HomeMy WebLinkAboutFAI City Hall 2012-EEManaging Office
2400 College Road 3105 Lakeshore Dr. Suite 106A 4402 Thane Road
Fairbanks, Alaska 99709 Anchorage, Alaska 99517 Juneau, Alaska 99801
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ENERGY AUDIT – FINAL REPORT
FAIRBANKS CITY HALL
800 Cushman Street
Fairbanks, Alaska
Prepared for:
Mr. Phil Sanders
City of Fairbanks
Prepared by:
David C. Lanning PE, CEA
Douglas Dusek CEA
Stephanie Young EIT, CEAIT
July 17, 2012
Acknowledgment: "This material is based upon work supported by the Department of
Energy under Award Number DE-EE0000095.”
ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING, HEALTH & SAFETY
Anch: 3105 Lakeshore Dr. Ste 106A, 99517 907.222.2445 Fax: 222.0915
Fairbanks: 2400 College Road, 99709 907.452.5688 Fax: 452.5694
Juneau: 4402 Thane Road, 99801 907.586.6813 Fax: 586.6819
info@nortechengr.com www.nortechengr.com
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................. 1
2.0 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................... 3
2.1 Building Use .......................................................................................................... 3
2.2 Building Occupancy and Schedules ...................................................................... 3
2.3 Building Description ............................................................................................... 3
3.0 BENCHMARKING 2010 UTILITY DATA .......................................................................... 5
3.1 Total Energy Use and Cost of 2010 ...................................................................... 6
3.2 Energy Utilization Index of 2010 ............................................................................ 7
3.3 Cost Utilization Index of 2010 ................................................................................ 8
3.4 Seasonal Energy Use Patterns ............................................................................. 9
3.5 Future Energy Monitoring .................................................................................... 10
4.0 MODELING ENERGY CONSUMPTION ......................................................................... 11
4.1 Understanding How AkWarm Models Energy Consumption ............................... 12
4.2 AkWarm Calculated Savings for the Fairbanks City Hall ..................................... 13
4.3 Additional Modeling Methods .............................................................................. 14
5.0 BUILDING OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE (O & M) .............................................. 15
5.1 Operations and Maintenance .............................................................................. 15
5.2 Commissioning .................................................................................................... 15
5.3 Building Specific Recommendations ................................................................... 15
Energy Audit – Final Report
Fairbanks City Hall
Fairbanks, Alaska
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APPENDICES
Appendix A Recommended Energy Efficiency Measures ........................................... 17
Appendix B Energy Efficiency Measures that are NOT Recommended ..................... 22
Appendix C Significant Equipment List ....................................................................... 23
Appendix D Local Utility Rate Structure ...................................................................... 24
Appendix E Analysis Methodology .............................................................................. 26
Appendix F Audit Limitations ...................................................................................... 27
Appendix G References .............................................................................................. 28
Appendix H Typical Energy Use and Cost – Fairbanks and Anchorage ..................... 29
Appendix I Typical Energy Use and Cost – Continental U.S. .................................... 30
Appendix J List of Conversion Factors and Energy Units .......................................... 31
Appendix K List of Acronyms, Abbreviations, and Definitions .................................... 32
Appendix L Building Floor Plan .................................................................................. 33
Energy Audit – Final Report
Fairbanks City Hall
Fairbanks, Alaska
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1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
NORTECH has completed an ASHRAE Level II Energy Audit of the Fairbanks City Hall, a
68,100 square foot facility in the City of Fairbanks. The audit began with benchmarking which
resulted in a calculation of the energy consumption per square foot. A site inspection was
completed on July 22, 2011 and revisited in June 2012 to obtain information about the lighting,
heating, ventilation, cooling and other building energy uses. The existing usage data and
current systems were then used to develop a building energy consumption model using
AkWarm.
Once the model was calibrated, a number of Energy Efficiency Measures (EEMs) were
developed from review of the data and observations. EEMs were evaluated and ranked on the
basis of both energy savings and cost using a Savings/Investment Ratio (SIR). While these
modeling techniques were successful in verifying that many of the EEMs would save energy,
not all of the identified EEMs were considered cost effective based on the hardware, installation,
and energy costs at the time of this audit.
While the need for a major retrofit can typically be identified by an energy audit, upgrading
specific systems often requires collecting additional data and engineering and design efforts that
are beyond the scope of the Level II energy audit. The necessity and amount of design effort
and cost will vary depending on the scope of the specific EEMs planned and the sophistication
and capability of the entire design team, including the building owners and operators. During
the budgeting process for any major retrofit identified in this report, the building owner should
add administrative and supplemental design costs to cover the individual needs of their own
organization and the overall retrofit project.
The recommended EEMs for the Fairbanks City Hall are summarized in the table below.
Additional discussion of the modeling process can be found in Section 3. Details of each
individual EEM can be found in Appendix A of this report. A summary of EEMs that were
evaluated but are not currently recommended is located in Appendix B.
PRIORITY LIST – ENERGY EFFICIENCY MEASURES (EEMs)
Rank Feature/
Location Improvement Description
Estimated
Annual
Energy
Savings
Estimated
Installed
Cost
Savings to
Investment
Ratio, SIR
Simple
Payback
(Years)
1
Other Electrical -
Controls Retrofit:
Arcade Games
Add new Clock Timer or Other
Scheduling Control $3,109 $1,200 30 0.4
2
Refrigeration -
Controls Retrofit:
Cooler Vending
Add new Timer or Other
Scheduling Control $350 $300 14 0.9
3
Lighting - Power
Retrofit: Incan
Exit Lights
Replace with LED bulbs or
fixtures Module StdElectronic $6,812 $54,210 1.8 8.0
TOTAL, cost-effective measures $10,271 $55,710 2.1 5.9
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Fairbanks, Alaska
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Modeled Building Energy Cost Breakdown
The above charts are a graphical representation of the modeled energy usage for Fairbanks
City Hall. The greatest portion of energy cost for the building is other electrical, followed by
lighting and wall/door losses. Detailed improvement measures can be found in Appendix A.
The energy cost by end use breakdown was provided by AkWarm based on the field inspection
and does not indicate that all individual fixtures and appliances were directly measured. The
current energy costs are shown above on the left hand pie graph and the projected energy
costs, assuming use of the recommended EEMs, are shown on the right.
The chart breaks down energy usage by cost into the following categories:
Envelope Air Losses—the cost to provide heated fresh air to occupants, air leakage, heat lost in
air through the chimneys and exhaust fans, heat lost to wind and other similar losses.
Envelope
o Ceiling—quantified heat loss transferred through the ceiling portion of the envelope.
o Window—quantified heat loss through the window portion of the envelope.
o Wall/Door—quantified heat loss through the wall and door portions of the envelope.
o Floor—quantified heat loss through the floor portion of the envelope.
Water Heating—energy cost to provide domestic hot water.
Fans—energy cost to run ventilation, and exhaust fans.
Lighting—energy cost to light the building.
Refrigeration—energy costs to provide refrigerated goods for the occupants.
Other Electrical—includes energy costs not listed above including cooking loads, laundry loads,
other plug loads and electronics.
Envelope
Air
Losses
$2,756
2%
Ceiling
$291
0%
Window
$4,459
4%Wall/Door
$26,449
23%
Floor
$2,359
2%
Water
Heating
$10,290
9%
Exhaust
Fans
$268
0%
Lighting
$23,787
21%
Refriger-
ation
$1,659
2%
Other
Electrical
$42,085
37%
Service
Fees
$360
0%
Existing Building Energy Cost
Breakdown Total Cost
$114,764 Envelope
Air Losses
$2,827
2%
Ceiling
$299
0%
Window
$4,573
4%
Wall/Door
$27,132
23%
Floor
$2,420
2%Water
Heating
$10,256
9%
Exhaust
Fans
$267
0%
Lighting
$17,186
15%
Refriger-
ation
$1,243
1%
Other
Electrical
$38,809
34%
Service
Fees
$360
0%
Maint.
Savings
$880
1%
Lighting
Savings
$6,601
6%
Remaining
Savings
$2,791
2%
Retrofit Building Energy Cost
Breakdown Total Cost $104,492
Energy Audit – Final Report
Fairbanks City Hall
Fairbanks, Alaska
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2.0 INTRODUCTION
NORTECH contracted with The Alaska Housing Finance Corporation to perform ASHRAE
Level II Energy Audits for publically owned buildings in Alaska. This report presents the findings
of the utility benchmarking, modeling analysis, and the recommended building modifications,
and building use changes that are expected to save energy and money.
The report is organized into sections covering:
description of the facility,
the building’s historic energy usage (benchmarking),
estimating energy use through energy use modeling,
evaluation of potential energy efficiency or efficiency improvements, and
recommendations for energy efficiency with estimates of the costs and savings.
2.1 Building Use
The main portion of the building serves as the City Hall administration building for the City of
Fairbanks. It houses the Mayor’s office, Finance, Legal, Engineering, Human Resources and
Property Management Departments. The City rents some of the gym and basement space to
the Fairbanks Boys and Girls Club and the Fairbanks Boxing Club.
2.2 Building Occupancy and Schedules
The City Hall is occupied Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. The Boys and Girls
Club operates from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm, Monday through Friday. The Fairbanks Boxing Club is
open for limited hours during the evenings and weekends.
2.3 Building Description
The three-story, reinforced concrete structure was constructed in 1930. The Gym and Cafeteria,
used by the Boys and Girls Club is single-story with 30-foot high ceilings.
Building Envelope
Building Envelope: Walls
Wall Type Description Insulation Notes
Above-grade walls 18-inch reinforced concrete --- ---
Below-grade walls:
Basement 12-inch reinforced concrete --- ---
Building Envelope: Floors
Floor Type Description Insulation Notes
Basement Floor Un-insulated slab --- ---
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Heating and Ventilation Systems
Heat to the building is provided via district steam from Aurora Energy, LLC. Steam runs through
the building supplying the perimeter baseboard and radiator heat, and two Air Handling Units
(AHUs).
The perimeter heat is controlled by manual Dan Foss style valves in each area, and the AHU
heat coils are controlled by the pneumatic control system. The outside air dampers are manually
closed during the winter and opened for the summer.
Air Conditioning System
A small air conditioning unit is located in the server room. During the cooling season
economizer cooling is utilized.
Energy Management
No energy management system is installed in the building.
Lighting Systems
Lighting in the building is varied. Even though it was understood that a global LED tube lighting
replacement was completed the audit found T8 (1-inch diameter, 4-foot) and T12 (1.5-inch
diameter, 4-foot) bulbs in ceiling mounted fixtures around the building. In addition, compact
fluorescent and incandescent bulbs were still found in some storage areas and as task lighting
and metal halide pendants light the gym and cafeteria.
Domestic Hot Water
Domestic hot water is provided by three separate electric hot water heaters. One of the units is
an instantaneous hot water heater, the other two have storage tanks and circulate during the
occupied times.
Building Envelope: Roof
Roof Type Description Insulation Notes
All Roofs Built-up, flat roof 6-inches of rigid foam
insulation R-30 ---
Building Envelope: Doors and Windows
Door and Window
Type Description Estimated
R-Value Notes
All Doors Varied Commercial Man-doors 2.5 ---
Energy Audit – Final Report
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Fairbanks, Alaska
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3.0 BENCHMARKING 2010 UTILITY DATA
Benchmarking building energy use consists of obtaining and then analyzing two years of energy
bills. The original utility bills are necessary to determine the raw usage and charges as well as
to evaluate the utility’s rate structure. The metered usage of electrical and natural gas
consumption is measured monthly, but heating oil, propane, wood, and other energy sources
are normally billed upon delivery and provide similar information. During benchmarking,
information is compiled in a way that standardizes the units of energy and creates energy use
and billing rate information statistics for the building on a square foot basis. The objectives of
benchmarking are:
to understand patterns of use,
to understand building operational characteristics,
for comparison with other similar facilities in Alaska and across the country, and
to offer insight in to potential energy savings.
The results of the benchmarking, including the energy use statistics and comparisons to other
areas, are discussed in the following sections.
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Fairbanks, Alaska
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3.1 Total Energy Use and Cost of 2010
The energy use profiles below show the energy and cost breakdowns for the Fairbanks City
Hall. The total 2010 energy use for the building was 4,638 mmBTU and the total cost was
$101,524. These charts show the portion of use for a fuel type and the portion of its cost.
The above charts indicate that the highest portion of energy use is for steam and the highest
portion of cost is for electric. Fuel oil consumption correlates directly to space heating and
domestic hot water while electrical use can correlate to lighting systems, plug loads, and HVAC
equipment. The energy type with the highest cost often provides the most opportunity for
savings.
Electric
1,363
29%
Steam
3,262
71%
Energy Use Total (mmBTU)
Electric
67,273
66%
Steam
34,252
34%
Energy Cost Total ($)
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3.2 Energy Utilization Index of 2010
The primary benchmarking statistic is the Energy Utilization Index (EUI). The EUI is calculated
from the utility bills and provides a snapshot of the quantity of energy actually used by the
building on a square foot and annual basis. The calculation converts the total energy use for
the year from all sources in the building, such as heating fuel and electrical usage, into British
Thermal Units (BTUs). This total annual usage is then divided by the number of square feet of
the building. The EUI units are BTUs per square foot per year.
The benchmark analysis found that the Fairbanks City Hall has an EUI of 68,000 BTUs per
square foot per year.
The EUI is useful in comparing this building’s energy use to that of other similar buildings in
Alaska and in the Continental United States. The EUI can be compared to average energy use
in 2003 found in a study by the U.S. Energy Information Administration of commercial buildings
(abbreviated CBECS, 2006). That report found an overall average energy use of about 90,000
BTUs per square foot per year while studying about 6,000 commercial buildings of all sizes,
types, and uses that were located all over the Continental U.S. (see Table C3 in Appendix I).
In a recent and unpublished state-wide benchmarking study sponsored by the Alaska Housing
Finance Corporation, schools in Fairbanks averaged 62,000 BTUs per square foot and schools
in Anchorage averaged 123,000 BTUs per square foot annual energy use. The chart below
shows the Fairbanks City Hall relative to these values. These findings are discussed further in
Appendix H.
68,000 62,000
123,000
0
20000
40000
60000
80000
100000
120000
140000
Btu/ Sq. FtAnnual Energy Use Index (Total Energy/ SF)
Fairbanks City Hall Fairbanks Schools Anchorage Schools
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3.3 Cost Utilization Index of 2010
Another useful benchmarking statistic is the Cost Utilization Index (CUI), which is the cost for
energy used in the building on a square foot basis per year. The CUI is calculated from the cost
for utilities for a year period. The CUI permits comparison of buildings on total energy cost even
though they may be located in areas with differing energy costs and differing heating and/or
cooling climates. The cost of energy, including heating oil, natural gas, and electricity, can vary
greatly over time and geographic location and can be higher in Alaska than other parts of the
country.
The CUI for Fairbanks City Hall is about $1.49 per square foot per year. This is based on utility
costs from 2010 and the following rates:
Electricity at $ 0.17 / kWh ($ 4.98 / Therm)
Steam at $ 1.05 / lb Approximately ($ 1.05 / Therm)
The Department of Energy Administration study, mentioned in the previous section (CBECS,
2006) found an average cost of $2.52 per square foot in 2003 for 4,400 buildings in the
Continental U.S (Tables C4 and C13 of CBDES, 2006). Schools in Fairbanks have an average
cost for energy of $2.42 per square foot while Anchorage schools average $2.11 per square
foot. The chart below shows the Fairbanks City Hall relative to these values. More details are
included in Appendix H.
$1.49
$2.42
$2.11
$0.00
$0.50
$1.00
$1.50
$2.00
$2.50
$3.00
$/Sq. FtAnnual Energy Cost Index (Total Cost/ SF)
Fairbanks City Hall Fairbanks Schools Anchorage Schools
Energy Audit – Final Report
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Fairbanks, Alaska
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3.4 Seasonal Energy Use Patterns
Energy consumption is often highly correlated with seasonal climate and usage variations. The
graphs below show the electric and fuel consumption of this building over the course of two
years. The lowest monthly use of about 30,000 KWH is called the baseline use. The electric
baseline reflects year round lighting consumption and hot water usage. The clear relation of
increased energy usage during periods of cold weather can be seen in the months with higher
usage.
0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
35,000
40,000
45,000
50,000
Jan-09Mar-09May-09Jul-09Sep-09Nov-09Jan-10Mar-10May-10Jul-10Sep-10Nov-10Jan-11Mar-11May-11Jul-11KWHElectrical Consumption
0
100,000
200,000
300,000
400,000
500,000
600,000
700,000
800,000
900,000
Jan-09Mar-09May-09Jul-09Sep-09Nov-09Jan-10Mar-10May-10Jul-10Sep-10Nov-10Jan-11Mar-11May-11Jul-11Pounds of SteamSteam Consumption
Energy Audit – Final Report
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Fairbanks, Alaska
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3.5 Future Energy Monitoring
Energy accounting is the process of tracking energy consumption and costs. It is important for
the building owner or manager to monitor and record both the energy usage and cost each
month. Comparing trends over time can assist in pinpointing major sources of energy usage and
aid in finding effective energy efficiency measures. There are two basic methods of energy
accounting: manual and automatic. Manual tracking of energy usage may already be performed
by an administrative assistant, however if the records are not scrutinized for energy use, then
the data is merely a financial accounting. Digital energy tracking systems can be installed. They
display and record real-time energy usage and accumulated energy use and cost. There are
several types which have all of the information accessible via Ethernet browser.
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4.0 MODELING ENERGY CONSUMPTION
After benchmarking of a building is complete and the site visit has identified the specific systems
in the building, a number of different methods are available for quantifying the overall energy
consumption and to model the energy use. These range from relatively simple spreadsheets to
commercially available modeling software capable of handling complex building systems.
NORTECH has used several of these programs and uses the worksheets and software that
best matches the complexity of the building and specific energy use that is being evaluated.
Modeling of an energy efficiency measure (EEM) requires an estimate of the current energy
used by the specific feature, the estimated energy use of the proposed EEM and its installed
cost. EEMs can range from a single simple upgrade, such as light bulb type or type of motor, to
reprogramming of the controls on more complex systems. While the need for a major retrofit
can typically be identified by an energy audit, the specific system upgrades often require
collecting additional data and engineering and design efforts that are beyond the scope of the
Level II energy audit.
Based on the field inspection results and discussions with the building owners/operators,
auditors developed potential EEMs for the facility. Common EEMs that could apply to almost
every older building include:
Reduce the envelope heat losses through:
o increased building insulation, and
o better windows and doors
Reduce temperature difference between inside and outside using setback thermostats
Upgrade inefficient:
o lights,
o motors,
o refrigeration units, and
o other appliances
Reduce running time of lights/appliances through:
o motion sensors,
o on/off timers,
o light sensors, and
o other automatic/programmable systems
The objective of the following sections is to describe how the overall energy use of the building
was modeled and the potential for energy savings. The specific EEMs that provide these overall
energy savings are detailed in Appendix A of this report. While the energy savings of an EEM is
unlikely to change significantly over time, the cost savings of an EEM is highly dependent on the
current energy price and can vary significantly over time. An EEM that is not currently
recommended based on price may be more attractive at a later date or with higher energy
prices.
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4.1 Understanding How AkWarm Models Energy Consumption
NORTECH used the AkWarm model for evaluating the overall energy consumption at Fairbanks
City Hall. The AkWarm program was developed by the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation
(AHFC) to model residential energy use. The original AkWarm is the modeling engine behind
the successful residential energy upgrade program that AHFC has operated for a number of
years. In the past few years, AHFC has developed a version of this model for commercial
buildings.
Energy use in buildings is modeled by calculating energy losses and consumption, such as:
Heat lost through the building envelope components, including windows, doors, walls,
ceilings, crawlspaces, and foundations. These heat losses are computed for each
component based on the area, heat resistance (R-value), and the difference between
the inside temperature and the outside temperature. AkWarm has a library of
temperature profiles for villages and cities in Alaska.
Window orientation, such as the fact that south facing windows can add heat in the
winter but north-facing windows do not.
Inefficiencies of the heating system, including the imperfect conversion of fuel oil or
natural gas due to heat loss in exhaust gases, incomplete combustion, excess air, etc.
Some electricity is also consumed in moving the heat around a building through
pumping.
Inefficiencies of the cooling system, if one exists, due to various imperfections in a
mechanical system and the required energy to move the heat around.
Lighting requirements and inefficiencies in the conversion of electricity to light; ultimately
all of the power used for lighting is converted to heat. While the heat may be useful in
the winter, it often isn’t useful in the summer when cooling may be required to remove
the excess heat. Lights are modeled by wattage and operational hours.
Use and inefficiencies in refrigeration, compressor cooling, and heat pumps. Some units
are more efficient than others. Electricity is required to move the heat from inside a
compartment to outside it. Again, this is a function of the R-Value and the temperature
difference between the inside and outside of the unit.
Plug loads such as computers, printers, mini-fridges, microwaves, portable heaters,
monitors, etc. These can be a significant part of the overall electricity consumption of
the building, as well as contributing to heat production.
The schedule of operation for lights, plug loads, motors, etc. is a critical component of
how much energy is used.
AkWarm adds up these heat losses and the internal heat gains based on individual unit usage
schedules. These estimated heat and electrical usages are compared to actual use on both a
yearly and seasonal basis. If the AkWarm model is within 5 % to 10% of the most recent 12
months usage identified during benchmarking, the model is considered accurate enough to
make predictions of energy savings for possible EEMs.
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4.2 AkWarm Calculated Savings for the Fairbanks City Hall
Based on the field inspection results and discussions with the building owners/operators,
auditors developed potential EEMs for the facility. These EEMs are then entered into AkWarm
to determine if the EEM saves energy and is cost effective (i.e. will pay for itself). AkWarm
calculates the energy and money saved by each EEM and calculates the length of time for the
savings in reduced energy consumption to pay for the installation of the EEM. AkWarm makes
recommendations based on the Savings/Investment Ratio (SIR), which is defined as ratio of the
savings generated over the life of the EEM divided by the installed cost. Higher SIR values are
better and any SIR above one is considered acceptable. If the SIR of an EEM is below one, the
energy savings will not pay for the cost of the EEM and the EEM is not recommended.
Preferred EEMs are listed by AkWarm in order of the highest SIR.
A summary of the savings from the recommended EEMs are listed in this table.
Description Space
Heating
Water
Heating Lighting Refrigeration Other
Electrical
Exhaust
Fans
Service
Fees
Maint.
Savings Total
Existing
Building $36,314 $10,290 $23,787 $1,659 $42,085 $268 $360 --- $114,764
With All
Proposed
Retrofits
$37,250 $10,256 $17,186 $1,243 $38,809 $267 $360 (-$880) $104,492
Savings -$936 $35 $6,601 $416 $3,276 $1 $0 $880 $10,272
Savings in these categories represent the overall savings for the building, and reflect any added
cost that might occur because of a retrofit. For example, installing more efficient lights will
increase the heating load and creating or lowering an unoccupied setback temperature will
increase hot water heat losses and cost.
Maintenance savings are based on 17 year life of LEDs and 7 year life of fluorescent lamps.
This essentially results the avoidance of 2.5 lamp changes over the life of the LED which is
estimated as $8/lamp for replacement and disposal each time.
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4.3 Additional Modeling Methods
The AkWarm program effectively models wood-framed and other buildings with standard
heating systems and relatively simple HVAC systems. AkWarm models of more complicated
mechanical systems are sometimes poor due to a number of simplifying assumptions and
limited input of some variables. Furthermore, AKWarm is unable to model complex HVAC
systems such as variable frequency motors, variable air volume (VAV) systems, those with
significant digital or pneumatic controls or significant heat recovery capacity. In addition, some
other building methods and occupancies are outside AkWarm capabilities.
This report section is included in order to identify benefits from modifications to those more
complex systems or changes in occupant behavior that cannot be addressed in AkWarm.
Fairbanks City Hall was calibrated within NORTECH standards in AKWarm. Retrofits did not
require additional outside calculations.
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5.0 BUILDING OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE (O & M)
5.1 Operations and Maintenance
A well-implemented operation and maintenance (O & M) plan is often the driving force behind
energy savings. Such a plan includes preserving institutional knowledge, directing preventative
maintenance, and scheduling regular inspections of each piece of HVAC equipment within the
building. Routine maintenance includes the timely replacement of filters, belts and pulleys, the
proper greasing of bearings and other details such as topping off the glycol tanks. Additional
benefits to a maintenance plan are decreased down time for malfunctioning equipment, early
indications of problems, prevention of exacerbated maintenance issues, and early detection of
overloading/overheating issues. A good maintenance person knows the building’s equipment
well enough to spot and repair minor malfunctions before they become major retrofits.
Operations and Maintenance staff implementing a properly designed O & M plan will:
Track and document
o Renovations and repairs,
o Utility bills and fuel consumption, and
o System performance.
Keep available for reference
o A current Building Operating Plan including an inventory of installed systems,
o The most recent available as-built drawings,
o Reference manuals for all installed parts and systems, and
o An up-to-date inventory of on-hand replacement parts.
Provide training and continuing education for maintenance personnel.
Plan for commissioning and re-commissioning at appropriate intervals.
5.2 Commissioning
Commissioning of a building is the verification that the HVAC systems perform within the design
or usage ranges of the Building Operating Plan. This process ideally, though seldom, occurs as
the last phase in construction. HVAC system operation parameters degrade from ideal over time
due to incorrect maintenance, improper replacement pumps, changes in facility tenants or
usage, changes in schedules, and changes in energy costs or loads. Ideally, re-commissioning
of a building should occur every five to ten years. This ensures that the HVAC system meets
the potentially variable use with the most efficient means.
5.3 Building Specific Recommendations
The Fairbanks City Hall is well maintained. The mechanical areas are well kept and the systems
are currently functioning properly. Some general recommendations for improvements to the City
of Fairbanks maintenance program will be made in a separate report.
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APPENDICES
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Appendix A Recommended Energy Efficiency Measures
A number of Energy Efficiency Measures (EEMs) are available to reduce the energy use and
overall operating cost for the facility. The EEMs listed below are those recommended by
AkWarm based on the calculated savings/investment ration (SIR) as described in Appendix E.
AkWarm also provides a breakeven cost, which is the maximum initial cost of the EEM that will
still return a SIR of one or greater.
This section describes each recommended EEM and identifies the potential energy savings and
installation costs. This also details the calculation of breakeven costs, simple payback, and the
SIR for each recommendation. The recommended EEMs are grouped together generally by the
overall end use that will be impacted.
A.1 Temperature Control
Manual, Danfoss type valves, which no automatic setback capability, are used in the building.
Thermostats with setback capability reduce energy losses. However because of the high
thermal mass of the building it seems unlikely that setback thermostats would be appropriate.
The building would cool and reheat very slowly, significantly reducing the amount of setback
time and therefore the amount of energy savings.
A.2 Electrical Loads
A.2.1 Lighting
The electricity used by lighting eventually ends up as heat in the building. In areas where
electricity is more expensive than other forms of energy, or in areas where the summer
temperatures require cooling; this additional heat can be both wasteful and costly. Converting
to more efficient lighting reduces cooling loads in the summer and allows the user to control
heat input in the winter. The conversion from T12 (one and a half inch fluorescent bulbs) to T8
(one inch), T5 (5/8 inch), Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFL), or LED bulbs provides a significant
increase in efficiency. LED bulbs can be directly placed in existing fixtures. The LED bulb
bypasses the ballast altogether, which removes the often irritating, “buzzing” noise that
magnetic ballasts tend to make.
Rank Location Existing Condition Recommendation
3 T5 Exit Lights 16 FLUOR [Unknown Lamp] with
Manual Switching
Replace with 16 LED (2) 4W Module
StdElectronic
Energy Savings (/yr) $25
Installation Cost $800 Estimated Life of Measure (yr) 17 Maintenance Savings (/yr) $15
Breakeven Cost $245 Savings-to-Investment Ratio 0.3 Simple Payback (yr) 32
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Rank Location Existing Condition Recommendation
3 Gym Lights 11 MH 400 Watt StdElectronic with
Manual Switching
Replace with 11 LED 150W Module
StdElectronic
Energy Savings (/yr) $1,289
Installation Cost $14,500 Estimated Life of Measure (yr) 17 Maintenance Savings (/yr) $140
Breakeven Cost $8,820 Savings-to-Investment Ratio 0.6 Simple Payback (yr) 11
Rank Location Existing Condition Recommendation
3 City Hall T-8
84 FLUOR (2) T8 4' F32T8 32W
Standard Instant HighEfficElectronic
with Manual Switching
Replace with 84 LED (2) 17W Module
StdElectronic
Energy Savings (/yr) $401
Installation Cost $11,500 Estimated Life of Measure (yr) 17 Maintenance Savings (/yr) $240
Breakeven Cost $8,281 Savings-to-Investment Ratio 0.7 Simple Payback (yr) 29
Rank Location Existing Condition Recommendation
3 CFL 53 FLUOR CFL, Spiral 20 W with
Manual Switching
Replace with 53 LED 8W Module
StdElectronic
Energy Savings (/yr) $72
Installation Cost $2,600 Estimated Life of Measure (yr) 17 Maintenance Savings (/yr) $75
Breakeven Cost $1,905 Savings-to-Investment Ratio 0.7 Simple Payback (yr) 36
Rank Location Existing Condition Recommendation
3 City Hall T12
157 FLUOR (2) T12 4' F40T12 40W
Standard Magnetic with Manual
Switching
Replace with 157 LED (2) 17W
Module StdElectronic
Energy Savings (/yr) $2,625
Installation Cost $21,500 Estimated Life of Measure (yr) 17 Maintenance Savings (/yr) $360
Breakeven Cost $38,273 Savings-to-Investment Ratio 1.8 Simple Payback (yr) 8
Rank Location Existing Condition Recommendation
3 Incandescent 35 INCAN A Lamp, Std 75W with
Manual Switching
Replace with 35 LED 8W Module
StdElectronic
Energy Savings (/yr) $335
Installation Cost $1,700 Estimated Life of Measure (yr) 17 Maintenance Savings (/yr) $15
Breakeven Cost $4,483 Savings-to-Investment Ratio 2.6 Simple Payback (yr) 5
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A.2.2 Other Electrical Loads
The vending machines and arcade games in the building are currently left on 24 hours per day,
installing a simple timer on each unit to reduce the “on” time to occupied hours only will save
energy.
Rank Location Existing Condition Recommendation
3 Incan Exit Lights 17 INCAN A Lamp, Std 25W with
Manual Switching
Replace with 17 LED 4W Module
StdElectronic
Energy Savings (/yr) $456
Installation Cost $850 Estimated Life of Measure (yr) 17 Maintenance Savings (/yr) $25
Breakeven Cost $6,125 Savings-to-Investment Ratio 7.2 Simple Payback (yr) 2
Rank Location Existing Condition Recommendation
3 Outdoors Incan
11 INCAN A Lamp, Halogen 100W
with Manual Switching, Daylight
Sensor
Replace with 11 LED 12W Module
StdElectronic
Energy Savings (/yr) $729
Installation Cost $760 Estimated Life of Measure (yr) 17 Maintenance Savings (/yr) $10
Breakeven Cost $9,758 Savings-to-Investment Ratio 13 Simple Payback (yr) 1
Rank Location Existing Condition Recommendation
2 Vending Cooler 3 Dixie Narco Add timer
Installation Cost $300 Estimated Life of Measure (yr) 15 Energy Savings (/yr) $350
Breakeven Cost $4,052 Savings-to-Investment Ratio 14 Simple Payback (yr) 1
Rank Location Existing Condition Recommendation
1 Arcade Games 12 Arcade Games/Vending Machines with
Manual Switching
Add new Clock Timer or Other
Scheduling Control
Installation Cost $1,200 Estimated Life of Measure (yr) 15 Energy Savings (/yr) $3,109
Breakeven Cost $36,180 Savings-to-Investment Ratio 30 Simple Payback (yr) 0
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A.3 Building Envelope: Recommendations for change
A.3.1 Exterior Walls
No EEMs are recommended in this area. A retrofit to upgrade the R-Value of the concrete walls
by adding EIFS treatment was considered but is not cost effective at this time.
A.3.2 Foundation and/or Crawlspace
Adding insulation to the foundation is not cost effective.
A.3.3 Roofing and Ceiling
The addition of insulation to the roof is not cost-effective at this time. When re-roofing is required
at least R-60 insulation should be installed.
A.3.4 Windows
Many of the existing windows are single paned and in poor condition. The maintenance team is
in the process of boarding up and insulating these windows. In order to reduce heat loss
effectively the windows should be removed and the resulting hole should be framed, insulated
and properly sealed. Replacing the rest of the double-paned windows is not cost effective at this
time.
A.3.5 Doors
Most of the doors within the building are in good condition. Replacing the doors is not cost
effective at this time.
A.4 Building Heating System / Air Conditioning
A.4.1 Heating and Heat Distribution
Steam is circulated to provide heat. No heating plant is installed in the building. No EEMs are
recommended in this area.
A.4.2 Air Conditioning
There is one small air conditioning unit installed to ventilate the server room in the building. No
recommendations for changes are made.
A.4.3 Ventilation
No significant under or over ventilation problems were found. No EEMs are recommended in
this area.
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A.4.4 Air Changes and Air Tightening
No other EEMs are recommended in this area because of the difficulty of quantifying the
amount of leaking air and the savings. However, using a blower door test with an infra-red
camera, the location of significant leaks can be determined and repaired.
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Appendix B Energy Efficiency Measures that are NOT Recommended
As indicated in other sections of the report, a number of potential EEMs were identified that
were determined to be NOT cost effective by the AkWarm model. These EEMs are not
currently recommended on the basis of energy savings alone because each may only save a
small amount of energy, have a high capital cost, or be expensive to install. While each of
these EEMs is not cost effective at this time, future changes in building use such as longer
operating hours, higher energy prices, new fixtures or hardware on the market, and decreases
in installation effort may make any of these EEMs cost effective in the future. These potential
EEMs should be reviewed periodically to identify any changes to these factors that would
warrant re-evaluation.
Although these upgrades are not currently cost effective on an energy cost basis, the fixtures,
hardware, controls, or operational changes described in these EEMs should be considered
when replacing an existing fixture or unit for other reasons. For example, replacing an existing
window with a triple-pane window may not be cost effective based only on energy use, but if a
window is going to be replaced for some other reason, then the basis for a decision is only the
incremental cost of upgrading from a less efficient replacement window to a more efficient
replacement window. That incremental cost difference will have a significantly shorter payback,
especially since the installation costs are likely to be the same for both units.
The following measures were not found to be cost-effective:
Rank Feature/
Location Improvement Description
Estimated
Annual
Energy
Savings
Estimated
Installed
Cost
Savings to
Investment
Ratio, SIR
Simple
Payback
(Years)
12
Above-Grade
Wall: Basement,
1st and 2nd Story
Walls
Add R-15 EIFS treatment to
the exterior $24,973 $1,334,077 0.42 53
13
Window/Skylight:
Other Single
Pane
Replace existing window with
triple pane, low-E, argon
window.
$396 $16,420 0.40 41
14
Window/Skylight:
South Double
Pane
Replace existing window with
triple pane, low-E, argon
window.
$786 $76,253 0.17 97
15
Window/Skylight:
Other Double
Pane
Replace existing window with
triple pane, low-E, argon
window.
$1,276 $125,494 0.17 98
16 Cathedral
Ceiling: All Roof
Relay roofing add insulation to
achieve at least R-60 $186 $42,036 0.10 230
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Appendix C Significant Equipment List
HVAC Equipment
Equipment Manufacturer Model No. Fuel Type H.P. Notes
Condensate
Pump --- --- Electric 1/3 ---
Condensate
Pump Dayton --- Electric 1 ---
Ventialtion Fan Magnatek --- Electric 1.5 ---
Ventialtion Fan Louis Allis
Company --- Electric 3 ---
Ventialtion Fan General
Electric --- Electric 5 ---
Hot Water Heater Rheem Ruud --- Electric --- 80 gallon storage
Hot Water Heater American E61-060-
0155U Electric --- 50 gallon storage
Hot Water Heater AHT E52-50R-
0453 Electric --- Instantaneous
Lighting
Equipment Location Manufacturer KWH/YR Cost/YR
Server Server Room Varies 56,979 $ 9,686
(3) Air Conditioners Server Room --- 39,565 6,726
Computers Offices Varies 35,822 6,090
(12) Arcade Games/
Vending Machines Boys and Girls Club Varies 27,602 4,692
(46) Desk Printers Offices Varies 8,710 1,481
(3) Vending Coolers Boys and Girls Club Varies 3,600 612
(4) Refrigerators Break Rooms Varies 3,200 544
Space heaters Offices Varies 1,212 206
Coffee Makers Break Rooms Bunn 1,104 188
Personal Fans Offices Varies 962 164
(2)Water Coolers Offices Varies 460 78
Energy Consumption calculated by AkWarm based on wattage, schedule and a $ 0.17 per KWH electric rate.
Plug Loads
Location Lighting Type Bulb Type Quantity KWH/YR Cost/YR
Offices LED 17 W 697 39,943 $ 6,790
Offices Fluorescent T12 157 21,629 3,677
Hallways and Entryways LED 17 W 62 13,625 2,316
Offices Fluorescent T8 84 7,548 1,283
Outdoors Incandescent A-bulb 11 4,508 766
Exit Lights Incandescent 15 W 17 3,726 633
Exit Lights Fluorescent T5 16 1,683 286
Task Lights and Storage Incandescent A-bulb 35 1,534 261
Boys and Girls Club Metal Halide 400 W 11 948 161
Task Lights and Storage Fluorescent CFL 53 620 105
Outdoors LED 12W 4 254 43
Energy Consumption calculated by AkWarm based on wattage, schedule and a $ 0.17 per KWH electric rate.
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Appendix D Local Utility Rate Structure
The information in this section was provided directly from the local utility or gathered from the
local utility’s publicly available information at the time of the audit. All language used in this
section was provided by the local utility and believed to be current at the time of the audit.
Energy use terms, specific fees, and other specific information are subject to change. Updated
rate structure information should be gathered from the utility during future discussion of rates,
rate structures and utility pricing agreements.
Golden Valley Electrical Association Rate Structure:
GS-2 Large General Service Rate Structure (GVEA)
Rate Component Unit Charge
Customer Charge $30.00
Utility Charge $0.04843 per kWh
Demand Charge $11.06 per KW
Cost of Fuel $0.12527 per kWh
Regulatory Cost Charge (RCC) $0.000492 per kWh
2010 Average Rate
(Fairbanks City Hall) $0.17 per kWh
GVEA offers five different rates to its members, depending on the classification of the service
provided. The rates are divided into two categories: Residential and General Service (GS).
Eighty-five percent of the electric services on GVEA's system are single-family dwellings,
classified under the Residential rate. The four General Service rates apply to small and large
power users that do not qualify for the Residential rate.
The General Service rates break down as follows:
GS-1 General Service Services under 50 kilowatts (kW) of demand per billing cycle
GS-2(S) Large General Service
Secondary Services 50 kW and higher of demand per billing cycle
GS-2(P) Large General Service
Primary Services at primary voltage
GS-3 Industrial Service Services at transmission voltage
Customer Charge
A flat fee that covers costs for meter reading, billing and customer service.
Utility Charge (kWh charge)
This charge is multiplied by the number of kilowatt-hours (kWh) used in a monthly billing period.
It covers the costs to maintain power plants and substations, interest on loans as well as wires,
power poles and transformers.
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Fuel and Purchased Power
This charge is based on a combination of forecasted and actual power costs. The monthly
charge allows Golden Valley to pass on increases and decreases in fuel and energy purchases
to our members. It is calculated quarterly and multiplied by the kilowatt-hours used each month.
Demand Charge
GS2 and GS3 rates for business and industry include a demand charge per kilowatt. Demand is
the maximum rate of delivery of electric energy during the month, measured in kilowatts and
registered as the highest average rate of energy used over and fifteen-minute period during the
month.
Regulatory Charge
This charge of .000492 per kWh is set by the Regulatory Commission of Alaska (RCA). Since
November 1, 1992, the Regulatory Commission of Alaska has been funded by a Regulatory
Charge to the utilities it regulates rather than through the State general fund. The charge,
labeled "Regulatory Cost Charge." on your bill, is set by the RCA, and applies to all retail
kilowatt-hours sold by regulated electric utilities in Alaska.
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Appendix E Analysis Methodology
Data collected was processed using AkWarm energy use software to estimate current energy
consumption by end usage and calculate energy savings for each of the proposed energy
efficiency measures (EEMs). In addition, separate analysis may have been conducted to
evaluate EEMs that AkWarm cannot effectively model to evaluate potential reductions in annual
energy consumption. Analyses were conducted under the direct supervision of a Certified
Energy Auditor, Certified Energy Manager, or a Professional Engineer.
EEMs are evaluated based on building use, maintenance and processes, local climate
conditions, building construction type, function, operational schedule and existing conditions.
Energy savings are calculated based on industry standard methods and engineering
estimations. Each model created in AkWarm is carefully compared to existing utility usage
obtained from utility bills. The AkWarm analysis provides a number of tools for assessing the
cost effectiveness of various improvement options. The primary assessment value used in this
audit report is the Savings/Investment Ratio (SIR). The SIR is a method of cost analysis that
compares the total cost savings through reduced energy consumption to the total cost of a
project over its assumed lifespan, including both the construction cost and ongoing maintenance
and operating costs. Other measurement methods include Simple Payback, which is defined as
the length of time it takes for the savings to equal the total installed cost and Breakeven Cost,
which is defined as the highest cost that would yield a Savings/Investment Ratio of one.
EEMs are recommended by AkWarm in order of cost-effectiveness. AkWarm first calculates
individual SIRs for each EEM, and then ranks the EEMs by SIR, with higher SIRs at the top of
the list. An individual EEM must have a SIR greater than or equal to one in order to be
recommended by AkWarm. Next AkWarm modifies the building model to include the installation
of the first EEM and then re-simulates the energy use. Then the remaining EEMs are re-
evaluated and ranked again. AkWarm goes through this iterative process until all suggested
EEMs have been evaluated.
Under this iterative review process, the savings for each recommended EEM is calculated
based on the implementation of the other, more cost effective EEMs first. Therefore, the
implementation of one EEM affects the savings of other EEMs that are recommended later.
The savings from any one individual EEM may be relatively higher if the individual EEM is
implemented without the other recommended EEMs. For example, implementing a reduced
operating schedule for inefficient lighting may result in relatively higher savings than
implementing the same reduced operating schedule for newly installed lighting that is more
efficient. If multiple EEMs are recommended, AkWarm calculates a combined savings.
Inclusion of recommendations for energy savings outside the capability of AkWarm will impact
the actual savings from the AkWarm projections. This will almost certainly result in lower
energy savings and monetary savings from AkWarm recommendations. The reality is that only
so much energy is consumed in a building. Energy savings from one EEM reduces the amount
of energy that can be saved from additional EEMs. For example, installation of a lower wattage
light bulb does not save energy or money if the bulb is never turned on because of a schedule
or operational change at the facility.
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Appendix F Audit Limitations
The results of this audit are dependent on the input data provided and can only act as an
approximation. In some instances, several EEMs or installation methods may achieve the
identified potential savings. Actual savings will depend on the EEM selected, the price of
energy, and the final installation and implementation methodology. Competent tradesmen and
professional engineers may be required to design, install, or otherwise implement some of the
recommended EEMs. This document is an energy use audit report and is not intended as a
final design document, operation, and maintenance manual, or to take the place of any
document provided by a manufacturer or installer of any device described in this report.
Cost savings are calculated based on estimated initial costs for each EEM. Estimated costs
include labor and equipment for the full up-front investment required to implement the EEM.
The listed installation costs within the report are conceptual budgetary estimates and should not
be used as design estimates. The estimated costs are derived from Means Cost Data, industry
publications, local contractors and equipment suppliers, and the professional judgment of the
CEA writing the report and based on the conditions at the time of the audit.
Cost and energy savings are approximations and are not guaranteed.
Additional significant energy savings can usually be found with more detailed auditing
techniques that include actual measurements of electrical use, temperatures in the building and
HVAC ductwork, intake and exhaust temperatures, motor runtime and scheduling, and infrared,
air leakage to name just a few. Implementation of these techniques is the difference between a
Level III Energy Audit and the Level II Audit that has been conducted.
Disclaimer: "This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the
United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor
any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability
or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus,
product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned
rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name,
trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement,
recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. The
views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the
United States Government or any agency thereof."
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Appendix G References
Although not all documents listed below are specifically referenced in this report, each contains
information and insights considered valuable to most buildings.
Alaska Department of Education and Early Development; Education Support Services/Facilities.
(1999). Alaska School Facilities Preventative Maintenance Handbook. Juneau, AK:
Alaska Department of Education and Early Development.
Alaska Housing Finance Corportation. (2010). Retrofit Energy Assessment for Loans. AHFC.
ASHRAE. (1997). 1997 ASHRAE Handbook: Fundamentals. Atlanta, GA: ASHRAE.
ASHRAE. (2007). ASHRAE Standard 105-2007 Expressing and Comparing Building Energy
Performance. Retrieved from ASHRAE: www.ashrae.org
ASHRAE. (2007). ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2007 Energy Standards for buildings Except Low-
Rise Residential Buildings. Retrieved from ASHRAE: www.ashrae.org
ASHRAE. (2010). ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2010 Ventilaton for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality.
Retrieved from ASHRAE: www.ashrae.org
ASHRAE. (2010). ASHRAE Standard 62.2-2010 Ventilation and Acceptable Indoor Air Quality in
Low Rise Residential Buildings. Retrieved from ASHRAE: www.ashrae.org
ASHRAE RP-669 and SP-56. (2004). Procedures for Commercial Building Energy Audits.
Atlanta, GA: ASHRAE.
Coad, W. J. (1982). Energy Engineering and Management for Building Systems. Scarborough,
Ontario, Canada: Van Nostrand Reinhold Company.
Daley, D. T. (2008). The Little Black Book of Reliability Management. New York, NY: Industrial
Press, Inc.
Federal Energy Management Program. (2004, March 3). Demand Controlled Ventilation Using
CO2 Sensors. Retrieved 2011, from US DOE Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy:
http://www.eere.energy.gov/femp/pdfs/fta_co2.pdf
Federal Energy Management Program. (2006, April 26). Low-Energy Building Design
Guidelines. Retrieved 2011, from Department of Energy; Federal Energy Management
Program: http://www.eren.doe.gov/femp/
Institute, E. a. (2004). Variable Speed Pumping: A Guide to Successful Applications. Oxford,
UK: Elsevier Advanced Technology.
International Code Council. (2009). International Energy Conservation Code. Country Club Hills,
IL: International Code Council, Inc.
Leach, M., Lobato, C., Hirsch, A., Pless, S., & Torcellini, P. (2010, September). Technical
Support Document: Strategies for 50% Energy Savings in Large Office Buildings.
Retrieved 2011, from National Renewable Energy Laboratory:
http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy10osti/49213.pdf
Thumann, P.E., C.E.M., A., Younger, C.E.M., W. J., & Niehus, P.E., C.E.M., T. (2010).
Handbook of Energy Audits Eighth Edition. Lilburn, GA: The Fairmont Press, Inc.
U.S. Energy Information Administration. (2006). Commercial Building Energy Consumption
Survey (CBECS). Retrieved 2011, from Energy Information Administration:
http://www.eia.gov/emeu/cbecs/
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Appendix H Typical Energy Use and Cost – Fairbanks and Anchorage
This report provides data on typical energy costs and use on selected building in Fairbanks and
Anchorage, Alaska for comparative purposes only. The values provided by the US Energy
Information Administration CBECS study included a broader range of building types for the
Continental U.S. are not necessarily good comparatives for buildings and conditions in Alaska.
An assortment of values from CBECS may be found in Appendix I.
The Alaska data described in this report came from a benchmarking study NORTECH and other
Technical Services Providers (TSPs) completed on publicly owned buildings in Alaska under
contract with AHFC. This study acquired actual utility data for municipal buildings and schools
in Alaska for the two recent full years. The utility data included costs and quantities including
fuel oil, electricity, propane, wood, steam, and all other energy source usage. This resulted in a
database of approximately 900 buildings. During the course of the benchmarking study, the
comparisons made to the CBECS data appeared to be inappropriate for various reasons.
Therefore, this energy use audit report references the average energy use and energy cost of
Anchorage and Fairbanks buildings as described below.
The Alaska benchmarking data was evaluated in order to find valid comparison data. Buildings
with major energy use information missing were eliminated from the data pool. After detailed
scrutiny of the data, the most complete information was provided to NORTECH by the
Fairbanks North Star Borough School District (FNSBSD) and the Anchorage School District
(ASD). The data sets from these two sources included both the actual educational facilities as
well as the district administrative buildings and these are grouped together in this report as
Fairbanks and Anchorage schools. These two sources of information, being the most complete
and reasonable in-state information, have been used to identify an average annual energy
usage for Fairbanks and for Anchorage in order to provide a comparison for other facilities in
Alaska.
Several factors may limit the comparison of a specific facility to these regional indicators. In
Fairbanks, the FNSBSD generally uses number two fuel oil for heating needs and electricity is
provided by Golden Valley Electric Association (GVEA). GVEA produces electricity from a coal
fired generation plant with additional oil generation upon demand. A few of the FNSBSD
buildings in this selection utilize district steam and hot water. The FNSBSD has recently (the
last ten years) invested significantly in envelope and other efficiency upgrades to reduce their
operating costs. Therefore a reader should be aware that this selection of Fairbanks buildings
has energy use at or below average for the entire Alaska benchmarking database.
Heating in Anchorage is through natural gas from the nearby natural gas fields. Electricity is
also provided using natural gas. As the source is nearby and the infrastructure for delivery is in
place, energy costs are relatively low in the area. As a result, the ASD buildings have lower
energy costs, but higher energy use, than the average for the entire benchmarking database.
These special circumstances should be considered when comparing the typical annual energy
use for particular buildings.
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Appendix I Typical Energy Use and Cost – Continental U.S.
Released: Dec 2006
Next CBECS will be conducted in 2007
Table C3. Consumption and Gross Energy Intensity for Sum of Major Fuels for Non-Mall Buildings, 2003
All Buildings* Sum of Major Fuel Consumption
Number of
Buildings
(thousand)
Floor space
(million
square feet)
Floor space
per Building
(thousand
square feet)
Total
(trillion
BTU)
per
Building
(million
BTU)
per
Square
Foot
(thousand
BTU)
per
Worker
(million
BTU)
All Buildings* 4,645 64,783 13.9 5,820 1,253 89.8 79.9
Building Floor space (Square Feet)
1,001 to 5,000 2,552 6,789 2.7 672 263 98.9 67.6
5,001 to 10,000 889 6,585 7.4 516 580 78.3 68.7
10,001 to 25,000 738 11,535 15.6 776 1,052 67.3 72.0
25,001 to 50,000 241 8,668 35.9 673 2,790 77.6 75.8
50,001 to 100,000 129 9,057 70.4 759 5,901 83.8 90.0
100,001 to 200,000 65 9,064 138.8 934 14,300 103.0 80.3
200,001 to 500,000 25 7,176 289.0 725 29,189 101.0 105.3
Over 500,000 7 5,908 896.1 766 116,216 129.7 87.6
Principal Building Activity
Education 386 9,874 25.6 820 2,125 83.1 65.7
Food Sales 226 1,255 5.6 251 1,110 199.7 175.2
Food Service 297 1,654 5.6 427 1,436 258.3 136.5
Health Care 129 3,163 24.6 594 4,612 187.7 94.0
Inpatient 8 1,905 241.4 475 60,152 249.2 127.7
Outpatient 121 1,258 10.4 119 985 94.6 45.8
Lodging 142 5,096 35.8 510 3,578 100.0 207.5
Retail (Other Than Mall) 443 4,317 9.7 319 720 73.9 92.1
Office 824 12,208 14.8 1,134 1,376 92.9 40.3
Public Assembly 277 3,939 14.2 370 1,338 93.9 154.5
Public Order and Safety 71 1,090 15.5 126 1,791 115.8 93.7
Religious Worship 370 3,754 10.1 163 440 43.5 95.6
Service 622 4,050 6.5 312 501 77.0 85.0
Warehouse and Storage 597 10,078 16.9 456 764 45.2 104.3
Other 79 1,738 21.9 286 3,600 164.4 157.1
Vacant 182 2,567 14.1 54 294 20.9 832.1
This report references the Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS), published by the U.S.
Energy Information Administration in 2006. Initially this report was expected to compare the annual energy
consumption of the building to average national energy usage as documented below. However, a direct comparison
between one specific building and the groups of buildings outlined below yielded confusing results. Instead, this
report uses a comparative analysis on Fairbanks and Anchorage data as described in Appendix F. An abbreviated
excerpt from CBECS on commercial buildings in the Continental U.S. is below.
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Appendix J List of Conversion Factors and Energy Units
1 British Thermal Unit is the energy required to raise one pound of water one degree F°
1 Watt is approximately 3.412 BTU/hr
1 horsepower is approximately 2,544 BTU/hr
1 horsepower is approximately 746 Watts
1 "ton of cooling” is approximately 12,000 BTU/hr, the amount of power required to
melt one short ton of ice in 24 hours
1 Therm = 100,000 BTU
1 KBTU = 1,000 BTU
1 KWH = 3413 BTU
1 KW = 3413 BTU/Hr
1 Boiler HP = 33,400 BTU/Hr
1 Pound Steam = approximately 1000 BTU
1 CCF of natural gas = approximately 1 Therm
1 inch H2O = 250 Pascal (Pa) = 0.443 pounds/square inch (psi)
1 atmosphere (atm) = 10,1000 Pascal (Pa)
BTU British Thermal Unit
CCF 100 Cubic Feet
CFM Cubic Feet per Minute
GPM Gallons per minute
HP Horsepower
Hz Hertz
kg Kilogram (1,000 grams)
kV Kilovolt (1,000 volts)
kVA Kilovolt-Amp
kVAR Kilovolt-Amp Reactive
KW Kilowatt (1,000 watts)
KWH Kilowatt Hour
V Volt
W Watt
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Appendix K List of Acronyms, Abbreviations, and Definitions
ACH Air Changes per Hour
AFUE Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency
Air Economizer A duct, damper, and automatic control system that
allows a cooling system to supply outside air to reduce
or eliminate the need for mechanical cooling.
Ambient Temperature Average temperature of the surrounding air
Ballast A device used with an electric discharge lamp to cause
the lamp to start and operate under the proper circuit
conditions of voltage, current, electrode heat, etc.
CO2 Carbon Dioxide
CUI Cost Utilization Index
CDD Cooling Degree Days
DDC Direct Digital Control
EEM Energy Efficiency Measure
EER Energy Efficient Ratio
EUI Energy Utilization Index
FLUOR Fluorescent
Grade The finished ground level adjoining a building at the
exterior walls
HDD Heating Degree Days
HVAC Heating, Ventilation, and Air-Conditioning
INCAN Incandescent
NPV Net Present Value
R-value Thermal resistance measured in BTU/Hr-SF-̊F (Higher
value means better insulation)
SCFM Standard Cubic Feet per Minute
Savings to Investment Ratio (SIR) Savings over the life of the EEM divided by Investment
capital cost. Savings includes the total discounted dollar
savings considered over the life of the improvement.
Investment in the SIR calculation includes the labor and
materials required to install the measure.
Set Point Target temperature that a control system operates the
heating and cooling system
Simple payback A cost analysis method whereby the investment cost of
an EEM is divided by the first year’s savings of the EEM
to give the number of years required to recover the cost
of the investment.
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Appendix L Building Floor Plan
Second Floor Plan provided by the City of Fairbanks
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First Floor Plan provided by the City of Fairbanks
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Basement Floor Plan provided by the City of Fairbanks
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