Workshop Introduction - Building Energy Performance Improvement Through Advanced Technologies, Smart Organization, and Financing
Abstract
Energy savings performance contracts (ESPCs) are a relatively recent contracting development. ESPCs are used to obtain a variety of energy services ranging from commodity provision on a regional basis; to assumption of operation of utility plants and distribution system; to identification, implementation, and maintenance of energy and water efficiency capital improvements. ESPCs provide a means of obtaining needed resources such as manpower and technical expertise by paying for those resources through savings from reductions in facility energy use. Additional benefits may include reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and oil consumption, increases in energy efficiency, expansion of the use of renewable energy sources, and identification and implementation of energy and water saving measures. Depending on the nature of the agreement, ESPCs allow the private sector and Federal agencies to reduce energy consumption and improve efficiency in facilities, with potentially no capital investment from the end-user. However, it seems that ESPC contractors have exhausted the "low hanging fruit" opportunities for energy savings. Future projects will likely be increasingly complex and require technical and methodological support that will allow for more detailed energy systems assessment, better understanding of the available technologies and their level of their maturity, accurate replacement technology benchmarking and economic guidance.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2004
- Accession Number
- ADA460115
Entities
Organizations
- Engineer Research and Development Center