Building Performance Monitoring: LEED Measurement and Verification

LEED® encourages the optimization of building energy performance by providing a credit for Measurement & Verification (M&V). The purpose of this credit is to ensure that the energy saving measures implemented by the owner, designers, and construction team were implemented correctly and result in the expected energy performance for the building. M&V also provides the building owner with detailed information on building energy performance and highlights potential performance improvements.

Enermodal’s M&V team analyzes actual building performance at a very detailed level by installing sufficient metering infrastructure in the building. Enermodal will work with the design team to specify a metering system that is both precise and cost-effective. It is imperative that the metering system be properly specified and installed, allowing the building owner/operator to monitor building operation throughout the entire life of the building.

Once the metering system is fully installed and commissioned, Enermodal compiles and examines the data on the first year of operation in quarterly reports. This analysis includes the amount of energy consumed for each end-use (e.g., lighting, plug loads, heating, cooling) and for the building as a whole. Enermodal will identify energy use trends which are summarized on a monthly basis. The monitored data is also compared to a calibrated building energy model to detect problems and unnecessary energy use as soon as possible. In addition to the summary of results, recommendations are provided to the owner or other authorized party to improve building performance and reduce operating costs.

Advantages of M&V:

	Activa Group Sportsplex LEED NC Gold Certified Kitchener, Ontario The Activa Sportsplex is a demonstration of environmental leadership: this 10,250 m2 twin pad arena and boxing training facility is the first LEED Gold certified building of its type in Canada.