SA-12-C026 -- Using Energy Models to Verify Utility Consumption

With utility costs projected to increase in the near future, many developers and planners are beginning to view energy conservation measure more seriously. Energy modelers are going to be consulted more frequently in order to determine the feasibility of implementing these measures into future projects. However, before justified decision can be made regarding incorporating energy conservation measures, a determination must be made on how accurate current energy modeling predications are based on actual measured data. This paper will address a study performed on four facilities comparing projected energy use versus measured data. The facilities encompass a wide range of building type, HVAXC systems, climate regions, and operational schedules. The data provided will assist developers and planner with understanding the benefits of energy modeling and offer ideas to help further reduce discrepancies between modeled and metered data.