Holistic Energy Assessment of Medical Research Facilities
Matthew Gudorf, LEED AP®, University of California, Irvine
Christopher Hartley, MelRok, Inc.
A continuous, accurate, and detailed assessment of a facility's energy performance is required to verify and truly optimize energy conservation and efficiency measures. This requirement is even more critical for energy intensive facilities, such as medical research laboratories. A holistic energy analysis approach has been designed and applied to two medical research facilities at University of California (UC), Irvine. The analysis combined data from an installed energy sub-metering system, building management system, air handling system, and ambient weather information. The algorithms used in this energy analysis are based on thermodynamic and heat transfer first principles, and are used to assess the facility energy performance in real time. The holistic energy analysis approach has also been compared to standard energy simulation models of the same buildings. Results of the real-time, continuous, and holistic energy performance assessment, as well as the comparison to simulation models, are presented.
Biographies:
Matt Gudorf is the campus energy manager at UC Irvine and a LEED AP with 10 years of infrastructure project management experience. A graduate of The Ohio State University in electrical engineering with an emphasis on high voltage systems, Mr. Gudorf has worked for Dayton Power and Light in transmission and distribution, American Electric Power as a member of the ultra high voltage substation design team, and Southern California Pipeline managing multiple wet utility projects throughout Southern California. Mr. Gudorf has focused his efforts at UC Irvine on energy efficiency upgrades, utility and infrastructure retrofits, and project development.
Christopher Hartley is the senior energy engineer at MelRoK, Inc., with two years of experience in energy analysis and audits of commercial and institutional buildings. A graduate of UC Irvine with a master's degree in environmental engineering with an emphasis in energy, Mr. Hartley has worked for MelRoK developing the algorithms used in "Holistic Energy Assessment." Mr. Hartley is also working concurrently on obtaining his California professional engineering license. Before obtaining his master's degree, Mr. Hartley was a commissioned officer in the United States Coast Guard.