Energy Efficiency Potential in Existing Commercial Buildings: Review of Selected Recent Studies

Abstract

ph: (865) 576-8401, fax: (865) 576-5728 email: reports@adonis.osti.gov Available to the public from the National Technical Information Service, U.S. Department of Commerce, 5285 Port Royal Rd., Springfield, VA 22161 ph: (800) 553-6847, fax: (703) 605-6900 email: orders@ntis.fedworld.gov online ordering: http://www.ntis.gov/ordering.htmThis document was printed on recycled paper. SummaryThe goal of DOE's Zero-Net Energy Commercial Building Initiative (CBI) is to develop marketable Zero-Net Energy Commercial Buildings, buildings that use cutting-edge efficiency technologies and on-site renewable energy generation to offset their energy use from the electricity grid by 2025. While the impact on commercial energy use in the long term may be substantial from this initiative, over the near term the potential to reduce energy consumption in existing buildings may be more important. The U.S. Department of Energy requested Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to review recent literature as it applied to state and utility efforts to reduce energy use in existing commercial buildings, as a means of helping to define programmatic activities at the federal level. PNNL reviewed six different studies from states all across the U.S. and found that:This review also extended to a report on building monitoring and controls and the potential to improve energy efficiency of existing buildings. However, as a whole, the state and utility studies reviewed here placed little emphasis on the potential for this technology. In large part, this likely stems from the complexity in trying to define an incentive program that would promote adoption of such systems. It is estimated that building sensors and controls-excluding those associated with lighting--have the potential of reducing commercial building energy use by an additional 5 to 20 percent. However, these savings are difficult to distinguish with general improved management and operations or commissioning efforts.

Commercial Building Partnerships Replication and Diffusion

“…Overall building design can help achieve energy and cost savings. For example, design solutions to existing commercial buildings based on the climate zone in which the building is located has been estimated to have a cost savings potential of 10 to 20% (Belzer, 2009), relatively consistent with the 11-30% reported by CBP partners. Other studies point to economic gains from lower operational costs of HVAC systems due to increased envelope efficiencies (Kneifel, 2010;Howarth, 2010).…”

Effects of Building Occupancy on Indicators of Energy Efficiency

“…These results were lately further corroborated by the industry's own findings, published by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development [5]. Concerning commercial buildings specifically, a review of studies by U.S. Department of Energy [6] found technical potentials of 12.0-40.4% and economic potentials of 10.8-34.3% for energy efficiency improvements in typical buildings.…”

Technology inventory: energy efficiency measures for residential, commercial, and industrial sectors in the United States

“…Table 14 shows some examples of energy efficiency improvement options for end uses in commercial buildings. Table 15 shows the "lost-opportunity" 7 and retrofit measures identified by the NWPCC as being cost-effective and achievable by 2025 ( [19]). Table 16 shows examples of cross-cutting energy-saving design options for appliances and equipment used in residential, commercial and industrial sectors.…”

“…Lot-opportunity resources refer to measures that must be undertaken when buildings are constructed or remodeled and when new or replacement equipment is purchased ([19]). …”