Paper Audit and
Billing Analysis
Findings
The first step in Minimise’ No Capital Outlay Partnership Agreement (NCOPA), was to undertake a Paper Audit/Billing Analysis. This analysis was the first step in benchmarking energy consumption while identifying potential billing errors, establishing energy use patterns, and presenting a high-level opportunity proposal to HDSB.
PAST ENERGY PERFORMANCE
BENCHMARKING
BILLING ANALISYS
PAST ENERGY PERFORMANCE
Presented below is HDSB’s Electrical Energy Cost from 2015 to 2020.
[visualizer id=”2484″ lazy=”no” class=””]
Between 2017 and 2020 an 8.5% reduction in electrical cost was realized. Most notably, The District Office and Bus Barn, Ponce de Leon High School (HS), Bonifay Elementary School (ES), and Bonifay Middle School (MS) & GAP performed exceptionally well. However, from our understanding, the latter two had remodeling done and/or is in the progress of being phased out. Furthermore, reduction in 2020’s energy consumption can be attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Provided below is monthly electrical cost per month, over a five (5) year period.
[visualizer id=”2489″ lazy=”no” class=””]
BENCHMARKING
Energy Cost Intensity (ECI) and/or Energy Use Intensity (EUI) are measures frequently used in the Energy Management Sector to define how well buildings are performing. The energy cost per square foot ($/sq.ft.) is used to benchmark facilities of similar size and function to others.
Minimise uses published energy benchmarks to conduct its preliminary evaluations. The Building Performance Database (BPD) contains energy benchmarks for various types of US buildings and is overseen by the US Department of Energy (DoE) The Lawrence Berkeley National Labs also use these benchmarking criteria.
Provided below is the benchmark Energy Use Index (EUI) (kWh/sq.ft.) of K-12 facilities in Climatic Zone 2A (Gulf Coast). K-12 facilities are broken into Elementary Schools (ES), Middle Schools (MS) and High Schools (HS).
[visualizer id=”2504″ lazy=”no” class=””]
The best performing school, from the sample of 350 schools, has an EUI of 3.516 kWh/sq.ft. and the worst are at 29.593 kWh/sq.ft. All other schools fall within this range where there is a segmentation for Elementary Schools & Middle Schools, and High Schools, respectively.
Further segmentation exists according to the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile. Interpretation of the data is;
- Twenty-five percent (25%) of all High Schools in Climatic Zone 2A has an EUI less than 10.548 kWh/sq.ft.
- A High School with an EUI of 11 kWh/sq.ft. would be between the 25th and 50th percentile, and therefore be below the 50th percentile.
For the calendar year of 2019 – January to December, HDSB’s performance compared to the published EUI is provided below.
[visualizer id=”2513″ lazy=”no” class=””]
* Classified as other educational building – under ‘all’ class
** Classified as High School
*** Classified as High School
**** Bonifay MS (0012) & GAP (0471), and Old Bonifay (0121) excluded due to no footage data.
Overall, HDSB has an EUI of 11.17 kWh/sq.ft. which is relatively high compared to other school facilities in Climatic Zone 2A (Gulf Coast) – above the 75th percentile. The best performing facility is Poplar Springs School since its performance falls between the minimum and 25th percentile EUI. The worst performing facility is Holmes County HS – which has an EUI above the 75th percentile.
From an Energy Cost Index (ECI) perspective, HDSB’s overall ECI is $1.27 per sq.ft. – which is higher than the State Average, $1.12/sq.ft.
Furthermore, HDSB paid approximately $0.1116 per kWh – including taxes and fees.
BILLING ANALISYS
In reviewing the utility bills provided, Minimise identified two (2) areas of concern (explained below). To address those areas of concern, Minimise suggests additional conversation with HDSB and/or Utility Companies.
- Multiple Low Usage Accounts
- HDSB has multiple accounts which use less than 100 kWh per month. To translate, 100 kWh per month is equivalent to about 4 fluorescent fixtures burning for 8 hours/day. Accounts using less than 100kWh per month amounts to energy bills of ±$5.379 per year.
- HDSB has multiple accounts which use 0 kWh per month. In fact, there are about 10 such accounts which cost HDSB approximately $2,936 per year. These accounts are charged for energy services or a base charge regardless of the energy use. These accounts are often only active some months in the year.
- It is Minimise’ understanding that utility companies connected electrical wiring to buildings such as Softball Fields at no cost to the District upfront.
- Although an immediate remedy is not identified here, Minimise would advise the District to have discussions around these meters with Utility Provider(s) and to implement future processes to try avoiding connection of new meters if energy can be fed from existing meters.
- HDSB has multiple accounts which use less than 100 kWh per month. To translate, 100 kWh per month is equivalent to about 4 fluorescent fixtures burning for 8 hours/day. Accounts using less than 100kWh per month amounts to energy bills of ±$5.379 per year.
An example of zero energy use account is provided below.
- Incorrect Demand Billings
- Minimise identified that Account 269011 (Bethlehem), Account 269003 (Bethlehem), Account 61004 (Poplar Springs), and Account 610011 (Poplar Springs) billed by West Florida Electric are billed for a demand (kW) other than the actual demand.
- Some months were billed per the actual demand, whilst others were billed at a demand above the actual demand. These billing scenarios can cost HDSB up to $645 per month per account.
- Minimise proposes to have discussions with West Florida Electrical to clarify the billing structure for these accounts.
- Minimise identified that Account 269011 (Bethlehem), Account 269003 (Bethlehem), Account 61004 (Poplar Springs), and Account 610011 (Poplar Springs) billed by West Florida Electric are billed for a demand (kW) other than the actual demand.
An example of demand charges, as billed versus actual, is provided below.
NO CAPITAL OUTLAY
PARNERSHIP AGREEMENT
(NCOPA)
Often, when public sector institutions face financial pressures, the budget for capital improvements required for much-needed energy infrastructure upgrades and proper Operations and Maintenance (O&M) programs are out of reach. This is where Minimise’ No Capital Outlay Partnership Agreement (NCOPA) is unique; the NCOPA not only provides HDSB with energy efficiency improvements and upgrades but also O&M Solutions at no cost.
Determination
NEXT STEPS
PROCESSES
WHAT’S NCOPA
Determination
The, now completed, Paper Audit/Billing Analysis was the first step in qualifying HDSB for the Minimise NCOPA. Based on the findings of the Paper Audit/Billing Analysis, Minimise is confident that it will capture more than 17% in energy waste and that a full NCOPA, per the PAEC/Florida Buy contract is warranted. Based on the findings, Minimise has determined that an energy savings opportunity is a certainty at HDSB.
Minimise estimates that a capital investment into HDSB infrastructure would amount to aproximately $5.2 million which will include Lighting, Energy Management, HVAC Upgrades and Optimization, Change Management, Water Conservation Measures, Solar Power Generation, and more. The NCOPA is backed by multiple AA+ rated national and international banks.
NEXT STEPS
To this effect, Minimise proposes to undertake the next steps in the process – the Investment Grade Audit (IGA) and implementation of a suite of Solution Sets to reduce energy consumption and related operations and maintenance costs at HDSB. Contingent upon the IGA, implementation is well defined by the 3 phases and Solution Sets outlined below:
PROCESSES
The NCOPA Process is outlined below.
WHAT’S NCOPA
The No Capital Outlay Partnerhip Agreement (NCOPA), as shown above, governs the implementation of Facility Improvement Measures (FIMs) to reduce energy consumption and reduce related operations and maintenance costs. To accomplish this, Minimise submits a Proposed M&V (Measurement and Verification) Plan(s) per Solution Set. These Proposed M&V Plans specify:
- The Baseline
- Proposed FIMs.
- Proposed Equipment,
- Savings Calculation Methodology.
- Scope of Work.
- Anticipated Energy Savings.
- Anticipated Prepaid Savings.
- Estimated O&M Budget.
- Anticipated Guaranteed Monthly Payment (GMP).
The Proposed M&V Plans are determined in accordance with the International Performance Measurement and Verification Protocol (IPMVP).
Minimise USA LLC. All rights reserved. 2021