The Energy Savings Opportunities sections are where auditors enter and report the energy savings opportunities resulting from the energy audit. Entry is a two-step process first requiring the entry of Energy Efficiency Measures (EEMs) in the Building Energy Saving Opportunities – Measure tab and then designating packages in the Building Energy Savings Opportunities-Packages. Designated packages and Retro-Commissioning (RCx) Measures will display in the Energy Savings Opportunities Summary tab. See DC BEPS Template – Energy Savings Opportunities Package to create packages for single and batched EEMs other than RCx. Note that measures not entered as packages (other than RCx) will not populate in the Energy Savings Opportunity Summary or the downloadable PDF.


The Energy Savings Opportunities Summary table reports energy savings, cost savings, and incentives for EEMs, and will display calculated payback, ROI Site Energy Reduction, and Potential Penalty Avoided values for each package. More financial analysis performed on the entered data will be shown in the DC BEPS Template – Energy Savings Opportunities Summary tab.


Measure Identifier, Measure Category, Measure Name, and Measure Description, Measure Status

  • Select the green “Add Measure” button at the bottom of the Energy Savings Measure tab to create a row to enter a new measure.
  • Measure Identifier will auto populate. Auditors may provide their own identifier if desired.
  • Select system and measure categories from the drop-down menu lists.
  • Select Measure Category to populate lists of associated EEMs to select from in the Measure Name drop down menu. Select an appropriate EEM from among the list of actions required for implementation.
  • Measure Description is required to describe the existing conditions that provide background for understanding the basis for each recommended measure as necessary. For the Prescriptive Pathway, Measure Description will be used to track the EEM throughout the Compliance Cycle and must be include efficiency requirements and scope of work elements for which the savings estimate is valid. Examples:
    • DO USE: “Replace all tenant space CFLs with 9 W LEDs”, NOT “LED lighting retrofit”
    • DO USE: “Insulate the exterior building walls to R-15 with [list applicable materials/system name]”, NOT “Insulate walls”
    • DO USE: “HVAC Controls Upgrades - CHWST Reset, CWST Reset, Pump VFD Control”, NOT “HVAC controls”
    • DO USE: “ENERGY STAR dishwashers, refrigerators, clothes washers, and clothes dryers”, NOT “ENERGY STAR appliances”
    • If citing ENERGY STAR, the estimated savings must assume equipment/appliances that minimally comply with the ENERGY STAR efficiency specifications. If savings assume better-than-minimum ENERGY STAR efficiency, then the Measure Description must reference the efficiency instead of “ENERGY STAR


Measure Status. Select status from dropdown to indicate if the measure is recommended, implemented, or requires further study.


Retro-commissioning (RCx) Measures 


Is RCx Measures? The default for this column is “No.” If submitting an RCx measure, select “Yes.” RCx measures will be summarized in the Energy Savings Opportunity Summary with projected savings.


Modeling/Calculation Approach 

Auditors must indicate whether the annual energy and cost savings for each measure were identified manually via spreadsheet calculations or with an energy modeling software by selecting from the Modeling/Calculation Approach drop down menu. Auditors must upload the spreadsheet or energy modeling input and output for each EEM when submitting to the city.


Annual Energy and Cost Savings

Auditors must enter the following data calculated in accordance with Level 2 audit procedures per ASHRAE Standard 211. Auditors must upload spreadsheets and/or modeling reports demonstrating the same annual value when submitting to the city.


Total Cost Savings – Enter the estimated annual cost savings that would be realized if this measure were implemented.


Energy Savings by Energy Source – Energy savings for each measure needs to be identified for each energy supply source that is affected by the measure. Input fields will be available for each of the Energy Types selected on the Available Energy Supply Sources screen. Enter the estimated energy savings for this energy source that would be realized if this package were implemented. If a measure would not be expected to see savings for a particular energy type, enter a value of 0. If a measure is expected to increase consumption of a particular energy type (e.g., electrification causing an increase in total electricity use), enter the increase as a negative energy savings value.


For On-Site Generated Savings, enter a value that would reflect the estimated savings that would occur for energy used from an existing on-site renewable energy supply source, if the selected Measure is implemented. An entry in this field would be relevant only if generated energy is not exported and is used exclusively onsite. Enter ‘0’ if net metering incentives are in place.


Peak Demand Savings – Enter a value here in kW that would reflect the estimated savings that would occur during a period of peak demand if the selected Measure were implemented.


Payback with Incentive 

Provide a summary of the implementation cost for each measure. Enter one input per measure for the following: measure cost, potential incentives (in dollars), measure life (years), and discount rate (fraction). The potential incentives should include the available utility, tax, or other incentives applicable to each measure. Discount Rate is entered as a fraction and should be based on the building owner’s criteria (0.025 ---or 2.5% ---is the default that can be used if the owner doesn’t provide an alternative).


Terms and Definitions


The following definitions for content appearing in this section have been referenced from Standard 211:


energy efficiency measure (EEM): an action taken in the operation or equipment in a building that reduces energy use of the building while maintaining or enhancing the building’s safety, comfort, and functionality; also referred to as “energy conservation measure” (ECM).


interactive effect: the change in resultant energy savings estimates or actual energy savings due to analyzing or implementing multiple EEMs that impact one another.


Low Cost/ No Cost measures: Low cost/no cost measures are those that can be implemented within the O&M budget for the facility, where such exists.


practical measure: an EEM that is determined to be technically feasible.


recommended measure: a practical measure that has been vetted for interactive effects with other practical measures and determined by the qualified energy auditor to provide net benefit to the building ownership. Life-cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) may be used as the methodology to filter Practical Measures to Recommended Measures.


simple payback: estimated initial EEM cost divided by the EEM first-year calculated cost savings. Both savings and costs are in dollars ($) or other consistent monetary units, and the simple payback is expressed in years.


simple return on investment (simple ROI): the EEM first-year calculated cost savings divided by estimated initial EEM cost. Both savings and costs are in dollars ($) or other consistent monetary units.