An extensive set of advanced monitoring, control and information management technologies can be used to increase a building’s Energy Intelligence Quotient (EIQ) – a measure of the degree to which cost-effective intelligence has been deployed. But which intelligent technologies can be applied cost-effectively to a given building? The paper describes how to analyze the economic value of...
Demand management and distributed generation could transform how consumers interact with the electricity grid and manage energy. Energy consumers may be shifting to view themselves as both consumers and increasingly as suppliers - with renewable energy generation on-site and demand response capability. This new consumer model and the concept of a distributed energy system may be disruptive...
By Clay Nesler In April 2013, with the devastation of Superstorm Sandy still top of mind, the Johnson Controls Institute for Building Efficiency surveyed over 600 energy and facility executives across North America on their current practices and future plans to improve the resiliency of their buildings and energy systems. Many articles in the aftermath of Sandy have offered advice to building...
When beginning a green building project or trying to operate a facility effectively, professionals often wonder:
Existing power plant carbon performance standards being developed under the Clean Air Act could include supporting or crediting energy efficiency projects which reduce CO2 emissions by reducing electricity use in buildings. Payments for CO2 reductions or incentives and rebates, on top of energy cost savings, could shorten payback on efficiency projects, including energy service performance...
Green buildings provide many benefits to owners, developers and occupants that should translate into additional property value during a building’s appraisal. Green Building and Property Value: A Primer for Building Owners and Developers, explains why green buildings deserve higher value, then spells out how to document that value to lenders and appraisers. “The guide will help...
Momentum in pursuing net zero energy in new buildings is growing in the United States. An increasing number of buildings meet this standard, raising confidence that net zero goals are realistic given current building technologies and design approaches. In this environment, the New Buildings Institute (NBI) in February 2014 released an update on the latest market trends and government policies:
Deep building retrofits are attractive investments, yet they are often not completed because the full value of the retrofit isn’t taken into account. Such retrofits are typically evaluated based on energy savings alone, leaving the non-energy benefits out of the investment decision making process. A new Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) report, “How to Calculate and Present Deep Retrofit...
Demand response will likely play a growing role in reducing peak power demand, balancing intermittent renewable energy, managing power price spikes, supporting grid reliability, and managing transmission congestion. To meet these challenges, demand response programs must find a way to grow and sustain customer participation. “Increasing Opportunities for Demand Response,” a report from...
Employees want to work for organizations that enable them to behave sustainably, but they don’t want it to burden them or change their work patterns. Women behave slightly more sustainably than men; support for sustainability increases with age. Organizations that want more sustainable workplaces succeed best by showing strong leadership and a tangible commitment to which employees can...