ASHRAE has announced the recent launch of its Building Energy Quotient (Building EQ) portal, which provides a faster, more automated approach to receive a building EQ performance score
?The primary goal of the Building EQ is to promote more energy efficient buildings and give owners actionable recommendations to improve a building?s energy use,? says Hugh Crowther, Building EQ committee chair. ?We are excited to launch this integrated resource that will help users identify opportunities to lower building operating cost and make informed decisions to increase value.?
Building EQ rests on ASHRAE methodologies and standards and the experience of credentialed practitioners. These characteristics assure owners they are receiving reliable and consistent results and recommendations.
Two different evaluations ? In Operation and As Designed ? can be used independently to compare a candidate building to other similar buildings in the same climate zone or together for an assessment of a building's design potential compared to actual operation. In Operation compares actual building energy use based on metered energy information. As Designed compares potential energy use based on the building?s physical characteristics and systems with standardised energy use simulation. The In Operation rating is available now and the As Designed rating will be available in early 2018.
Building EQ In Operation rating assists in the preparation of an ASHRAE Level 1 Energy Audit to identify means to improve a building's energy performance including low-cost, no-cost energy efficiency measures.
Metered energy data can now be downloaded into the Building EQ Portal from the ENERGY STAR? Portfolio Manager. Other features include an online data entry and submission process, Median EUI calculation aligned with ENERGY STAR? and an improved submission approval process.
