Energy audit process simplifications from the Texas LoanSTAR program

A previous study showed that the energy cost savings of certain types of energy cost reduction measures (ECRMs) in commercial buildings are linearly related with implementation costs. This result, along with a desire to shorten the audit process, has led to the investigation of ECRMs that are amenable to installation without detailed calculations of energy and cost savings in a process becoming known as 'direct install.' This study is based on data from the LoanSTAR program, an energy cost reduction program sponsored by the state of Texas. The data set consists of more than 900 retrofit projects, which are divided into 8 major categories and 37 subcategories. Certain energy-saving retrofit projects that have reasonably strong correlations between implementation cost and annual savings and that can be defined in the initial stage of an audit with reasonable certainty are candidates for direct install. Such projects include lighting controls, lighting changes, lighting upgrade, chiller controls, energy management system (EMS) replacement and installation, and motor control retrofits. Direct install can shorten the time and expenses required to prepare an audit report by up to an estimated 60% and can accelerate the installation of retrofits.