Predicted Versus Actual Savings for a Low-Rise Multifamily Retrofit in Boulder, Colorado

Arena, L.¹  Williamson, J.¹ 

[1]Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings (CARB), Norwalk, CT (United States)

关键词: residenital;    residential buildings;    Building America;    CARB;    multifamily;    apartments;    utility bills;    bill analysis;    pre- and post-retrofit;    energy efficiency measures;    lighting;    appliances;    and miscellaneous electric loads;    MELs;    energy modeling predictions;    predicted vs. actual;   

DOI  :  10.2172/1220964
RP-ID  :  DOE/GO--102013-4258
PID  :  OSTI ID: 1220964
Others  :  Other: 6553

美国|英语

来源: SciTech Connect

【 摘 要 】

To determine the most cost-effective methods of improving buildings, accurate analysis and prediction of the energy use of existing buildings is essential. However, multiple studies confirm that analysis methods tend to over-predict energy use in poorly insulated, leaky homes and thus, the savings associated with improving those homes. In this project, the Building America CARB team evaluated the retrofit of a multifamily building in Boulder, CO. The updated property is a 37 unit, 2 story apartment complex built in 1950, which underwent renovations in early 2009 to bring it into compliance with Boulder, CO's SmartRegs ordinance. Goals of the study were to: 1) evaluate predicted versus actual savings due to the improvements, 2) identify areas where the modeling assumptions may need to be changed, and 3) determine common changes made by renters that would negatively impact energy savings. Other issues that were investigated include the effects of improving building efficiency on tenant comfort, the impact on tenant turnover rates, and the potential market barriers for this type of community scale project.