Understanding Energy Efficiency’s Role in GHG Reduction

By attending this training webinar, participants will be able to:

• Explain the relationship between energy efficiency and GHG emissions by identifying how electricity consumption and other energy sources contribute to a building's carbon footprint.
• Identify regional climate policies and building requirements relevant to DC, Maryland and other State examples, including emissions reduction targets, energy benchmarking, and Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS).
• Recognize (in a general way) practical energy efficiency opportunities involving HVAC systems, lighting, controls, building envelopes, equipment operation, and energy management practices.
• Interpret basic energy and emissions performance metrics, including energy use intensity (EUI), carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e), energy savings, and emissions reductions.
• Discuss a preliminary sample action plan for prioritizing energy efficiency measures, evaluating potential benefits, and tracking progress toward organizational GHG reduction goals.

1. Foundations of Energy Efficiency and GHG Reduction
Purpose: Establish a shared understanding of energy use, efficiency, and emissions

• What energy efficiency means in buildings and facilities.
• Difference between energy conservation, energy efficiency, renewable energy, electrification, and decarbonization.
• Introduction to greenhouse gases: CO₂, methane, and other GHGs.
• What is Scope 1 emissions from onsite fuel combustion versus Scope 2 emissions from purchase electricity, steam, heating, and cooling. Brief overview of Scope 3
• How reduced energy demand can lower utility costs and emissions.
• Everyday examples of energy use in offices, schools, multifamily housing, retail, and government buildings.[WB1] 
• How carbon emissions vary depending on time of day and time of year.
• Speed of the decarbonization for the grid.

2. DC, Maryland and other State Policies and Building Requirements
Purpose: Connect efficiency projects to the regional policy landscape

• Washington, DC's Clean Energy DC framework, building benchmarking, and BEPS requirements.
• Maryland's Climate Solutions Now Act and statewide GHG reduction goals.
• Other State Example Performance Standards (BEPS): covered buildings, benchmarking, direct emissions targets, and compliance planning.

3. Building Energy Efficiency Strategies
Purpose: Identify, in simple terms, practical measures that can improve building performance

• HVAC efficiency, heating and cooling optimization, and ventilation controls.
• Lighting upgrades, occupancy sensors, and daylight controls.
• Building automation systems, scheduling, and temperature set point management.
• Building envelope improvements, insulation, air sealing, and windows.
• Plug loads, process equipment, domestic hot water, and operational practices.
• Preventive maintenance, retro commissioning, and continuous commissioning.
• Electrification and heat pumps: how efficiency and decarbonization work together.
  o heat pumps, heat recover chillers, etc.
  o and just as importantly when they DON’T.

EXAMPLES:
- Fossil fuel furnace converted to heat pump.
- Fossil fuel boiler (steam radiators) converted to electric.
o Fossil fuel unit heater converted to HP/electric strip.Impact of equipment life and complexity.
o Impact of the speed of grid decarbonization.
• Renewable energy and energy storage as complementary (and necessary) decarbonization strategies.

4. Measuring Energy Savings and GHG Reductions
Purpose: Build confidence in basic building performance metrics and emissions calculations

• Discuss Basic Energy units: kWh, therms, MMBtu, and fuel consumption.
• What is Energy use intensity (EUI), benchmarking, and building performance comparisons.
• Understanding CO₂e and the difference between direct and electricity-related emissions.
• Explore basic energy and emissions baselines.
• A brief overview of ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager for benchmarking
• Estimating emissions reductions from energy savings.
• Weather, occupancy, operating schedules, and other factors that affect results.
• What is M&V - Introduction to measurement and verification (M&V).

5. Building an Action Plan for Energy and Carbon Reduction
Purpose: Translate course concepts into practical next steps

• Instructor gives an example of an energy and GHG baseline.
• Identifying low-cost, operational, and capital improvements.
• Simple comparison of energy savings, emissions benefits, implementation costs, and payback.
• Coordinating efficiency upgrades with equipment replacement and electrification.
• Exploring regional incentives, grants, utility programs, and financing opportunities.
• How to set measurable goals and assigning responsibilities.
• Communicating results to leadership, tenants, customers, and other stakeholders.
• Maintenance and other Considerations

6. Review, and Q&A

• Review key takeaways.
• Go over helpful DC and Regional Resources
• Questions and discussion of participant applications.
  
  

• Attendees can be building and facility managers, energy managers, sustainability professionals, energy auditors, utility program staff, energy
  service companies, government facility personnel, engineers, and professionals beginning work in decarbonization and energy efficiency.
• Attendees may already have general understanding of different types of energy efficiency methods and why reducing GHG (Green House Gas) is
  important.

Walter “Wally” Bright is President of the Institute of Energy Professionals (IEP), where his goal is to provide practical and impactful energy management training backed by expertise in energy efficiency. Walter Bright is the lead instructor for all IEP training, instructing topics such as HVAC and Building Automation Systems (BAS), as well as other building-system and energy-related subjects. Prior to IEP, Wally spent five years in the building automation field as a contractor, designing open-protocol, multi-vendor, Tridium-based control systems for a variety of facilities, including schools, data centers, water treatment plants, and others. He helped produce shop drawings and created standards/best practices for the company to ensure quality installations. Wally has experience in the A&E industry as well, performing MEP design for the healthcare and research/lab sectors. In addition to traditional design work, he helped create standardized BAS specifications, sequence of operations, and provided controls-related oversight on a variety of projects. He also led equipment startups and several investigations to identify mechanical/controls-related issues with new and existing construction. Working both as a contractor and an engineer has enabled Wally to gain a unique insight into the BAS/controls marketplace.