New robes for NEB research – open and expanding data

Panel: 3. Energy management: the nuts and bolts

This is a peer-reviewed paper.

Authors:
Ida Stokkebye Christiansen, Ea Energy Analyses, Denmark
Kirsten Dyhr-Mikkelsen, Ea Energy Analyses, Denmark
Erik Gudbjerg, Your Energy, Denmark

Abstract

Conventionally, the relevance of energy efficiency improvements (EEIs) is assessed on the basis of the potential energy cost savings compared to the investments made. However, the value of the secondary effects of these EEIs is often just as high or even higher. These side effects are frequently referred to as Non Energy Benefits (NEBs) in spite the fact that some side effects are negative and not positive. The past decade has seen a substantial increase in research and attention towards NEBs. Some energy consultants use NEBs to leverage client interest in energy efficiency, however, the value of NEBs is not systematically assessed nor the information compiled on a larger scale. This paper presents an online NEB tool with a database containing data of face-to-face interviews from more than 100 implemented EEIs, yielding nearly 300 identified NEBs and an analysis of these data. Visualisation and quantification of NEBs make it possible to include the side effects in assessments of the attractiveness of an EEI – for the mutual benefit of energy advisors and their clients – and society at large. A unique feature of the database is that it permits interested users to search e.g. by industry, EEI type (30+), investment size, NEB type (4 categories with each up to 10 subcategories), and the entity/person that has entered the data. It is also possible to distinguish the method chosen for quantifying the NEBs and the perceived reliability of the values. This flexibility makes it possible to accommodate differences in data collection resources of those providing data for the database. The tool is dynamic as the database is designed to continuously expand through input from its users. The tool includes case examples with more detailed narrative description of specific EEI projects and the associated NEBs. The results of the preliminary analysis find the value of EEIs to be 1.4 times higher with NEBs than when looking at the energy cost savings alone. The finding implies that investments in EEIs create greater value than what is included in the decision to invest. Such knowledge may be able to have a significant influence on the incentive to invest in EEIs. All data is openly accessible for use in future investment decisions or further NEB research.