Re-tuning is a systematic process aimed at minimizing building energy consumption at no-cost or low-cost by identifying and correcting operational problems that plague buildings. Re-tuning relies on building automation system data to identify and implement control improvements at no cost (other than the time to program the changes). These low-cost or no-cost operational improvements ultimately improve the building's energy efficiency, reduce operating costs and greenhouse gas emissions, and improve occupant comfort. The training will provide an introduction to the FEMP Building Re-tuning Simulator (BRS), which is a free, easy to use, online tool that helps identify low-cost and no-cost re-tuning measures. https://retuning-simulator.pnnl.gov/
Instructors
Nick Fernandez, Program Manager, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Read Bio
Nick received a master's in mechanical engineering from the University of Maryland in 2008 at the Center for Environmental Energy Engineering. Throughout his 13-year career at PNNL, he has focused on research and project work on technical tasks, tools, and journal papers that solve problems through building energy simulation, typically involving the use of EnergyPlus. These efforts have had many applications, including but not limited to detailed models of specific commercial buildings, large-scale simulation of energy saving measures to determine national impact, commercial building energy codes, simulation of the thermal side of algae ponds and photobioreactors for biofuels production, simulation of a novel rooftop selective emittance cooling system, co-simulation of EnergyPlus and VOLTTRON for optimal dispatch of combined heat and power systems, and creation of the simulation backbone for a rooftop unit cost calculator tool. Nick is also the creator and lead developer of the Building Re-tuning Simulator.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this course, attendees will be able to:
- Recognize what re-tuning is;
- Identify the niches and features of the BRS;
- Recognize the benefits of using the BRS to simulate re-tuning measures;
- Select options that demonstrate familiarity with the BRS web tool and how to navigate it;
- Indicate knowledge of creating energy models of buildings in the BRS.
