Abstract
Energy Conservation projects have become a focus
area throughout the world in an attempt to reduce greenhouse
gasses. These projects encompass various energy efficient
technologies of which the retrofit of old technologies with new
technology has become a common phenomenon. Energy savings
are usually quantified by comparing actual post-retrofit energy
consumption levels with baseline levels representative of the preretrofit
status quo, adjusted for changes in energy drivers (e.g.
weather). Baseline adjustments during energy conservation
projects are of the utmost importance if operating conditions,
occupancies, ambient temperatures, production levels and other
factors have changed between the baseline period and the postretrofit
period. During a recent case study in South Africa, an
HVAC retrofit was done on a multistorey building where old
technology air-conditioners were replaced with heat pump based
units with inverters. To the disappointment of the landlord, the
post energy measurements exceeded the baseline energy
consumption by approximately 12% without any changes in
operating conditions. This paper illustrates the catastrophic
effects when an energy efficiency project is accelerated to the
implementation stage without due consideration of operating
conditions during the pre-implementation stage. A qualitative
analysis prior to baseline establishment is proposed.