Energy modeling payback typically as short as one to two months

June 7, 2016

Energy modeling that includes calculating the operational energy savings that accrue after an initial capital investment, has a quick payback—typically one-to-two months, according to Anica Landreneau, director of sustainability consulting with architecture and engineering firm HOK.

With the rule of thumb of a three year or shorter payback to make energy conservation measures cost-effective, modeling is a “no-brainer,” Landreneau told attendees at the Department of Energy’s Better Buildings Summit in Washington, D.C.

For large buildings, modeling costs run from $30,000 to $200,000 depending on the energy conservation measures considered and the tools used to evaluate them. Even the high side of that range is a fraction of the annual energy costs of a typical large building.

Landreneau said modeling is a key tool in maintaining the HOK’s global standing as a high-performance leader. HOK also sees modeling as a mechanism for shifting investment from a building’s active, mechanical systems to its passive, architectural elements.

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