Federal Energy Management Program Research Articles

Empower Wall: Active insulation system leveraging additive manufacturing and model predictive control

Buildings are one of the largest energy consumers worldwide, using large amounts of energy during their construction and for climate control during operation. Active insulation systems (AIS) have been shown to reduce the energy needed for climate control in buildings by dynamically regulating the heat transferred between a building’s interior and exterior. Infrastructure-scale additive manufacturing (AM) has the potential to reduce the resources needed for building construction. Combining these two technologies into a single building envelope would create a path towards more sustainable buildings. A test was conducted for the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) Energy Exchange training and trade show, in August 2021, to investigate a new building envelope design, termed the Empower Wall, that utilized an AIS and was constructed using AM. Model predictive control was implemented to manage operation of the Empower Wall in concert with the existing HVAC system. The prototype system demonstrated that the Empower Wall lowered total energy consumption and reduced the cost of energy used.

The United States Federal Energy Management Program lighting energy efficiency 2017 update and impacts

Lighting consumes a great deal of electrical energy in buildings, and the U.S. federal government is the largest single energy consumer in the United States. Therefore, the way that the U.S. federal government manages its lighting energy use is of great importance. One important way that energy use is managed is through Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) energy efficiency requirements. However, there is not much literature on how these requirements are set and how to value the resulting savings. This paper documents the methodology used to develop these for the 2017 FEMP lighting update. A methodology for calculating the total benefits is presented that goes beyond site energy saved, and includes full fuel cycle energy savings, energy cost savings, emissions offset and monetized emissions costs. The results show total benefits of $33 million USD including 475 kilotons of carbon dioxide (CO2) offset under the low compliance scenario, $104 million USD including 1494 kilotons of CO2 offset under the medium compliance scenario, and $217 million USD including 3124 kilotons of CO2 offset under the high compliance scenario.

Validation of Calibrated Energy Models: Common Errors

Nowadays, there is growing interest in all the smart technologies that provide us with information and knowledge about the human environment. In the energy field, thanks to the amount of data received from smart meters and devices and the progress made in both energy software and computers, the quality of energy models is gradually improving and, hence, also the suitability of Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs). For this reason, the measurement of the accuracy of building energy models is an important task, because once the model is validated through a calibration procedure, it can be used, for example, to apply and study different strategies to reduce its energy consumption in maintaining human comfort. There are several agencies that have developed guidelines and methodologies to establish a measure of the accuracy of these models, and the most widely recognized are: ASHRAE Guideline 14-2014, the International Performance Measurement and Verification Protocol (IPMVP) and the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP). This article intends to shed light on these validation measurements (uncertainty indices) by focusing on the typical mistakes made, as these errors could produce a false belief that the models used are calibrated.

Life Cycle Cost Analysis of a Novel Cooling and Power Gas Turbine Engine

A life cycle cost analysis was performed to compare life cycle costs of a novel gas turbine engine to those of a conventional microturbine with similar power capacity. This engine, called the high-pressure regenerative turbine engine (HPRTE), operates on a pressurized semiclosed cycle and is integrated with a vapor absorption refrigeration system. The HPRTE uses heat from its exhaust gases to power the absorption refrigeration unit, which cools the high-pressure compressor inlet of the HPRTE to below ambient temperatures and also produces some external refrigeration. The life cycle cost analysis procedure is based on principles laid out in the Federal Energy Management Program. The influence of different design and economic parameters on the life cycle costs of both technologies is analyzed. The results of this analysis are expressed in terms of the cost ratios of the two technologies. The pressurized nature of the HPRTE leads to compact components resulting in significant savings in equipment cost versus those of a microturbine. Revenue obtained from external refrigeration offsets some of the fuel costs for the HPRTE, thus proving to be a major contributor in cost savings for the HPRTE. For the base case of a high-pressure turbine (HPT) inlet temperature of 1373 K and an exit temperature of 1073 K, the HPRTE showed life cycle cost savings of 7% over a microturbine with a similar power capacity.

New Lighting Technologies Demonstrated at Defense Commissaries

New and emerging lighting technologies, such as LEDs, can improve lighting quality while reducing maintenance and energy costs. The Defense Commissary Agency, with support from the Department of Energy's Federal Energy Management Program and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, demonstrsted the use of LED lighting in a large freezer storage room and fiber optic lighting in a series of verticial reach-in display freezer cases at the Fort George G. Meade Commissary. The LEDs resulted in an 85% reduction in lighting energy and a reduction in maintenance requirements. The fiber optic lighting system resulted in a 56% reduction in lighting energy.

Assessing O&M Practices at Federal Facilities—What Do The ESET Data Tell Us?

In late 2005, the Department of Energy (DOE) Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) Energy Saving Expert Teams (ESET) conducted assessments at 28 Federal sites. These assessments were directed by President Bush in a memorandum to Federal agencies in response to projected natural gas shortages resulting from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The primary focus of the ESET assessments was to identify low-cost and no-cost (operations and maintenance-oriented) energy efficiency measures that the sites could quickly and easily adopt to relieve the expected supply shortfall, while also realizing significant energy and cost savings. The assessments successfully identified large potential natural gas savings opportunities available at low-cost/no-cost through energy efficiency measures such as boiler tune-ups, repair of steam and condensate leaks, repair of missing and/or damaged insulation, adjusting temperature and setback setpoints, and modifying equipment operating schedules. Because these savings opportunities were largely anticipated, the issue now becomes one of helping facility managers more easily identify and address these opportunities as they arise.

Use of Quantitative Uncertainty Analysis to Support M&V Decisions in ESPCs

Measurement and Verification (M&V) is a critical element of an Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC) - without M&V, there is no way to confirm that the projected savings in an ESPC are in fact being realized. For any given energy conservation measure in an ESPC, there are usually several M&V choices, which will vary in terms of measurement uncertainty, cost, and technical feasibility. Typically, M&V decisions are made almost solely based on engineering judgment and experience, with little, if any, quantitative uncertainty analysis (QUA). This paper describes the results of a pilot project initiated by the Department of Energy s Federal Energy Management Program to explore the use of Monte-Carlo simulation to assess savings uncertainty and thereby augment the M&V decision-making process in ESPCs. The intent was to use QUA selectively in combination with heuristic knowledge, in order to obtain quantitative estimates of the savings uncertainty without the burden of a comprehensive bottoms-up QUA. This approach was used to analyze the savings uncertainty in an ESPC for a large federal agency. The QUA was seamlessly integrated into the ESPC development process and the incremental effort was relatively small with user-friendly tools that are commercially available. As the case study illustrates, in some cases the QUA simply confirms intuitive or qualitative information, while in other cases, it provides insight that suggests revisiting the M&V plan. The case study also showed that M&V decisions should be informed by the portfolio risk diversification. By providing quantitative uncertainty information, QUA can effectively augment the M&V decision-making process as well as the overall ESPC financial analysis.

Fuel Cell Demonstration at the u.s. Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod

ABSTRACT The U.S. Coast Guard installed one of the first fuel cells in the New England region, with funding from the Green Power Initiative of the Renewable Energy Trust (administered by the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative), the U.S. Department of Defense's (DOD's) Climate Change Fuel Cell Program, and KeySpan Energy. Beginning in 1998, the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (CERL) provided technical assistance in the form of project economics, analysis, and site selection. The 250-kW fuel cell combined heat and power plant is located at the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod in Bourne, Massachusetts. The prime contractor, PPL Corporation, was responsible for all engineering and design work. FuelCell Energy of Danbury, Connecticut, was responsible for the manufacture, delivery, and installation of the fuel cell. Fuel cells produce electricity through an electrochemical reaction rather than combustion. While currently more expensive to purchase than conventional power-generating equipment, fuel cells provide efficient, reliable power with minimal emissions. (For more information on fuel cells, see FEMP's Federal Technology Alert, “Natural Gas Fuel Cells” at www.eere.energy.gov/femp/pdfs/FTA_natgas_fuelcell.pdf).

Energy Savings Performance Contracting and New Construction

ABSTRACT Energy savings performance contracting (ESPC) is a tool that has been available to the federal government for several years to assist departments and agencies to meet energy reduction targets mandated through a series of executive orders. ESPCs have been traditionally applied to existing facilities—an energy services company (ESCO) would gather data on a government customer's facilities, analyze that data to identify retrofits and operational strategies that would result in reduced utility costs to operate the facilities, and subsequently implement the identified retrofits/strategies using the savings generated by the improvements to pay for the improvements. The ESCO guarantees that the savings will be available to pay for the improvements, and it demonstrates that the savings exist through various measurement and verification protocols throughout the performance period of the ESPC. In a new construction scenario, many of the data points available when undertaking a traditional ESPC are lacking. However, the General Services Administration, in partnership with the Department of Energy's Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) element and a couple of ESCOs, has successfully adapted ESPCs to new construction by using innovative techniques to establish performance baselines and building system simulation programs. This article will cover the basic concepts in the application of ESPCs to new construction and use a couple of case studies—the federal courthouse in Gulfport, Mississippi, and the Federal Research Center at White Oak in Silver Spring, Maryland, to demonstrate the value of this approach to the federal government. The ESCO for both case studies was Sempra Energy Solutions (SES).

FEMP'S O&M Best Practices Guide A Guide to AchievingOperational Efficiency

ABSTRACT The Federal Energy Management Program's (FEMP's) Operations and Maintenance Best Practices Guide (O&M BPG) highlights O&M programs targeting energy efficiency, which are estimated to save 5 percent to 20 percent on energy bills without a significant capital investment. Depending on the federal site, these savings can represent thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars each year, and many can be achieved with minimal cash outlays. In addition to energy/resource savings, a well-run O&M program will: • Increase the safety of all staff because properly maintained equipment is safer equipment. • Ensure the comfort, health, and safety of building occupants through properly functioning equipment, providing a healthy indoor environment. • Confirm the design life expectancy of equipment is achieved. • Facilitate compliance with federal legislation such as the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act. The focus of this guide is to provide the federal O&M/energy manager and practitioner with information an...

Using Distributed Energy Resources

This article was derived from the U.S. DOE, Federal Energy Man-agement Program (FEMP) guide of the same name by the editor-in-chief.This “how-to guide” was designed to define distributed energy re-sources (DER) and to assist federal facility and energy managers in as-sessing DER at their facilities. Every attempt has been made to be trueto the original document; however, some changes have been made to fitthe style of this journal. To get an original of the how-to guide, visitFEMP’s web site at www.eren.doe.gov/femp.

Using Distributed Energy Resources A How-to Guide for Federal Facility Managers

The Department of Energy's Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) established the Distributed Energy Resources (DER) Program to assist Federal agencies in implementing DER projects at their facilities. FEMP prepared this How-To Guide to assist facility managers in evaluating potential applications and benefits. It provides step-by-step advice on how to carry out a Federal DER project. It also describes and explains DER applications and potential benefits in Federal facilities; DER technologies and how to match them to applications; a step-by-step approach to implementing projects; potential barriers and how to overcome them; and resources to assist you in implementing new DER projects.

ADD CHP Accelerated Development and Deployment of Combined Cooling, Heat, and Power at Federal Facilities

ABSTRACT Fuel-efficient distributed energy generation systems such as combined cooling, heat, and power (CHP or cogeneration) are attracting increasing attention among project developers and policy makers because they can make significant contributions to mitigating key power sector constraints. These systems can meet increased energy needs, reduce transmission congestion, cut emissions, increase power quality and reliability, and increase the overall energy security for a site. The U.S. Department of Energy's Federal Energy Management Program (DOE-FEMP) recently completed a national market assessment to estimate the potential impacts of CHP in the federal sector (ORNL 2002). That study suggests that CHP could be successfully applied in 9 percent of large federal facilities, annually conserve 50 trillion Btus of primary energy, reduce CO2 emissions by 2.7 million metric tons, and cut utility bills by $170 million. Although many CHP technologies are proven and the potential savings and benefits are signifi...

Geothermal Heat Pumps as a Cost Saving and Capital Renewal Tool

An independent evaluation of the Fort Polk, Louisiana energy savings performance contract (ESPC) has verified the financial value of geothermal heat pump (GHP)-centered ESPCS to the federal government. The Department of Energy (DOE) Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) has responded by issuing an RFP for the National GHP-Technology-Specific Super ESPC Procurement. Federal agency sites anywhere in the nation will be able to implement GHP-centered ESPC projects as delivery orders against the awarded contracts.

Integrated Energy and Water Conservation Modeling

Under the Energy Policy Act of 1992, the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) is required to provide federal facility managers with a clear determination of the impact of water conservation practices on energy consumption. This paper introduces the WATERGY model, which is a spreadsheet model to analyze total energy savings associated with water conservation efforts. The contribution of this effort is the development of a synergistic model based on engineering algorithms as opposed to lumped parameter estimates. The model explicitly details the relationships between direct and indirect water and energy savings. Irrigation, plumbing fixture, appliance, and boiler blowdown savings comprise the direct water component of the model. Reduction in leakage and unaccounted-for water in the distribution system are calculated as indirect water savings. Direct energy savings are calculated for hot water production. Indirect energy savings associated with distribution and collection, electric line losses, and unaccounted-for gas are determined by the model. Data sources, algorithms, and engineering assumptions used in the development of the model are detailed. The model capabilities are demonstrated for a hypothetical federal facility.

Performance Contracting for Parabolic Trough Solar Thermal Systems

Several applications of solar energy have proven viable in the energy marketplace, due to competitive technology and economic performance. One example is the parabolic trough solar collectors, which use focused solar energy to maximize efficiency and reduce material use in construction. Technical improvements are complemented by new business practices to make parabolic trough solar thermal systems technically and economically viable in an ever widening range of applications. Technical developments in materials and fabrication techniques reduce production cost and expand applications from swimming pool heating and service hot water, to higher-temperature applications such as absorption cooling and process steam. Simultaneously, new financing mechanisms such as a recently awarded US Department of Energy (DOE) Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) indefinite quantity Energy Savings Performance Contract (Super ESPC) facilitate and streamline implementation of the technology in federal facilities such as prisons and military bases.

97/00717 Insurance company for mining launched

Energy efficiency in the USA improved dramatically between 1973–1986. During the past two years, however, efficiency has stagnated. This is unfortunate because improving efficiency saves money for energy consumers, boosts economic productivity, reduces oil imports, and improves environmental quality. This paper discusses ways for the US Department of Energy to further improve US energy efficiency during the 1990s. Such efforts include: make a national commitment to energy efficiency; strengthen the Federal Energy Management Program; update programmes aimed at State and local governments; increase energy-efficiency research; work with utilities and State regulatory commissions to implement least-cost planning; strengthen energy-efficiency standards, and collect more data on energy-use and its determinants.

Improving energy efficiency in the USA: The federal role

Energy efficiency in the USA improved dramatically between 1973–1986. During the past two years, however, efficiency has stagnated. This is unfortunate because improving efficiency saves money for energy consumers, boosts economic productivity, reduces oil imports, and improves environmental quality. This paper discusses ways for the US Department of Energy to further improve US energy efficiency during the 1990s. Such efforts include: make a national commitment to energy efficiency; strengthen the Federal Energy Management Program; update programmes aimed at State and local governments; increase energy-efficiency research; work with utilities and State regulatory commissions to implement least-cost planning; strengthen energy-efficiency standards, and collect more data on energy-use and its determinants.