User Guide

Version 3.0

Table of ContentsOverview of the User Guide5Overview of EZ Retrofit5The EZ Path and the Advanced Path5EZ Retrofit Work Flow6Getting Started8EZ Retrofit Checklist8Useful Documents and Data Sources8Other Useful Items9Program Requirements9Launching EZ Retrofit9Choosing a Path10The EZ Path Overview12Standard EZ Path Buttons12The Advanced Path Overview14Navigating the Advanced Path14Entering and Updating Data in the Advanced Path16Standard Advanced Path Buttons16Data Validation17Proposed System Savings & Specifications18Changing Default Assumptions19Creating Custom Proposed Systems and Changing Cost Assumptions20Results Overview21Measure Category Descriptions23General Characteristics24EZ Path24Advanced Path24General Characteristics Fields25Benchmarking31EZ Path31Advanced Path31Benchmarking Fields32Benchmarking Results36EZ Path36Advanced Path36Envelope38EZ Path38Advanced Path38Envelope Fields40Heating and Cooling System45EZ Path45Advanced Path46Heating and Cooling System Fields46Domestic Hot Water (DHW)51EZ Path51Advanced Path51Domestic Hot Water Fields52Clothes Washers57EZ Path57Advanced Path57Clothes Washers Fields58Kitchen Appliances61EZ Path61Advanced Path61Kitchen Appliances Fields62Lighting65EZ Path66Advanced Path66Lighting Fields67Motors & Controls71EZ Path71Advanced Path71Motors & Controls Fields72Duct Sealing75EZ Path75Advanced Path75Duct Sealing Fields76Water Fixtures79EZ Path79Advanced Path79Water Fixture Fields80Water Conservation (Toilets)83EZ Path83Advanced Path83Water Conservation Fields84Custom Measure86User Measure Input Fields86Results88Energy and Water Data Confirmation88Results89Results Select Criteria92Results Fields94Generate a Report96Adjusting Assumptions96Combine Your Buildings97Printing and Exporting Results97Appendixes99Appendix A: Types of Heating and Cooling Equipment99Cooling Systems99Heating Systems100Heat Pumps101Appendix B: EZ Retrofit Data Sources and Checklist102Appendix C: Technical Guide1121.Benchmarking1122.Envelope Section1122.1Heating and Cooling Load Calculation Algorithms1122.2Envelope Assumptions1133.Heating and Cooling System1143.1Savings Calculation Algorithms1143.2HVAC Assumptions1144.Domestic Hot Water1154.1Savings Calculation Algorithms1154.2DHW Assumptions1155.Clothes Washer1165.1Savings Calculation Algorithms1165.2Clothes Washer Assumptions1166.Kitchen Appliances1176.1Savings Calculation Algorithms1176.2Kitchen Appliance Assumptions1177.Lighting1187.1Savings Calculation Algorithms1187.2Lighting Assumptions1188.Motors & Controls1198.1Savings Calculation Algorithms1198.2Motors and Controls Assumptions1199.Air Sealing1208.1Savings Calculation Algorithms1208.2Air Sealing Assumptions12110.Duct Sealing12210.1Savings Calculation Algorithms12210.2Duct Sealing Assumptions12211.Water Fixtures12310.1Savings Calculation Algorithms12310.2Water Fixture Assumptions12312.Water Conservation12410.1Savings Calculation Algorithms12410.2Water Conservation Assumptions12513.Energy Efficiency Measure Interactive Effects12513.1Interactive effects within each measure category12513.2Interactive effects between different measure categories12614.Initial Measure Cost Estimates126Appendix D: Troubleshooting127

Overview of the User Guide

This User Guide serves as a complement to EZ Retrofit audit tool and provides additional descriptions for each data field in the tool. This User Guide also provides a detailed explanation of both the EZ Path and Advanced Path options, a description of the categories available within each, and the results that are available upon completion of the tool.

The EZ Retrofit Checklist can be printed and used during a site walk-through to collect all necessary information prior to using the tool. More information on this checklist is available in the section on page 8, Using the EZ Retrofit Checklist.

Overview of EZ Retrofit

EZ Retrofit is a free, do-it-yourself tool designed for multifamily property owners. It allows you to evaluate opportunities for energy and water efficiency savings in your buildings on your own timeline, using your priorities, and working with your available resources. EZ Retrofit takes a whole-building approach to energy efficiency, considering up to 10 different systems and utility data to effectively reduce energy and water use and costs.

The tool can be used at a wide range of multifamily properties but is particularly well suited for small to medium size properties that are too big and complex for programs and contractors that focus on the single family market, and too small for programs and Energy Service Companies (ESCOs) that focus on larger buildings. The tool identifies specific upgrades, or retrofits, that can generate savings in your building and allows you to customize the results to evaluate different upgrade packages. The tools results prepare you to more readily engage with qualified contractors to implement your choice of the suggested upgrades.

The EZ Path and the Advanced Path

EZ Retrofit provides users two complementary pathways to identify potential building upgrades. The pathways are described below and outlined in Figure 1:

The EZ Path guides you through a series of pop-up screens where you can enter the minimum amount of data and information about your building. In the EZ Path, the tool makes its calculations based on the characteristics of the types of systems most commonly found in multifamily buildings.

The Advanced Path format is an easy-to-us Excel spreadsheet and is ideal for buildings with more complex heating and cooling systems. It also allows you to enter customized systems, costs, and equipment efficiency information to override the default assumptions provided by the tool.

Figure 1: Differences between the EZ Path and the Advanced Path

Note: Enter the minimum information required by EZ Retrofit in the EZ Path and then switch to the Advanced Path to view the results and modify assumptions as necessary. You can switch to Advanced Path at any time and all the data entered into the EZ Path will appear in the Advanced Path. However, due to the increased level of detail available on the Advanced Path, not all Advanced Path entries will be reflected on the EZ Path, and it is not recommended to move from the Advanced Path to the EZ Path. In particular, the Advanced Paths approach for handling HVAC systems and the buildings envelope is different than the approach used by the EZ Path.

Also, EZ Retrofit currently does not classify water use as indoor or outdoor. Thus, Water Use Intensity (WUI) is based on the total building water usage. If separate meters are present for indoor and outdoor water use, enter only indoor usage data.

New Users: If you are new to EZ Retrofit, we generally recommend starting with the EZ Path. However, if you want to describe more complex systems in your building (e.g., multiple central heating systems) you should use the Advanced Path from the beginning. While you can make changes to the data you originally entered using the EZ Path, this process is slightly more complicated.

While you are not expected to have technical knowledge of how a building operates or of a building's heating, cooling, or other systems, the more detailed and accurate your information is, the more precise your results will be. For example, in the EZ Path, you can enter a standard central heating system and the estimated age of that system in the Heating and Cooling System screen. The tool will use these inputs to calculate an estimated energy consumption level based on the average energy consumption of this type and age of system. To increase the level of accuracy, you could then obtain the exact specifications of the heating system and enter these into the Heating and Cooling System screen of the Advanced Path.

EZ Retrofit Work Flow

EZ Retrofit helps you identify and prioritize building upgrades. Based on the information you provide about your building, the tool identifies possible opportunities for improvement, lets you add information to validate those opportunities, and provides the data you need to make decisions about which upgrades you want to pursue.

Regardless of EZ or AP the workflow remains same.

Step 1: Benchmarking

The first step on both the EZ Path and the Advanced Path is to enter basic information about your building and utility data. Based on this information, the tool identifies similar buildings to use as a basis of comparison. The tool evaluates your buildings energy and water performance, compares it to similar buildings in your area, and advises on your buildings current level of efficiency.

Step 2: Enter Building/System Information

Next, the tool requests information about current building configurations, systems, and appliances. These include: Envelope, Heating and Cooling, Domestic Hot Water, Clothes Washers, Kitchen Appliances, Lighting, Motors and Controls, Air Sealing (only in the Advanced Path), Duct Sealing, Water Fixtures, and Water Conservation.

Step 3: Analyze Results

The tool uses information you entered about your buildings current systems to produce a set of upgrades that can generate savings in your building. There are two options for how to review results. One option is to view those results that meet certain criteria for what results you prefer. The other option is to view all of the results and select the package of systems you think will best meet your goals.

Step 4: Refine Results

EZ Retrofit offers the option to refine the results by providing information on factors such as local costs and the specifications of your buildings current systems. For example, if you have contacted a qualified contractor based on the analysis you conduct in Step 3, you may want to enter the contractors costs and the specifications, an