weatherization assistant 827 field implementation issues

Weatherization Assistant 827

Field Implementation Issues

Martha BenewiczWI Division of Energy

Services

2007 DOE National Training Conference Orlando, Florida December 9-12, 2007

2

NEAT & MHEA Umbrella

Weatherization Assistance 827 includes: NEAT: The National Energy

Audit Tool MHEA: Mobile Home Energy

Audit Most recent version released

in September 2006


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No Free Lunch

Any energy audit will require a substantial commitment by State

National tools require customization Or modeling protocols

developed by state


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NEAT Users Here Minnesota: a customized version

of the audit Time and money to get the product

you want Wisconsin: extensive protocols to

make the audit reflect our program We’d like to customize the audit to

get the product we want


5

WI Moved to NEAT 2003

Started with Version 7.4.3 Re-established our priority list,

switching from WECC 4.0 Required use: about 10% of our

units Boiler Replacement Exterior perimeter insulation Atypical buildings


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Problematic Applications

NEAT doesn’t model exterior foundation treatments We had to develop our own calculations

and use the Itemized cost tab. Atypical buildings are also

questionable Example: Someone lives in a silo

Large foundation? One wall? Ratio of wall to attic is pretty weird

Or a storage tank


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And, Really We Shouldn’t Expect It To


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2006 Moved to WX Assistant 8.27

We liked the: Administrative features

Could develop a work order using measures list or the audit

The inventory tracking looked promising

Expected to customize the audit to our reporting system

GIS mapping and photo feature


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We Really Liked

Improved lay-out and versatility Model two efficiencies of heating

systems Attic insulation level

Expanded Itemized cost section Allows management of alternative

measures by including in the building’s SIR


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We had decided to move to MHEA for mobile home weatherization Looked like it would a DOE

requirement Implementation with the most

recent version Did not expect to be the first

state using the this version

MHEA


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A Talking Audit

We expected to link the audit with our reporting system Minnesota worked with ORNL to do that

ORNL has been busy updating audit We are waiting for the upgrade We believe the cost-benefit of having

the measures ordered reconciled to actual, expensed, and reported to be BIG


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Implementation Issues

Energy Auditor expertise & experience 10% not enough to know and

work well with the tool Most auditors with previous

computer audit experience had moved up

Starting from scratch


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More Implementation Issues

10% of jobs was not enough for the state to make a big commitment % of one staff persons time % of a sub-contractor’s time

Training for all auditors once or twice a year


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Priority Lists vs. Energy Audit

WI’s Current status: MHEA Audit used on all

mobile homes. NEAT used on >40% of jobs:

Boiler replacement Exterior perimeter insulation Repair costs>$500 Health & Safety costs >$1,000


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Running More Audits

Using the audit more frequently Better performance in the field

New understanding for Energy Auditors Savings-to-Investment Ratio

Concept Beginning to see the relationship

between health & safety and repair costs and SIR


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Validating Measures

Use NEAT to review and validate measures about once a year.

Universe of 80 jobs that reflect our housing stock and fuel use Re-run with current audit version Updated libraries and parameters

Costs and fuel use


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Things Change

Changes in five year period: Fuel costs:

2003 2007Oil: $.90 $2.37LP: $.83 $1.76NG: $8.12 $11.2EL: $.075 $.108


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2006 Analysis with NEAT


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2006 Analysis with NEAT

Net Present Value: NPV is the discounted total dollar value of lifetime energy savings minus the installation cost (as opposed to SIR, which is the discounted total dollar value of lifetime energy savings divided by the installation cost). Future savings are discounted to account for the time value of money.


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Contributions to Aggregate Net Present

Value

29%

17%

10%

4%6%

34%

Attic insulation

Htg. system replacementWall insulation

Air SealingRefrigerator replacement

Other

NPV is the discounted total dollar value of lifetime energy savings minus the installation cost.


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Manageable Change

Weatherization Assistant 8: Easy back-up of your database Easy importation and linking to

a new database Older jobs can be re-run with

the click of a button and the jobs are updated to new costs


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Easy to Monitor and Review

Easy to submit one audit—or all audits via e-mail Once your auditors are trained

Allows state or consultant to review the audits Quickly target problems for

training and technical assistance Or corrective action


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We have a wish list of improvements we’d like to see Hopefully we’ll see some of them in the new

release A new version of the Weatherization

Assistant is pending Major issue: Vista compatibility.

Improvements Needed:


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Allow administrating agency to lock the database: Enabled/disabling measures, parameters,

and costs cannot be locked Local users now can disable or enable

measures or otherwise change the set-up information

Lockable Database


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Fuel Switching

Set-up the heating system page to allow for fuel switching

Save a lot of time and reduce the potential for error WI protocol for transposing the

preliminary audit results to a stand alone calculator to determine an SIR


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Foundation Modeling

Include a fail safe warning: Do not allow buildings to be

modeled without foundations The current screen is confusing

to auditors Can’t tell what measures they are

modeling when they enter the data


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Issues for Small Multis

Refrigerators: Only allows one refrigerator to be

modeled Heating Systems

Evaluate only one one primary heating system

Buildings with multiple systems require finesse.


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MHEA Algorithms

Distribution sealing appears to routinely overestimate air sealing SIR. At least warning notices when

the data entered generates huge SIRs

Such as 50.0 or 89.5


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Implementing an Energy Audit

Don’t underestimate time and resources required to implement We now incorporate on-line and

on-site training and technical assistance

Realize that any “national” tool will need to be managed for your state or agency

weatherization assistant 827 field implementation issues

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