Comparative Analysis for the Chicago Energy Retrofit Project: Project Report
For the Chicago Loop Energy Efficiency Retrofit project, Argonne is developing and piloting analytic methods that capture the energy performance of individual commercial buildings; can be scaled to communities; and appropriately evaluate retrofit options in real contexts. The decision tools under development span and integrate building energy performance calculations, uncertainty analysis, and financial risk assessment. A key outcome from this project is an energy calculator, EECalc, developed in collaboration with the Georgia Institute of Technology. The energy modeling methodology used in EECalc was chosen specifically because it (1) is computationally efficient, (2) uses only observable building data that take a relatively low level of effort to compile, and (3) requires minimal modeling expertise and judgment from the user. These features expand the possibilities for EECalc’s widespread, large-scale use in retrofit and uncertainty analysis.