Determine the impact of energy saving solutions by using measurement and verification (M & V) tools.

Two of the Obama Administration’s stimulus programs focus specifically on energy efficiency: the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program (EECBG) and the State Energy Program (SEP). Combined, these programs offer just over $6 billion in funding for various energy efficiency projects, but they require project participants to measure and provide verification of energy savings. For instance, the EECBG program requires grantees to report energy savings per dollar invested to the Department of Energy.^[1] To help customers using these programs meet new regulatory requirements for transparency and effectiveness, electrical distributors should be familiar with measurement and verification (M&V) protocols.

M&V provides reassurance for the customer (and the government) that what was promised in the energy project proposal is actually delivered. Some incentives and rebate programs may also require M&V. Many Energy Service Companies (ESCOs) offer performance guarantees as a method of verifying energy savings. Energy service providers, facility managers, and building owners can all follow M & V guidelines to determine whether or not energy savings were actually achieved. The U.S. Department of Energy’s Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) developed a Measurement and Verification Guideline for Federal Energy Projects to help with before-and-after energy use comparisons. These guidelines can be scaled up or down depending on the complexity of the energy project. The Efficiency Valuation Organization’s International Performance Measurement & Verification Protocol (IPMVP) also provides guidelines on how to measure systems in isolation or to conduct whole building comparisons. This protocol is also referenced in the LEED rating system, under Energy and Atmosphere credits.

What does this mean for the electrical distributor? A chance to sell customers more sensors and other measurement systems, not only for these specific stimulus-funded projects, but also for all the LEED projects that choose to pursue the point(s) for using M&V systems. For more information, see NAED’s Findings in Brief: Services & Solutions to Help Customers Go Green.

^[1] http://www.eecbg.energy.gov/about/FAQ.html#lh1 accessed August 11, 2009.

Retailer Reduces Environmental Impact

Wal-Mart High Efficiency (HE) pilot stores help the world’s largest retailer reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.

As the world’s largest company, Wal-Mart has a tremendous impact on the environment.^[1] Over the past few years, the company has been building High Efficiency (HE) pilot stores to reduce their energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.

Wal-Mart introduced the sixth generation of HE pilot stores last summer in Sacramento, California. The store is climate-specific, using a combination of evaporative cooling and radiant flooring technologies to cool the stores. Cool water is produced in roof-mounted cooling towers and then pumped through the radiant flooring system to cool the retail space.

This system uses less energy than traditional air conditioning. HE pilot stores also feature daylight harvesting through skylights, which reduces lighting energy by up to 75%, and LED lighting, which is 70% more efficient than traditional fluorescent lighting. Overall, the Sacramento store is 30% more energy efficient than the 2005 Wal-Mart supercenter baseline.^[2] Wal-Mart uses energy management systems in all of their U.S. stores and Sam’s Club locations.^[3]

It is important for electrical distributors to be aware of what retailers are doing in terms of sustainability. According to a 2009 survey of NAED members, 44% of respondents identified retailers as an end user of energy management solutions. For more information on selling energy management solutions to commercial customers, please refer to NAED’s “Selling to the Commercial Market“ case study.

[1] http://walmartstores.com/FactsNews/FactSheets/ accessed August 5, 2009.

[2] http://walmartstores.com/FactsNews/NewsRoom/9203.aspx accessed August 5, 2009.

[3] http://walmartstores.com/Sustainability/9124.aspx accessed August 5, 2009.