1. The GRC’s Lab Benchmarking Project
Alison Farmer, PhD

2. Outline
Acknowledgements
Motivation
Methodology
Progress
Outlook

3. What is benchmarking? Am I normal?
How efficiently is a building meeting its functional requirements (relative to others)?

4. Why benchmark? To catalyze energy savings Demand is increasing:
Prioritizing efficiency targets
Context setting
Certifications
Regulatory compliance
Starting the efficiency conversation
Demand is increasing:
LEED EBOM
ASHRAE audits
ASHRAE bEQ
ENERGY STAR
Disclosure ordinances

5. How do we benchmark? Whole-building energy benchmarking
Fair comparison with peer buildings
Account for location, space type, occupancy patterns, etc.
Regression analysis or filtering
What gets a “free pass?”
Miami vs SF: yes
Leaving lights on all night: no

6. Benchmarking tools Tools have become sophisticated But not for labs
Confusion about lab EUIs

7. Why does it matter? Building energy disclosure ordinances
Without context, labs look like energy hogs
BERDO: energy assessments/actions required every 5 years
“High efficiency” buildings are exempted
No definition for high efficiency labs
EUI
Labs
from City of Boston BERDO report August 2015

8. Why is it so hard for labs?
Complex and detailed functional requirements

9. The best data out there Labs21 dataset 15 years, ~550 buildings
Filter based on lab type, lab area
Variety of years, locations, submitters
Distribution of labs

10. The problem with the data
Huge scatter, even among “peer” buildings
What is behind the scatter?
Bad data?
Not enough data?
(In)efficiency?
(Correlations significant but
R2 for multivariate fit is 11%)

11. So can we improve things?
Can we pick “winners” while asking a reasonable number of questions?
Can the standard benchmarking approach work for labs?
Positive impact
Reporting burden

12. Building a better sample
Picking winners based on limited data is a common problem.
Steps to take:
Reduce the noise
Find other important factors

13. 1. Reduce the noise Geography Year Data collection methods
Consistent treatment of central plant energy

14. 2. Look for other effects Ask more questions about building function:
Ask other questions to allow hypothesis testing:
Efficiency features
HVAC systems and controls
Ventilation requirements
Investigate outliers
Standard:
Lab area
Lab type
Hours of occupancy
Additional:
# fume hoods
High-intensity spaces
Purpose of rest of building
Building’s reputation
A few others

15. The survey Participants: 7 Higher Ed Working Group member schools
~150 lab buildings expected
Data collection built on Labs21 and Portfolio Manager questions

16. Where are we? 15% of data submitted Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Data Collection
Analysis
Results
15% of data submitted

17. Expected outcomes: 1. Inform ordinances
Provide context for lab energy consumption
Breakdown by type of lab
Assessment of potential for using a whole building energy benchmarking approach to identify and exempt high-efficiency lab buildings
Baseline stats to gauge progress in future years

18. 2. National impact
Critical information for imminent Labs21 tool upgrades
Inform EPA’s efforts to extend Energy Star to labs
Show Boston area’s leadership in energy efficiency

19. Questions?
Alison Farmer