Evaluation methodology selection wizard
Methodology finder – Normative legislative policies – Residential buildings
Available policy / sector / method combinations described in specific evaluation guides
- Measurement [GUIDE 1]
The measurement method requires measuring of the energy consumption of a single piece of equipment or a single installation to calculate the gross energy saved. Corrections may be needed to calculate the net energy savings, for example for the operational hours. The method will provide the energy savings for a single installation or piece of equipment. - Deemed savings [GUIDE 2]
Deemed savings are a set of pre-determined savings values for efficiency measures that are calculated on the basis of data and assumptions from various sources available beforehand (e.g. previous studies, manufacturers data, national statistics, expert estimates, etc.). Deemed savings can also take the form of an algorithm, providing a formula that processes input data for arriving at a savings estimate. Deemed savings have a multitude of benefits; they are fast, easy to calculate, constant and predictable. Because of those traits, deemed values are commonly used to estimate energy savings from efficiency programs. Deemed savings are usually unitary energy savings, which means they are applicable to energy saving actions at the level of a single dwelling, installation or piece of equipment.
Evaluation methodology comparison table
Evaluation method | Pros & cons | Method characteristics | Required input data | |||||||
Pro | Con | Savings output | Aggregation level | Application (ex-ante/ex-post) | Energy use before and after actions | Number of energy saving actions | Energy saved per action | Normalisation factors | Gross-to-net adjustments | |
Measurement | Precise | Expensive | Unitary, system or participant | Bottom-up | Ex-post only | For each system or participant | By complementary method | No, follows from method | For behaviour, temperature | E.g. non-compliance |
Billing analysis (alternative method in PSMC 1 – measurement) |
Easy | Too aggregated | Unitary, participant | Bottom-up and top-down | Ex-post only | For each participant | By complementary method | No, follows from method | For behaviour, temperature | E.g. free riders (in case of subsidies) |
Deemed savings | Cheap | Imprecise | Unitary, mostly system | Bottom-up | Ex-ante and ex-post | No (covered in savings) | By complementary method | To be estimated | No (covered in method) | E.g. free riders (in case of subsidies) |
Engineering estimate (alternative method in PSMC 2 – deemed savings) Fallback methodology: normative – non-residential – engineering [PSMC 3] |
Precise | Expensive | Unitary, complex system | Bottom-up | Ex-ante and ex-post | For each system | By complementary method | No, follows from method | No (method on normalised case) | E.g. non-compliance |