Guides
Red Car Analytics created this guide for people interested in basic information about EMS software platforms and the types of options, graphical displays and analytics that can be implemented. Download the pdf here:
Publications
Red Car Analytics conducted this study on behalf of Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA).
This study analyzed the impact of expanded parameters on energy efficiency and first-cost effectiveness for heat recovery or energy recovery ventilation (HRV/ERV).
Access the report here:
Red Car Analytics in collaboration with Ecotope conducted this study for Southern California Edison.
This study investigates battery algorithms and methods used to represent battery controls, often called rulesets, and currently used in Title 24 compliance software to assess the accuracy of representation. The study seeks to identify and evaluate feasible enhancements to these algorithms and rulesets to inform and enhance future Title 24 compliance software.
Access the report here:
Red Car Analytics conducted this study on behalf of Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA).
This study compared decoupled air conditioning systems using direct-expansion air conditioning dedicated outdoor air systems (DX-DOAS) with others utilizing ERV/HRV-DOAS. The project included an energy analysis of typical commercial buildings using two types of DOAS—DX-DOAS and Washington state code minimum ERV/HRV-DOAS—while keeping the space conditioning system equal.
Access the report here:
https://betterbricks.com/resources/energy-efficiency-analysis-of-commercial-dx-doas-and-erv-hrv-doas
Red Car Analytics conducted this study on behalf of Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA).
This report summarizes the leading institutions’ COVID-19 mitigation recommendations for commercial ventilation systems, including:
- Evaluates a COVID-19 mitigation strategy of increasing a building’s outdoor air by utilizing mechanical ventilation to reduce viral transmission risk.
- Evaluates how increasing outdoor air as a strategy impacts the operational energy costs for three types of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems, a Very High Efficiency Dedicated Outdoor Air System and two types of conventional mixed-air systems; packaged single zone variable air volume systems and a packaged multi-zone system.
- Reviews the resiliency benefits of a Very High Efficiency DOAS system in building operations.
Access the report here:
https://betterbricks.com/resources/covid-19-hvac-risk-reduction-strategies
Neil Bulger P.E.
Contributed to the paper for content related to heat pumps and sizing.
To access this paper:
https://www.aceee.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/b2004.pdf
Red Car Analytics conducted this study on behalf of Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA).
The purpose of this report was to identify the cost benefits of converting a commercial building’s HVAC system to three configurations of a Dedicated Outside Air System (DOAS) with each one increasing in energy efficiency. The findings showed that a Very High Efficiency (VHE) DOAS package has the highest net present value over the estimated life of the equipment, 20 years, in all climate zones and building types analyzed.
Access the report here:
Laboratories For The 21st Century: Best Practice Guide
The guide presents best practice strategies for designing, constructing, operating, and maintaining chilled beam systems in laboratories, describing an overview of how beams work, benefits, sizing, controls, system costs, code compliance, commissioning, operations and maintenance. The report presents three case studies.
Authors: Peter Rumsey, P.E. Neil Bulger, Joe Wenisch, Tyler Disney Rumsey Engineers
Prepared at:
- Lawrence Berkeley National Lab (LBNL)
- In partnership with:
- U.S. Department of Energy
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
To access the report:
https://www.i2sl.org/documents/toolkit/bp_chilled-beam_508.pdf
Codes and Standards
Red Car Analytics authored this study on behalf of PGE and in collaboration with 2050 Partners.
- Project Sponsor: Andy Doeschot and Thomas Mertens (Pacific Gas and Electric Company)
- Primary Authors: Hillary Weitze PE, Neil Bulger PE, Willy Stober EIT (Red Car Analytics)
- Project Manager: Coleman Stivers (2050 Partners), Contributors: Garth Torvestad and Maya Gantley (2050 Partners)
To access this study:
Red Car Analytics authored this study on behalf of PGE and in collaboration with 2050 Partners.
- Project Sponsor: Andy Doeschot and Thomas Mertens (Pacific Gas and Electric Company)
- Primary Authors: Neil Bulger PE, Hillary Weitze PE, Willy Stober EIT (Red Car Analytics)
- Project Manager: Coleman Stivers (2050 Partners), Contributors: Garth Torvestad and Maya Gantley (2050 Partners)
To access the Case Study:
Red Car Analytics authored this study on behalf of PGE and in collaboration with 2050 Partners.
- Project sponsor: Andy Doeschot (Pacific Gas and Electric Company)
- Primary Authors: Neil Bulger PE, Hillary Weitze PE, Ishita Kekare (Red Car Analytics)
- Project Manager: Alex Chase (2050 Partners) Contributors: Coleman Stivers, Garth Torvestad (2050 Partners)
To access this study:
https://www.etcc-ca.com/reports/code-readiness-dedicated-outdoor-air-system-field-assessment-results
Neil Bulger P.E.
Contributing author and researcher. The Study’s goal was to investigate whether Title 24 energy code compliance requirements and energy simulation rulesets for RTU/economizer systems adequately reflected real world performance in California climate zones and make recommendations based on the investigation findings. The Study used research and field observations to inform these recommendations about updating the compliance requirements for RTU/economizer system (the HVAC prescriptive standard system baseline for many buildings) and energy simulation rulesets used by energy performance compliance software.
To access the report:
https://www.etcc-ca.com/reports/code-readiness-rtueconomizer-analysis-and-field-assessment
Neil Bulger P.E., Hillary Weitze P.E.
Contributing authors and research team. The objective of the PG&E Code Readiness Program’s retrofit DOAS, VRF and Networked Lighting Controls Demonstration at the UC Davis Facilities Management, Energy Conservation Office was to develop cost, performance, and occupant satisfaction data from a field demonstration site for a dedicated outside air system consisting of a heat recovery ventilator (HRV) and variable refrigerant flow (VRF) system and a networked lighting control implementation that includes a Power of Ethernet LED lighting system was to support consideration of specific enhancements to the 2022 Energy Code as well as support investigations of federal HVAC test methods.
To access the report:
Hillary Weitze P.E. Lead author on 2022 Title 24 CASE Measure for Computer Room Efficiency
- Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) Efficiency
- Increased Temperature Threshold for Economizers
- Computer Room Heat Recovery
- Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) Monitoring
To access CASE Study, Non-Residential Computer Room Efficiency
Neil Bulger P.E.
Contributing author to 2022 Title 24 CASE Measure for HVAC Controls, Related to Dedicated Outdoor Air Systems (DOAS) for the California IOUs
To access:
6/1/2017, Neil Bulger P.E.
Managed and advised all non-residential HVAC measures for 2019’s Title 24 Codes and Standards Enhancement (CASE) Team for the California IOUs. Efforts including measures:
- ASHRAE 90.1 set of measures
- Cooling Towers
- Indoor Air Quality
- FDD
- Demand Control Ventilation, Occupancy Standby
To access:
https://title24stakeholders.com/measures/cycle-2019/cooling-tower-minimum-efficiency/
https://title24stakeholders.com/measures/cycle-2019/nr-indoor-air-quality/