Measuring and Understanding the Energy Use Signatures of a Bank Building

The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory measured and analyzed energy end-use patterns in a bank building located in Pennsylvania. This work was performed in collaboration with PNC Financial Service Group under the US DOE’s Commercial Building Partnerships Program. This paper presents the metering study and the results of the metered data analysis. It provides a benchmark for the energy use of bank-related equipment. The paper also reveals the importance of metering in understanding building loads. Measurements in this one prototype building helped to identify opportunities for energy efficiency improvements across PNC’s portfolio of bank branches. The metering study was crucial to understanding and reducing plug load in the design of a net-zero bank branch. Finally, the study proved the value of calibrating models with measured data. PNNL worked with PNC to meter a 4,000 ft 2 bank branch. A total of 71 electrical circuits were monitored and 25 stand-alone watt-hour meters were installed. These meters monitored the consumption of most plug loads, all interior and exterior lighting, service water heating, and the HVAC rooftop unit at a 5-minute sampling interval from November 2009 to November 2010. Over 8 million data records were generated, which were then analyzed to produce end-use patterns, daily usage profiles, rooftop unit usage cycles, and inputs for calibrating the energy model of the building.