A Yardstick for Laboratories: Initial Results from the Labs21 Benchmarking Effort

Paul Mathew and Dale Sartor, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Otto Van Geet, National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Abstract:

The inherent complexity and variety of laboratories makes comparative assessments and benchmarking of their energy performance a unique and challenging task, when compared to most other building types. Recognizing this, the Labs21 program initiated a project to address laboratory benchmarking. The scope of this project includes:

• The development of a standard set of energy performance metrics that will become commonly used in the design, commissioning and operation of laboratories
• Data collection and analysis from various laboratory facilities, including Labs21 Pilot Partners
• The development of a web-based database tool for collecting, analyzing and displaying benchmarking data

In this paper we will present the initial results from this benchmarking project. A limited set of metrics has been developed - a set that seeks to strike a balance between data comprehensiveness and data collection feasibility. The metrics include both energy use (e.g. kWh/sf) as well as system efficiency (e.g. W/cfm). We present an analysis of the benchmarking data collected from a small sample of private and public sector laboratory facilities.

3 Key Points:

• Metrics for benchmarking the energy performance of laboratories
• Key findings from the benchmarking analysis of a sample of laboratories
• Web-based tool for comparative analysis and benchmarking the energy performance of laboratories

Biographies:

Paul Mathew is a Staff Scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. He has a Bachelor's degree in Architecture, and a Ph.D. in Building Performance and Diagnostics from Carnegie Mellon University. His work experience includes technical consulting, tool development, and training in energy efficiency, environmental sustainability, and risk management. Prior to joining LBNL, he worked at Enron Energy Services and the Center for Building Performance at Carnegie Mellon University.

Dale Sartor, P.E., heads the LBNL Building Technologies Applications Team, which assists in the transfer of new and underutilized technology through project-focused multi-disciplinary teams. Mr. Sartor has an A.B. in Architecture, and a Masters in Business Administration. He is a licensed Mechanical Engineer, and a licensed General Building Contractor. He has over twenty five years of professional experience in energy efficiency and renewable energy applications including ten years as a principal of an architecture and engineering company, and seven years as the head of LBNL's In-House Energy Management Program. Mr. Sartor is an active volunteer in professional organizations and lectures extensively.

Otto Van Geet is currently the Senior Mechanical Engineer in the Site Operations group at NREL, where he has worked on the planning, design, construction and operation of facilities for the past 9 years. Prior to joining NREL, he was a Mechanical Engineer for Sandia National Labs in Albuquerque, New Mexico, for 11 years. Mr. Van Geet has been involved in the design, construction, and operation of energy efficient R&D facilities for microelectronics, photovoltaic, thermal, and biological research, as well as office and general use facilities. This has included integrated building design of clean rooms, supply, exhaust, heat recovery and treatment systems, process gas systems, safety systems, drain systems, fire protection systems, central heating and cooling plants, lighting systems, and control systems. Experience also includes passive solar building design, use of design tools, photovoltaic system design, energy audits, and minimizing energy use. He designed and built an off-the-electric-grid PV power passive solar home in Colorado in which he and his family live.

Mr. Van Geet is a Registered Professional Engineer, a Certified Energy Manager by the Association of Energy Engineers, and has been designated a Project Management Professional by the Project Management Institute. He received a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of New Mexico and an A.A.S. degree in Air Conditioning Technology from the State University of New York.