Briefs

One of the lesser known aspects of the utility and DSM world is the Forward Capacity Market (FCM). This market can have a significant impact on program planning, and especially program evaluation.

Just as a Diet Dr. Shasta provides the same refreshing bold flavor of regular Dr. Shasta, a hybrid geothermal system offers nearly the same efficiency advantages as a full geothermal system.

The beauty of SEM is it is a never-ending process for always-changing facilities. Once projects and processes have been implemented and the savings have been verified, a new savings goal can be set.

Also known as pneumatic-conveying, these systems use air compressors, blowers, or fans to move things from flour to everyone's favorite frosted, sugar-packed cereal throughout facilities.

Program equity involves providing benefits relatively evenly across all sectors according to what those sectors pay into the program portfolio pot of money. The challenge is balancing cost effectiveness and equity.

Steam heating systems are common in older commercial buildings in urban areas; these systems need reasonable maintenance. However, even systems that are properly maintained can present problems.

Due to components such as coils, filters, and diffusers, all air distribution systems are resistant to airflow. To overcome this resistance, fans produce enough pressure to transport air to conditioned spaces.

TRMs usually provide a single location for all of the baseline and technical assumptions, equations, and requirements which utilities and implementers have developed for their prescriptive (deemed) savings values.

Any black box that actually saves energy will have been tested by a reputable independent entity according to industry standard practice. Without those tests, it is buyer beware.

What does confidence and precision levels mean? Most people will say that 90% confidence is needed to be sure that the results of the evaluation are within 10% of the “real” savings. Is this really the case?