Measurement and Verification Protocols –M&V Meets the Competitive and Environmental Marketplaces

J. Stephen Kromer, Enron Energy Services
Steven R. Schiller, Schiller Associates

Keywords

Abstract

This paper describes the status of measurement and verification (M&V) guidelines for determining savings from energy efficiency projects. Existing protocols such as the International Performance Measurement and Verification Protocol (IPMVP, 1997) and the Federal Energy Management Program M&V Guideline (FEMP, 2000) have been updated and expanded. In addition, new guidelines are available from the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE, 2000) and for emission reduction and state public benefits charge programs. These documents, particularly the IPMVP, have become industry standards and a required consideration for all performance contracting.

Also discussed are several important issues and M&V development requirements. These include differentiating Option A M&V methods from simple stipulation of energy savings; the use of uncertainty analysis in M&V, selecting M&V methods based on project value and risk; selecting an appropriate level of M&V rigor for specific projects and programs; and using M&V to determine the emissions reductions associated with energy efficiency projects and programs.

Several M&V trends are emerging related to these important issues. These trends include the increasing prevalence of simpler M&V approaches, resulting in the rise of deemed savings values in several public and private “performance contracting” programs. This trend is being driven by interest in reducing project costs while maintaining an appropriate level of confidence in the savings associated with common energy efficiency measures. Another trend is the use of new software tools to analyze facility energy data for a wide range of applications (such as commissioning, building fault detection and diagnosis, and energy commodity profiling). This trend can lead to lower M&V costs as the cost of data collection is spread across multiple uses. A third trend is the use of M&V to quantify benefits other than energy cost savings resulting from energy efficiency projects, particularly emission reductions. In order to include energy efficiency in emission credit programs, M&V systems are being developed to meet the myriad of technical, economic, social and political issues associated with documenting both energy and emission savings.