A little late but as promised, here is my suggested standardized Measurement & Verification (M&V) Plan.  Also click on the Measurement/Meter & Verification Meter Schedule Matrix and Flow Diagram that is part of the M&V Plan document.  My two previous blogs addressed the importance of the M&V Plan and strongly suggest that it be a prerequisite to any LEED® certified job.

The following plan is a result of our in-house, RDK Engineers, Inc. lunch-&-learn session where many of the staff helped me to collect the data needed to create a standardized M&V Plan. Here are the results.

 MISSION
To ensure the building program's sustainability is achieved and continuously improved upon over the life of the building.

GOAL
To design and install a means to measure, compare, and continuously improve the energy conservation initiative, which is the foundation of responsible building system design, construction, and continuous energy management and is an integral part of this LEED® project.

STRATEGIC PLAN
To design into the project a metering system that will collect pertinent utility data, monitor this energy consumption, and measure this consumption to a building system energy software simulation. Then it will be benchmarked against the original design-to-actual energy consumption and adjustments will be based on knowledge and experience as needed throughout the years.  The LEED Option D-Whole Building Calibrated Simulation is the basis for our M&V Plan.
Integral to this plan is the assignment of a Energy Administrator to set up the M&V Plan in software, such as Microsoft Excel so that actual energy consumption can be compared to actual energy consumption. Then has this person monitor the results based on the method of energy analysis (i.e., monthly, weekly, etc.)

 TACTICAL PLAN
The intent is to focus on the largest utility consumption data (Option D-Whole Building) possible at the least first cost, as well as at the least annual management cost to monitor, benchmark, and report on energy consumption.  To implement the M&V Plan is to specify, install and monitor, measure, assess, and report on the utility consumption beginning on day one of occupancy.  Refer to the Measurement/Meter & Verification Meter Schedule Matrix and Flow Diagram, which provides a visual image of the M&V Plan minimum metering requirements.
The LEED team and the facility operator may choose to expand the annual consumption to a month-by-month monitoring and benchmarking process and/or further enhance it to include peak and off peak utility demands and/or building use periods.  To begin the process, our plan is to keep it simple with an emphasis that the process be improved and expanded by the energy administrator and the metering system, based on time and experience.

UTILITIES TO BE MEASURED & BENCHMARKED
Electricity
1. Measure annual kilowatts per hour (kWH) and divide by gross square feet to establish actual-to-benchmark "kWH per Square Foot per Year."
2. Record the peak kW Demand for the year to establish actual-to-benchmark "kW Demand for Year."
3. Optional Measurement:
  • Monthly (or weekly, daily, and/or time-of-day) kWH with results being documented as kWH per Square Foot per Month.

  • kW Demand monthly, weekly, daily, and/or time-of-day with results being documented as kW per Month (or weekly, daily, and/or time-of-day).


Gas

1. Measure annual therms of gas and divide by gross square feet to establish actual-to-benchmark "Therms per Square Foot per Year."
2. Record the peak therms demand for the year to establish actual-to-benchmark "Therms Demand for Year."
3. Optional Measurement:
  • Monthly (or weekly, daily, and/or time-of-day) therms with results being documented as Therms per Square Foot per Month.

  • Therms Demand monthly, weekly, daily, and/or time-of-day with results being documented as Therms per Month (or weekly, daily, and/or time-of-day).


City Water
1.  Measure annual cubic feet of water and divide by gross square feet to establish actual-to-benchmark "CF per Square Foot per Year."
2.  Record the peak CF demand for the year to establish actual-to-benchmark "CF Demand for Year."
3.  Optional Measurement:
  • Monthly (or weekly, daily, and/or time-of-day) CF with results being documented as CF per Square Foot per Month.


 Chilled Water
1. Measure ton-hours (TH) and divide by gross square feet to establish actual-to-benchmark "TH per Square Foot per Year."
2.  Record the peak tons demand for the year to establish actual-to-benchmark "Tons Demand for Year."
3.  Optional Measurement:
  • Monthly (or weekly, daily, and/or time-of-day) TH with results being documented as TH per Square Foot per Month.

  • Tons Demand monthly, weekly, daily, and/or time-of-day with results being documented as Tons per Month (or weekly, daily, and/or time-of-day).


 Steam
1.  Measure annual pounds of steam per hour and divide by gross square feet to establish actual-to-benchmark "#/Hr per Square Foot per Year."
2.  Record the peak #/Hr demand for the year to establish actual-to-benchmark "#/Hr Demand for Year."
3.  Optional Measurement:
  • Monthly (or weekly, daily, and/or time-of-day) #/Hr with results being documented as #/Hr per Square Foot per Month.

  • #/Hr Demand monthly, weekly, daily, and/or time-of-day with results being documented as #/Hr per Month (or weekly, daily, and/or time-of-day).

 Oil:
1.  Measure annual gallons of oil (Gal) delivered and divide by gross square feet to establish actual-to-benchmark "Gal per Square Foot per Year."

 Hot Water
1.  Measure thousands of BTUH and divide by gross square feet to establish actual-to-benchmark "BTUH per Square Foot per Year."
2.  Record the peak BTUH Demand for the year to establish actual-to-benchmark "BTUH Demand for Year."
3.  Optional Measurement:
  • Monthly (or weekly, daily, and/or time-of-day) BTUH with results being documented as BTUH per Square Foot per Month.

  • BTUH Demand monthly, weekly, daily, and/or time-of-day with results being documented as BTUH per Month (or weekly, daily, and/or time-of-day).

 Overall Energy Performance
1. A quick snapshot of energy consumption is best taken when each of the utilities (excluding city water) annual consumption is summed together and divided by the area served in square feet.  To do this, each utility needs to be converted into the common denominator-BTUH.  The results will be BTUH per Square Foot per Year (i.e., 58,000 BTUH per Square Foot per Year for an office building).