A Field Primer with Calculators & Templates
Stewardship isn't a slogan. It's measured, verified savings that free up dollars for mission and maintenance. How to Use This Mini eBook This is a hands-on guide to capture quick, defensible energy savings in small buildings (churches, schools, offices, clinics, community centers). You'll: Collect two years of electric bills (kWh, kW demand, costs). 1. Survey the electrical panel and take safe spot readings with a clamp meter. 2. Quantify loads lighting, air conditioning (HVAC), plug loads ("vampires"), and small appliances. 3. Size the building (sq ft) to benchmark energy use. 4. Build a simple savings calculator (spreadsheet-ready) to forecast and verify results. 5. Use the templates as-is or adapt. Keep it simple, tight, and accountable. Audience: Facility stewards, trustees, ops managers, small contractors.\ Outcome: A working energy management program you can run quarterly to cut 10–30% without expensive guesswork. Table of Contents Safety First 1. Gather Two Years of Electric Bills 2. Establish the Baseline (KPIs & Weather Option) 3. Electrical Panel Survey & Readings (Lighting HVAC Plugs) 4. Lighting Load: Inventory, Hours, and Retrofit Wins 5. HVAC Load: Runtime, Setpoints, and Tune‑Ups 6. Plug Loads & "Vampires": Control What's Always On 7. Building Size & Operating Schedule 8. Build the Savings Calculator (Spreadsheet Spec & Formulas) 9. Energy Conservation Measures (ECM) Library 10. 30‑Day Action Plan (Week‑by‑Week) 11. M&V (Measurement & Verification) Made Simple 12. Reporting: One‑Page Monthly Dashboard 13. Appendices (Printables & Excel Formulas) 14.
Weather Normalization (optional but powerful):
Add Cooling Degree Days (CDD) per bill period (from local weather source). • In Excel, run =LINEST(kWh_range, CDD_range, TRUE, TRUE) to estimate a model:\ **kWh ≈ a × CDD + b.**\ Use it to compare pre vs post savings fairly when weather changes. •
4.1 Panel Census (Appendix B Sheet):
Panel ID, voltage (e.g., 120/240V 1‑ph, 120/208V or 277/480V 3‑ph), main/breaker sizes. • For each breaker: circuit label, breaker rating, loads served (room/equipment). • Mark each as Lighting / HVAC / Receptacles / Special (kitchen, server, etc.) •
4.2 Spot Readings (if competent/safe):
Use a clamp meter to measure current (A) on representative circuits during typical operation. Record PF (power factor) if your meter supports it. • Convert to kW: • Single‑phase: kW = V × A × PF ÷ 1000 • Three‑phase: kW = √3 × V_LL × A × PF ÷ 1000 • Estimate kWh per circuit: kWh = kW × hours (use schedule hours below). • Tip: Take 2–3 readings across the day; average. For HVAC, read when the compressor is ON. For fans/blowers, read both low and high.
5.1 Inventory (Appendix C):
Room → fixture type (e.g., 2×4 troffer), qty, lamp type (F32T8, CFL, LED), wattage (nameplate or catalog), controls (switch/occupancy/daylight). • Total Lighting Watts = SUM(qty × wattage). • Lighting Power Density (LPD) = Total Lighting Watts / Sq Ft (W/sf). • 5.2 Hours of Use: Office/classrooms: 10–60 hrs/week; worship halls: concentrated blocks; exteriors: dusk‑to‑dawn. Enter typical hrs/day × days/yr. • 5.3 Savings Calculations: LED Retrofit: New Watts vs Old Watts. • ΔW = OldW NewW • kWh_savings = ΔW × qty × hours / 1000 • \$ savings = kWh_savings × $/kWh • Controls (occ sensors/daylight): Apply a conservative hours reduction (e.g., 20–35%) to baseline hours. • 5.4 Priorities: Start with high‑hours spaces (halls, offices, exterior) and high‑wattage fixtures.
6.1 Inventory (Appendix D):
Unit ID, location, type (split, package), tonnage, nameplate RLA/FLA, supply fan HP, SEER/EER if known, age/condition. •
6.2 Quick Runtime Estimate:
From thermostat logs (if smart stat) or observation + schedule. • Compressor kW (est.) from nameplate or clamp:\ kW ≈ √3 × V_LL × A × PF ÷ 1000 (3‑ph) • 6.3 No/Low‑Cost Tune‑Ups: Setpoints: Heat 68–70°F occupied / 60–62°F unocc; Cool 74–76°F occupied / 80–85°F unocc. • Schedules: Match real occupancy; avoid weekend/holiday drift. • Coils & Filters: Clean condenser/evaporator coils; change filters. • Economizer: Verify free cooling if installed. • Staggered Starts: Avoid all units starting at the top of the hour (reduces demand kW spikes). • 6.4 HVAC Savings (examples): Schedule Fix: kWh_sav = kW_cooling × hours_reduced • Setback/Setup: Use degree‑hour reduction or conservative % (e.g., 5–10%) of cooling kWh for each 2–4°F change, depending on climate and envelope (be conservative). • Tune‑up: 5–15% kWh on poorly maintained units is common; document assumptions. •
Tactics:
Timer strips / smart plugs for offices and classrooms. • Vending misers (occupancy/daylight) for drink/snack machines. • Kill switch for AV racks; label shutdown sequence. • Consolidate refrigerators; remove extras. •
Savings calc:
kWh_savings = Watts_idle × hours_off_per_day × 365 ÷ 1000 • \$ savings = kWh_savings × \$/kWh • Demand (if applicable): If device was contributing to coincident peak, estimate ΔkW × \$/kW. •
Key Inputs (Assumptions tab):
\$ per kWh (avg from Bills): =SUM(Energy$)/SUM(kWh) • \$ per kW (if demand billed): =SUM(Demand$)/SUM(Peak_kW) • PF defaults (0.90 for motors if unknown—be conservative) • Hours by space/equipment • Project costs per ECM •
Lighting tab (example formulas):
Old_Watts and New_Watts per fixture • ΔW = Old_Watts New_Watts • kWh_sav = ΔW * Qty * Hours/1000 • $/yr_sav = kWh_sav * $/kWh • HVAC tab: kW_unit = IF(Phase="3", SQRT(3)*V*A*PF/1000, V*A*PF/1000) • kWh_base = kW_unit * Hours_base • kWh_post = kW_unit * Hours_post (after schedules/setpoints/tune‑ups) • kWh_sav = kWh_base - kWh_post •
Plug tab:
kWh_sav = Watts_idle * Hours_cut * 365 / 1000 •
Demand savings (Summary):
$/yr_demand_sav = ΔkW_peak * $/kW (only if measures reduce coincident peak) •
Financials (Summary):
Annual_$Savings = Sum($/yr_sav_energy) + Sum($/yr_demand_sav) • Simple_Payback_yrs = Project_Cost / Annual_$Savings • NPV = NPV(rate, Savings_Y1:Savings_Yn) Project_Cost • SIR = (PV of Savings) / Project_Cost •
End‑Use Pie:
Allocate baseline kWh to Lighting / HVAC / Plug via your measurements/inventories; update after measures. •
No/Low‑Cost (do first):
Correct schedules on thermostats and lighting. • Raise cooling setpoints / lower heating setpoints within comfort. • Coil cleaning, filter changes, door sweeps, close supply leaks. • Timer strips for offices, classrooms, AV racks. • Exterior lighting dusk‑to‑dawn photocells checked. •
Low‑Capex:
LED relamp/retrofit (interior/exterior). • Occupancy sensors in restrooms, storage, offices. • Smart thermostats (with lockout/scheduling). • Vending miser controls. •
Higher‑Capex (case‑by‑case):
Packaged RTU replacement (EER/IEER gains). • VFDs on large fans/pumps if runtime justifies. • Window film or shading where cooling‑dominated. •
Week 1 — Bills & Walkthrough
Gather 24 months of bills; fill Bill Intake Sheet. • Quick walkthrough: list obvious waste (lights on, temp drift, space heaters). • Confirm building square footage; map schedules by space. •
Week 2 — Panel & Inventory
Panel census; safe spot readings on representative lighting/HVAC circuits. • Complete lighting inventory; note hours and controls. • List HVAC units with tonnage, age, condition; check filters/thermostats. • Week 3 — Calculator Build & Quick Fixes Populate Calculator tabs (Lighting/HVAC/Plug). • Implement no/low‑cost fixes (schedules, setpoints, timers). • Price LED kits and smart stats; prep ROI. • Week 4 — Approvals & Launch Present one‑page Summary: baseline KPIs, ECM list, cost, savings, payback. • Approve and order materials. • Start LED and control installs in highest‑hours areas first. •
Post‑Install Check:
Compare kWh/day to same month last year. • Note Peak kW changes for demand savings claims. • Keep a 3‑month rolling average to avoid one‑off anomalies. •
Appendix A — Bill Intake Sheet (Columns)
Month, Bill Date, Billing Days, kWh, Peak kW, Energy \$, Demand \$, Fixed/Other \$, Taxes/Fees, kWh/day, \$/kWh, Load Factor. •
Appendix B — Panel & Circuit Survey
Panel ID, voltage, main size, Breaker #, Label/Area, Type (Lgt/HVAC/Plug/Special), Breaker A, Measured A, PF, kW (calc), Notes. •
Appendix C — Lighting Inventory & Calc
Space, Fixture Type, Qty, Old Watts, New Watts, Hours/yr, kWh Base, kWh Post, kWh Savings, \$/yr Savings, Cost, Payback.\ **Formulas:**\ kWh_Base = Old_Watts*Qty*Hours/1000 \ kWh_Post = New_Watts*Qty*Hours/1000 \ kWh_Sav = kWh_Base - kWh_Post \ $/yr = kWh_Sav * $/ kWh •
Appendix D — HVAC Inventory & Calc
Unit ID, Type, Tons, V, Phase, Measured A (comp/fan), PF, kW, Hours Base, Hours Post, kWh Base, kWh Post, kWh Savings, \$/yr, Cost, Payback.\ **Formulas:**\ kW = IF(Phase="3", SQRT(3)*V*A*PF/1000, V*A*PF/1000) \ kWh_Sav = (kW*Hours_Base) - (kW*Hours_Post) • Appendix E — Plug/Vampire Audit & Calc Device, Location, Watts Idle, Control (Timer/Smart/Manual), Hours Cut/day, kWh Savings/yr, \$/yr, Cost, Payback.\ **Formula:**\ kWh_Sav = Watts_Idle * Hours_Cut * 365 / 1000 • Appendix F — KPI & Benchmark Formulas EUI = Annual kWh / Sq Ft • Load Factor = kWh / (Peak kW * 24 * BillingDays) • \$/kWh = SUM(Energy$)/SUM(kWh) • \$/kW = SUM(Demand$)/SUM(Peak kW) • NPV = =NPV(rate, Savings_Y1:Savings_Yn) Cost • SIR = (PV of Savings) / Cost • Appendix G — Worked Example (Small Church, 12,000 sf) Baseline: 180,000 kWh/yr; Peak kW 85; Annual Cost \$28,800; EUI = 15 kWh/sf/yr. • Measures: 1) LED retrofit (ΔW 28 kW; 2500 hrs/yr) → 70,000 kWh/yr.\ 2) Thermostat schedules (+3°F setup, real unocc) → 18,000 kWh/yr.\ 3) Plug timers (20 devices × 20W × 12 h/day) → 1,752 kWh/yr. • Total Savings: ~89,752 kWh/yr. At \$0.12/kWh ≈ \$10,770/yr. • Costs: LED \$22k (utility rebate −\$5k); stats \$1.2k; timers \$400 → \$18.6k net. • Simple Payback: 1.7 years (ex‑demand). Demand reduction could shorten further. • Appendix H — One‑Page Summary/Proposal Template Project: Small Building Energy Tune‑Up\ Baseline: kWh/yr, \$, Peak kW, EUI\ ECMs: list with cost and savings\ Total Cost / Annual Savings / Payback\ Start: date\ Notes: access, safety, after‑hours work Appendix I — Access & Consent (Client) Permission to inspect panels, take non‑intrusive spot readings, and photograph nameplates/fixtures; after‑hours access as needed. •
Immediate Next Steps (Do Today):
Download the last 24 months of bills into the Bill Intake Sheet. 1. Confirm square footage and weekly schedule by space. 2. Inventory 5 largest lighting areas and 2–3 HVAC units. 3. Build the spreadsheet tabs and enter assumptions. 4. Price LEDs and smart stats; prepare the one‑pager for approval. 5. — End of Primer — Thank You Elder Jeffery Holt