By Dr Joel N. Swisher and Mr Peter Rumsey
9 November 2006

In this PSS, Mr Peter Rumsey will discuss on technologies to improve Building Energy Efficiency and Dr Swisher will share on programs, policy and business issues to improve building energy efficiency such as Performance Contracting, LEED program and Energy STAR program.

Introduction

Energy efficiency is the use of technology to provide greater access to energy services with less consumption of energy resources such as fuel and electricity. Energy services include mobility, thermal and visual comfort in buildings, sanitation, agricultural production, and the motive power and thermal processes required for industrial production.

In buildings, whose energy use accounts for about one-third of most countries’ CO 2 emissions, the major energy uses are typically space heating, space cooling, lighting, water heating, appliances, and electronic equipment. There are technology options to improve efficiency in each of these end-use categories. These include efficient heating and cooling systems, advanced lighting technology and controls, high-efficiency appliances, and power-managed electronics, as well as building shells and control systems that minimize heating and cooling loads and admit solar heating and lighting.

In addition to specific hardware improvements, energy efficiency gains can be made through the building design process. A whole system design approach focuses first on the end-use efficiency options, and minimizes thermal loads in the building by maximizing end-use efficiency and adapting the building form, shell and orientation to the local climate to harness natural heating, cooling and lighting. The reduced thermal loads are then served by building mechanical systems that can be downsized and simplified to reduce capital cost and further improve efficiency.

To support the implementation of efficient building technology and design, there are a variety of policy mechanisms, including fiscal incentives, regulatory standards, utility programs, and other approaches have been used at the national, provincial and local levels to accelerate investment in energy efficiency. Some of the more important mechanisms include electric and gas utility demand-side management (DSM) programs, “golden carrot” technology procurement programs, and building and appliance efficiency standards. The latter have led to a 75% reduction in energy use of new US refrigerators since 1975, and significant improvements in water heaters, air conditioners, washer/driers, etc.

Saving energy usually costs far less than buying imported energy, emits no pollution, and has much greater local value-added content, so it supports local jobs and economic multipliers. That is, energy efficiency increases local employment to make and install smarter technologies, rather than buying energy from afar. Efficiency’s greatest benefit, often overlooked, may be the macroeconomic stimulus from reallo­cating capital. Such locally made technologies as compact fluorescent lamps and heat-blocking windows can require up to one thousand times less capital investment per kilowatt, and can repay that capital faster, than supplying more electricity to deliver the same light and comfort.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Joel N. Swisher, PhD, PE
Managing Director
Rocky Mountain Institute

Joel N. Swisher, PhD, PE is Managing Director at Rocky Mountain Institute, based in Boulder, Colorado.Dr. Swisher leads RMI’s energy consulting practice, serving the electric utility industry, municipal and state institutions, and private corporations. He is involved in municipal energy planning with the utilities and power authorities in San Francisco, Sacramento and Palo Alto, and he consults with several investor-owned utilities. With 25 years experience in research and consulting on many aspects of clean energy technology, Dr. Swisher has deep expertise in building energy efficiency, distributed resources, utility grid economics, and greenhouse gas management.

Dr. Swisher is a registered Professional Engineer and holds a Ph.D. in Energy and Environmental Engineering from Stanford University. He is a Consulting Professor in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Dept. at Stanford University, where he recently taught two graduate courses in Greenhouse Gas Management. He is the author of over 100 professional publications, including several energy-efficiency handbooks prepared for the Electric Power Research Institute. Also, Dr. Swisher is co-author of a bilingual (English and Portuguese) textbook on energy efficiency analysis and integrated energy resource planning.

Rocky Mountain Institute is an independent, nonpartisan, market-oriented, technology friendly, entrepreneurial, nonprofit organization. Founded in 1982, RMI fosters the efficient and restorative use of natural and human capital to help create a secure, prosperous, and life-sustaining world. Their 50 Colorado-based staff develop and apply innovative solutions in business practice, energy, transportation, climate, community economic development, security, and environmentally responsive buildings and real estate development. Their clients include major corporations, utility companies, local government agencies, architects and real estate developers. RMI's work is most recently summarized in Natural Capitalism, Small is Profitable and Winning the Oil Endgame.

Peter Rumsey, P.E.
President, Rumsey Engineers

Peter Rumsey is the owner and president of Rumsey Engineers. He has over 20 years of experience in the engineering and energy field. He has worked on the design and improvement of buildings in three continents. Peter is a graduate of UC Berkeley with a mechanical engineering degree and is a registered mechanical engineer in the State of California, Arizona, and Texas. He is a Certified Energy Manager. He is a member of the ASHRAE Cleanrooms Committee (TC9.11). In 2002, He was awarded the Energy Engineer of the Year Award from the Bay Area chapter of the Association of Energy Engineers.

Peter’s expertise covers a broad range of skills including: design of efficient HVAC systems in commercial buildings, laboratories, cleanrooms, and data centers, design of energy monitoring systems, analysis of the financial impacts of energy systems, and the management of project teams. Peter pioneered the use of guaranteed performance contracts for HVAC systems based solely on measured system data.

Peter has published several papers on energy efficiency and HVAC issues. As a global player in energy efficiency, Peter has gained a deep cross-section of experience covering government, scientific and private sector activities. Recent clients include: Intel Corp., Pacific Gas and Electric, Netscape Communications, Hyatt Hotels, The Oakland Museum of California, Carnegie Institute, Applied Materials, ST Microelectronics, Sandia National Laboratories, Oakland Airport and University of California.

Last updated on 25 Jun 08

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