New U.S. Data Tools are Playing a Crucial Role in Decarbonizing Buildings at Speed, Scale, and Low Cost

Carolyn Szum, Han Li, Robin Mitchell, Sydney Applegate, Billierae Engelman, Nicholas Long, Yassen Roussev, Eric Noller

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaper

Abstract

Preparing buildings for retrofits traditionally requires expensive on-site audits or timeintensive simulation models. As a result, the majority of buildings fail to pursue cost-saving retrofits. To address these barriers, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has introduced the Building Efficiency Targeting Tool for Energy Retrofits (BETTER)-a new, free, on-line tool that utilizes a data-driven analytical engine and user-friendly web interface to automatically analyze a building's monthly energy usage in response to weather conditions. The tool benchmarks a building's electric and fossil energy usage against peers; estimates energy, cost, and emissions reductions at the building and portfolio levels; recommends energy efficiency measures; and prioritizes buildings for net-zero energy retrofits. Thanks to interoperability with the DOE's Standard Energy Efficiency Data (SEED) platform, BETTER is supporting U.S. jurisdictions to prepare buildings for retrofit at speed, scale, and low cost to comply with energy policies. This paper discusses the use of BETTER and SEED by one of the branches of the California state government to streamline a retrofit program across 455 public non-residential buildings to align with state goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It describes the organization's challenge to reduce energy consumption across a geographically diverse, aging portfolio; explores how BETTER and SEED improved workflow efficiency; presents preliminary results, including avoiding audit costs of $3.28 million and developing the groundwork for retrofit projects estimated to prevent emission of 2,271 t CO2e annually; and provides guidance for other jurisdictions seeking similar results.
Original languageAmerican English
Number of pages15
StatePublished - 2024
EventACEEE Summer Study on Buildings - Pacific Grove, California
Duration: 4 Aug 20249 Aug 2024

Conference

ConferenceACEEE Summer Study on Buildings
CityPacific Grove, California
Period4/08/249/08/24

NREL Publication Number

  • NREL/CP-5500-89195

Keywords

  • BETTER
  • building data analysis
  • change point models
  • SEED Platform

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