design. Mike received both his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Mechanical Engineering, cum laude, from the University of Michigan. In his free time, Mike enjoys snowboarding, cycling, brewing beer and spending time outdoors in the Pacific NW.

2A: Solving the Problem of Quantifying Efficiency

A Guide to the Labyrinth of M&V 1 pm - 1:30 pm

M&V: Added Expense or Cheapest Energy Savings Available 1:30 pm - 2 pm

Model Enhanced Monitoring: Can Simulation Models Improve M&V? 2 pm - 2:30 pm

Managing Risk in ESPCs 2:30 pm - 3 pm

A Guide to the Labyrinth of M&V
1 pm - 1:30 pm

M&V: Added Expense or Cheapest Energy Savings Available
1:30 pm - 2 pm

Model Enhanced Monitoring: Can Simulation Models Improve M&V?
2 pm - 2:30 pm

Managing Risk in ESPCs
2:30 pm - 3 pm