Building Agent:A Better Energy Dashboard

Stephen M. FrankShanti Pless

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Track 2 – Session 2: Visualization & Tools

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

NREL Research Support Facility

Location: Golden, COPrimary Use: OfficeSize: 360,000 ft2

Occupants: Approximately 1,325LEED Rating: PlatinumConstruction Cost: $254/ft2 (excl. PV)Energy Budget: 35 kBtu/ft2/yrNet Zero Energy

Background

2Image: Dennis Schroeder, NREL

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Occupant Impact

Images: Dennis Schroeder, NREL

Occupants influence about 30%of total energy consumption

4

RSF Performance Targets

Pie Chart: Chad Lobato, NREL; Graphic: Marjorie Schott, NREL, and Stockphoto

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Occupant Engagement

Image: Nicholas Long, NREL

How do we engage occupantsin order to meet (or exceed)aggressive efficiency goals?

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Building Agent

Graphics: Nicholas Long, NREL

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Effective Visualization?

What doesthis tell us?

Building Agent Dashboard

8Graphic Design: Marjorie Schott, NREL

What about this?

Creating Expectations

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Upper Expectation

Measured Performance

Lower Expectation

Expectations combine statistical and physical energy models

Modeling Consumption

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Vertical Irradiance (W/m2)

LPD

(W/m

2)

Statistical ModelsLighting

Physical ModelsPV Generation

Combined ModelsPlug Loads

Henze, G.P.; Pless, S.; Petersen, A.; Long, N.; Scambos, T. (2015). “Control limits for building energy end use based on frequency analysis and quantile regression." Energy Efficiency, published online. DOI: 10.1007/s12053-015-9342-6

Fault Detection Example: Daylighting

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Lighting higher than expected

Lighting out of range despite full daylighting potential

Root Cause: Daylighting controls overridden during repair of ballast and fixtures; controls weren’t reset

6-Nov-20136-Nov-2013

Fault Detection Example: Lighting Controls

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Lighting load is too highin evening hours (6–10 PM)

Response: Reduce auto-off delays; staff outreach; lessons learned for future lighting system design

Multiple Causes: Cleaning staff, individuals working late

1-Jan-2014 5-Apr-2014

Fault Detection Example: Air Handler

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Solution: Installation of new evaporative cooling unit to meet local demand, enabling the AHU to turn off at night

Problem: Large AHU on all night: manually overridden to provide air and cooling to a few night shift security employees

16-Aug-2013

7-Oct-2013

Fault Detection Example: PV Inverter Offline

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PV output too low. Why? Time series suggests inverter outage; offline inverter confirmed via vendor web portal and repair dispatched

20-Mar-2015 20-Mar-2015

Fault Detection Example: Open Windows

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9-Mar-2015

9 AM on a MondayHeating well above predicted Root Cause: Windows open all weekend in

a conference room. 35 °F Monday morning; heat in room running at 100%

Image: Shanti Pless, NREL

Fault Detection Example: Open Windows

17

9-Mar-2015

9-Mar-2015

Windows closedaround 9:30 AM

Back in line!

What’s Next?

• Automated model construction• OpenStudio integration?• Haystack!

18

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Haystack

id: @rsf-mainelecmetersiteMetersiteRef→dis: “RSF”

elecmetersubMeterOf:

@rsf-mainmechanical

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Questions?

Stephen Frank, Ph.D.Commercial Building Systems IntegrationNational Renewable Energy Laboratory303-275-4249 (office)Stephen.Frank@nrel.gov