Applying the Leap Experience to Monitoring of Commercial Buildings in Hot and Humid Climates

Abstract

Energy use monitoring projects for commercial buildings must be carefully configured and managed to assure useful data products are produced in a timely and cost-effective manner. Many challenges associated with site selection, data definition, hardware installation, and quality assurance should be addressed before monitoring is attempted. This presentation describes our experience with these challenges and offers advice for those considering the monitoring of buildings in hot and humid climates. Over one hundred commercial buildings have been instrumented by Pacific Northwest Laboratory to provide an empirical basis for utility end-use load forecasting and conservation assessment. For the largest project, The End-Use Load and Consumer Assessment Program (ELCAP), specific protocols were developed for management, initial site inspection, measurement plan development, characteristics data collection, equipment installation, and data collection and verification. The purpose and general structure of these protocols will be described, and our experiences with their application will be shared in the hope that others undertaking commercial building energy use monitoring projects can benefit.