Benchmarking Initiative
With an aim to develop programs that support institutional change for energy efficiency, Hawaii Energy began an ongoing benchmarking initiative in PY2014 and our well-equipped staff continues to perform tailored benchmarking analysis to better understand the unique requirements for commercial sectors. We align our work in benchmarking with the commercial sector's needs and make this information available to building managers for their use in developing energy efficiency programs. Our Energy Advisors employ benchmarking data to engage with those properties that show the highest EUIs (e.g. energy usage per square foot) to help identify specific energy efficiency opportunities. Please contact us for more information or if you are interested to see how benchmarking can help you make informed decisions about future energy actions. Benchmarking also works best when it is done consistently over time, since it is hard to manage what is not being measured.
Energy Benchmarking
Energy benchmarking is the process of comparing a facility’s energy usage against facilities of a similar type and/or function (i.e. office building to office building).The benchmarked sites are compared against similar facilities in their sector using their Energy Use Intensity (EUI) rating. The EUI is defined as the annual energy usage of a site divided by its total utilized square footage.
Facility Types
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During Program Year 2016, a collection of 26 banking locations across the state of Hawai’i were selected for benchmarking. The banks’ Energy Use Intensity (EUI) were compared to the national average as well as the average of the selected locations. The results can be seen in the accompanying graph. The lack of heating requirements during winter months may account for the lower local selection average EUI when compared to the national average EUI.
LED lighting retrofits, HVAC retrofits, and installation of occupancy sensors are but a few of the energy reduction options available to banking facilities. These measures reduce operating cost while increasing customer comfort.
For more sector-specific information, check out the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager nation-wide analysis:
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During Program Year 2016, a collection of 71 office buildings across the state of Hawai’i were selected for benchmarking. The buildings’ Energy Use Intensity (EUI) were compared to the national average as well as the average of the selected locations. The results can be seen in the accompanying graph. The lack of heating requirements during winter months may account for the lower local selection average EUI when compared to the national average EUI.
According to Selling Energy, buildings with intelligent energy management use 20% to 40% less energy; thus, lowering operating expenses by 8% to 9% overall. Benchmarking can help to determine how your site compares to peers and whether energy saving actions are needed.
For more sector-specific information, check out the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager nation-wide analysis:
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During Program Year 2016, a collection of 16 retail across the state of Hawai’i were selected for benchmarking. The stores’ Energy Use Intensity (EUI) were compared to the national average as well as the average of the selected locations. The results can be seen in the accompanying graph. The lack of heating requirements during winter months may account for the lower local selection average EUI when compared to the national average EUI.
Replacing older lighting systems with LEDs will not only reduce a business’ energy cost, but also help present the store with a more modern esthetic. Additionally, newer LEDs can provide better color rendition and enhance the look of products.
For more sector-specific information, check out the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager nation-wide analysis:
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During Program Year 2016, a collection of 23 high schools across the state of Hawai’i were selected for benchmarking. The schools’ average energy consumption per student was calculated and compared with the selected group average. The results can be seen in the accompanying graph. The use of energy consumption per student as a metric for this specific sector was determined to provide more insightful information than the industry standard Energy Use Intensity (EUI) values.
According to Selling Energy, a recent study found that students achieved a higher performance in oral reading fluency when working in rooms equipped with LED lights as opposed to fluorescent T8 lamps. New higher efficiency LEDs can offer energy cost reductions with increased eye comfort.
For more sector-specific information, check out the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager nation-wide analysis:
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During Program Year 2016, a collection of 39 condominiums across the state of Hawai’i were selected for benchmarking. The condominiums’ Energy Use Intensity (EUI) were compared to the national average as well as the average of the selected locations. The results can be seen in the accompanying graph. The lack of heating requirements during winter months may account for the lower local selection average EUI when compared to the national average EUI.
Studies have shown that commercial buildings with lower energy consumption and ENERGY STAR certification have higher sale prices, higher rental rates, and higher occupancy rates, according to Selling Energy.
For more sector-specific information, check out the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager nation-wide analysis:
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During Program Year 2016, a collection of 15 convenience stores with attached gas stations across the state of Hawai’i were selected for benchmarking. The convenience stores’ Energy Use Intensity (EUI) were compared to the national average as well as the average of the selected locations. The results can be seen in the accompanying graph. The lack of heating requirements during winter months may account for the lower local selection average EUI when compared to the national average EUI.
According to Selling Energy, gas stations that replaced old lighting systems with higher efficiency LEDs not only reduced their energy cost, but also lowered cases of theft due to the enhanced lighting.
For more sector-specific information, check out the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager nation-wide analysis:
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During Program Year 2016, a collection of 15 non-refrigerated warehouses across the state of Hawai’i were selected for benchmarking. The warehouses’ Energy Use Intensity (EUI) were compared to the national average as well as the average of the selected locations. The results can be seen in the accompanying graph. The lack of heating requirements during winter months may account for the significantly lower local selection average EUI when compared to the national average EUI.
In addition to lowering energy costs, higher efficiency LED lighting can improve visibility and facilitate a safer warehouse working environment for forklift drivers and fellow employees.
For more sector-specific information, check out the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager nation-wide analysis:
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During Program Year 2016, a collection of 15 refrigerated warehouses across the state of Hawai’i were selected for benchmarking. The warehouses’ Energy Use Intensity (EUI) were compared to the national average as well as the average of the selected locations. The results can be seen in the accompanying graph. The lack of heating requirements during winter months may account for the lower local selection average EUI when compared to the national average EUI.
Installing higher efficiency LED systems will not only provide a reduction in the energy cost associated with light, but it will also reduce the overall load on the refrigeration system. This is due to LEDs generating less heat for a given brightness level than other types of lighting.
For more sector-specific information, check out the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager nation-wide analysis:
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During Program Year 2016, a collection of 15 restaurants across the state of Hawai’i were selected for benchmarking. The restaurants’ Energy Use Intensity (EUI) were compared to the national average as well as the average of the selected locations. The results can be seen in the accompanying graph. The lack of heating requirements during winter months may account for the lower local selection average EUI when compared to the national average EUI.
Businesses with newer, higher efficiency kitchen equipment not only benefit from a lower energy cost, but in many cases also achieve higher food output from their new equipment.
For more sector-specific information, check out the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager nation-wide analysis:
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During Program Year 2016, a collection of 15 worship facilities across the state of Hawai’i were selected for benchmarking. The facilities’ Energy Use Intensity (EUI) were compared to the national average as well as the average of the selected locations. The results can be seen in the accompanying graph. The lack of heating requirements during winter months may account for the significantly lower local selection average EUI when compared to the national average EUI.
Changing old lighting systems to LEDs can have a dramatic effect on not only reducing energy consumption, but also reducing heat production. This leads to shorter HVAC runtimes and additional energy savings. HVACs with higher energy efficiencies can also be installed to further reduce energy costs.
For more sector-specific information, check out the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager nation-wide analysis:
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During Program Year 2016, a collection of 15 self-storage facilities across the state of Hawai’i were selected for benchmarking. The facilities’ Energy Use Intensity (EUI) were compared to the national average as well as the average of the selected locations. The results can be seen in the accompanying graph. The lack of heating requirements during winter months may account for the lower local selection average EUI when compared to the national average EUI.
Installation of LED lighting systems can provide notable reductions in energy costs. With the reduced heat production of LEDs, customers will also benefit from increase physical comfort. Additionally, further energy savings can be realized with occupancy sensors.
For more sector-specific information, check out the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager nation-wide analysis:
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During Program Year 2016, a collection of 39 supermarkets/grocery stores across the state of Hawai’i were selected for benchmarking. The stores’ Energy Use Intensity (EUI) were compared to the national average as well as the average of the selected locations. The results can be seen in the accompanying graph.
According to Selling Energy, a reduction of up to 75% in the amount of discarded fruits and vegetables can be achieved by installing energy-efficient refrigerated night covers. Additionally, LED lighting can help extend the life of packaged meats.
For more sector-specific information, check out the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager nation-wide analysis:
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During Program Year 2016, a collection of 23 hotels across the state of Hawai’i were selected for benchmarking. The hotels’ Energy Use Intensity (EUI) were compared to the national average as well as the average of the selected locations. The results can be seen in the accompanying graph. The lack of heating requirements during winter months may account for the lower local selection average EUI when compared to the national average EUI.
For more sector-specific information, check out the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager nation-wide analysis:
- According to Selling Energy, by installing energy-efficient equipment in laundry facilities, hotels can have significant savings in water and energy expenditures. In addition, installing higher efficiency LED lighting can provide a more comfortable experience for guests.
With the high cost of energy today and an increased awareness on energy conservation, building owners are recognizing the need to reduce their energy costs. The first step in reducing energy costs is to measure current consumption and understand what that means, such as “Is the energy usage high for a building of this size and similar function?” For example, a hospital will have a different energy profile compared to a small commercial office building. Once a building’s energy usage has been measured, analyzed and benchmarked, the building’s owner can then start to make informed decisions about future actions. The value of benchmarking is in the knowledge gained that will allow facility managers and owners to determine to focus precious resources in areas that require attention. Benchmarking also works best when it is done consistently over time, since it is hard to manage what is not being measured.
The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager is a measurement and tracking tool that is the standard today for peer comparison benchmarking. It is a program that allows facility managers to input various data about their building to generate a score indicating how it is performing against similar types of facilities nationwide. ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager is also an interactive resource management tool that enables you to track and assess energy and water usage across your entire portfolio of buildings - all in a secure online environment. It generates weather-normalized Energy Use Intensity (EUI), greenhouse gas emission metrics for all buildings and an ENERGY STAR energy performance score (based on as score of 1 to 100) for many eligible building types. In addition, custom reports allow users to see time trending information and compare buildings within their portfolio.
An ENERGY STAR energy performance score indicates how energy-efficient your building or plant is compared to peer facilities nationwide. For example, a score of 50 is average, while a score of 30 means the building is only more efficient than 30 percent of its peer facilities. A score of 75 or higher means your facility is a top performer — and eligible for ENERGY STAR certification! For more information on the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager, visit www.energystar.gov.
Assumptions
- Facilities are utilized as intended.
- Energy use data are representative of normal consumption.
- Square footage includes all enclosed spaces within a site. Outdoor spaces may be included depending on facility type. The decision as to whether outdoor areas are included are applied to all facilities in a sector.
- In the rare case that floor data is unavailable, square foot is determined using publicly available map data.
- Utilize Site EUI (not Source EUI) for benchmarking purposes.
Sources
- Building Information
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Energy Consumption Information
- Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO)
- Maui Electric Company (MECO)
- Hawai’i Electric Light Company (HELCO)