Unlocking the Value of Utility Analytics, Benchmarking, and Big Data

Transcription

1 DeeAnne McClenahan Senior Director -- Procurement & Sustainability Greystar Real Estate Partners Shveta Oak Product Manager -- Utility Smart NWP Services Corp. Kent McDonald Director -- Utility Management NWP Services Corp.

2 Agenda Big Data and what to do with it What is benchmarking? Analyzing results, taking action

3 Buzz word bingo Big Data 1000s of props, millions of invoices Analytics slice and dice Big Data into bite sized chunks Benchmarking what is it? can it help me?

4 What is benchmarking? A yardstick - How do you measure up? 1. Self over time Trending/YOY 2. Other buildings within portfolio Internal Benchmarking 3. Outside "peers External Benchmarking

5 "Apples to Apples" Need two things: Common unit of measure Filter by big impacts

6 Common unit of measure Need this to calculate the comparison Usage (kwh, therms, gal) per square foot or per unit or per person Dollars per square foot per unit

7 Filter by big usage impacts Geographic area (metro or climate zone) weather may have big impact Use type (residential/mixed/office/etc) occupant behavior may have big impact Physical characteristics high rise vs garden common area only vs whole building beware too many filters!

8 External benchmarking: How do you compare? Benchmark properties Benchmark area Your properties

9 Internal benchmarking Peel back the layers on each resource Water Electricity Natural Gas Water/sewer 50% Electricity 28% Natural gas 18% (less in South) Total spend distribution based on NAA 2013 study + Waste & recycling

10 Internal benchmarking Your Water & Energy Hogs Which communities are the costing the most money? Which are wasting the most resources?

11 Quick view of big data

12 Customized benchmarking reports

13 Continue to peel back the layers For each commodity, what components are driving my utility costs? rate consumption weather physical asset behavior

14 Internal benchmarking: rate insights Potential Rate Opportunity

15 Internal benchmarking: consumption insights Saddleback Meadows Saddleback Ridge I Woods at Saddleback The Saddleback Estate Saddleback Ridge II Saddleback Meadows Saddleback Ridge I Woods at Saddleback The Saddleback Estate Saddleback Ridge II Note: 2100 gal/person = normal

16 Consumption driver: weather insights Compare: Gas Usage & Heating Degree Days Electricity Usage & Cooling DD

17 The tough questions Once I know which commodities are costing the most, which systems or equipment are wasting the most utilities? What CapEx projects should I prioritize? Leaks Lighting Water Heater Wraps Programmable Thermostats Toilets Irrigation Controls Shower Heads

18 Where should I start on water? Many Customers Find: Irrigation can account for 30% to 60% of your total water usage Smart Controllers and efficient spray heads can cut irrigation water usage by up to 30% Savings of +$100/unit/year Low flow aerators and showerheads are cheap and can cut usage up to 30% Toilet retrofits can cut water usage up to 50% Leaky toilets and faucets can waste up to 200 gal/day (check flappers!)

19 Where should I start on energy? Many Customers Find: Some projects have good ROI and low overall cost impact Lighting retrofits Variable speed pool motors Gas savings of up to $40/unit/yr Low flow showers can cut hot water heating costs HW Boiler demand controllers can have payback < 1 year HVAC uses the most energy, but replace near EOL due to cost

20 What do I do now? Information overload your head is spinning Start with whatever you HAVE now there is no perfect report Ask questions about your data, look for red flags (spikes, anomalies) Good numbers = STOP Bad numbers = don t stop until you find the cause Work towards collecting more detailed data going forward

21 Start at the top Lay out what you know Put them in order what are the top 3? 10? 5%? Now go look at the first one (the worst one!)

22 Outliers

23 Use your G/L

24 Ask a lot of questions Manager, RPM, Maintenance Previous Reports, Projects How old? What kind? How many? Google Earth

25 Call in the professionals Lighting proposal Irrigation proposal Water fixtures proposal Leak detection Level II ASHRAE audit?

26 Do something Do anything Do small things 100x Do one big thing.watch what happens New shower heads Turn the lights off Big irrigation project

27 Results multiply Year over year cost savings Compare your utility costs to benchmarks Compare to NAA data Now, go to work on the next one

28 Questions?

29 Thank You! a recording of this session will be available within a week: multi-housingnews.com questions/comments: kfoong@multi-housingnews.com