318 Energy Project Financing: Resources and Strategies for Success
continuous or periodic. Annual costs should be expected to be highest
at the beginning of the post-retrofit period. At this stage in a project
measurement processes are being refined, and closer monitoring of
performance is needed to optimize ECM operation. Some projects may
cease reporting savings after a defined “test” period, though metering
maybe left in place for real time feedback to operating staff
The appropriate cost for each savings determination should be
determined in proportion to the expected savings their potential vari-
ability.
3.4.1.8 Option A: Best Applications
Option A is best applied where:
- the performance of only the systems affected by the ECM is of
concern, either due to the responsibilities assigned to the parties
in a performance contract or due to the savings of the ECM being
too small to be detected in the time available using Option C. - interactive effects between ECMs or with other facility equipment
can be measured or assumed to be not significant. - isolation of the ECM from the rest of the facility and stipulation
of key factors may avoid possibly difficult non-routine Baseline
Adjustments for future changes to the facility. - the independent variables that affect energy use are not complex
and excessively difficult or expensive to monitor. - submeters already exist to isolate energy use of systems.
- meters added for isolation purposes will be used for other pur-
poses such as operational feedback or tenant billing. - the uncertainty created by stipulations is acceptable.
- the continued effectiveness of the ECM can be assessed by routine
visual inspection of stipulated parameters. - stipulation of some parameters is less costly than measurement of
them in Option B or simulation in Option D.