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Glossary of ECCMs

Each retrofit scenario includes the energy, carbon, and cost implications of implementing one or more Energy and Carbon Conservation Measures (ECCMs).

Abbreviated descriptions of each ECCM can be viewed in the application by hovering over the information icon. Full descriptions of each ECCM are below.

ECCM Descriptions

Building Management

Occupancy-based lighting and HVAC controlOccupancy-based controls for both lighting and HVAC systems ensure that lighting and temperature settings are optimized based on actual or predicted occupancy, eliminating unnecessary energy use in unoccupied areas. Lighting systems are equipped with occupancy sensors to ensure lights are active only when spaces are in use. When areas are unoccupied, lights are automatically turned off or dimmed to reduce energy waste. HVAC operation is adjusted dynamically based on occupancy data from sensors. Temperature setpoints are relaxed when spaces are unoccupied, reducing heating and cooling loads. These occupancy-based temperature setbacks are in addition to schedule-based setbacks.
Daylighting-based lighting controlReduce artificial lighting energy use by leveraging natural daylight. The system automatically adjusts the intensity of electric lighting in real-time based on measured daylight availability, ensuring optimal illumination while minimizing energy consumption. Applicable to perimeter zones and areas with skylights, this measure excludes spaces where specific lighting levels are critical for operations (requiring fixed lighting). Lighting systems in daylit zones are equipped with continuous dimming capabilities, with lux sensors installed approximately 15 feet / 4.5 meters from the perimeter to measure light levels and provide real-time feedback.
Airside HVAC resets and demand-controlled ventilationUpgrade existing Variable Air Volume (VAV) systems to comply with ASHRAE Guideline 36, which defines high-performance sequences of operation for HVAC systems. The goal is to optimize airflow, temperature control, and ventilation strategies to reduce energy consumption while maintaining occupant comfort.Key Enhancements include Supply Air Temperature Reset: Zone load-based reset strategy that dynamically adjusts supply air temperature based on real-time zone cooling demands. This approach optimizes energy performance by responding directly to actual building loads rather than outdoor air temperature alone. In addition to the multizone VAV systems governed by ASHRAE Guideline 36, load-based SAT reset is also applied to DOAS systems. Demand-Control Ventilation (DCV): Zonal and system-level CO₂ monitoring to adjust ventilation rates dynamically. VAV Box Minimum Airflow Reduction: Minimum airflow reduced from 30% to 20%, improving part-load efficiency. Excludes critical spaces requiring constant airflow.
Chilled and hot water
temperature resets		Traditional chilled water and heating hot water systems often maintain fixed supply temperature setpoints, regardless of outdoor conditions or building load. This measure introduces dynamic setpoint reset strategies for both chilled water and hot water loops, using outdoor air temperature (OA) as the controlling parameter to optimize system efficiency.
Continuous commissioning of
HVAC system		Over time, HVAC systems can drift from optimal performance due to equipment wear, sensor inaccuracies, or control sequence issues, leading to higher energy costs and potential operational disruptions. Continuous commissioning ensures that all critical building systems operate efficiently by proactively identifying inefficiencies and faults. This ECCM helps prevent equipment failures that could impact operations by continuously monitoring the HVAC equipment performance, applying advanced analytics to identify deviations from optimal operation, such as incorrect setpoints, sensor drift, or failing components. Issues are then prioritized and communicated to facility teams for corrective action, ensuring systems remain tuned for efficiency. Savings for this measure are estimated to increase HVAC system performance: Pump efficiency improved by 5%, Chiller and boiler efficiency improved by 5%, fan power static pressure reduced by 0.05”-0.15” based on fan type.

Power Management

Power factor corrrection and harmonic filteringElectrical quality issues such as Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) and poor Power Factor (PF) can significantly impact building performance. High THD reduces equipment efficiency, increases thermal losses, and can lead to premature failure of sensitive electronics. Similarly, low PF results in higher apparent power demand, increasing utility costs and upstream energy losses. This measure equips buildings with advanced harmonic filtering and power factor correction systems to reduce THD and improve electrical system stability. Harmonic filtering delivers an average 1.5% reduction in hourly power consumption by improving system efficiency, and power factor correction achieves a target power factor of 0.96 or higher, minimizing penalties and reducing source energy emissions.
Power monitoring software with
submetering 		Submetering provides visibility into specific loads and zones—such as HVAC systems, lighting circuits, elevators, and plug loads—enabling building operators to benchmark performance, detect anomalies, and implement targeted energy-saving strategies. All meters connect to power monitoring software, enabling real-time energy dashboards, automated alerts for anomalies, and historical trend analysis for benchmarking. This measure estimates a 5% reduction in non-critical plug loads (e.g., receptacle loads, elevators/escalators) through improved monitoring and automated control strategies.
High efficiency UPSUninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) systems are critical for buildings to maintain business continuity during power interruptions, protecting IT infrastructure, IT-Rooms, and essential building systems such as elevators, security, and HVAC controls. Many facilities have oversized UPS units, resulting in low-load operation, where efficiency can drop below 85%. This measures assumes UPS units are resized and replaced with high efficiency units, with an upgrade from 83% efficiency to 92%.
Power SCADA controlsA Power SCADA system provides real-time visibility and control over the electrical infrastructure, enabling building operators to make manual or automated adjustments to optimize power usage, reduce energy waste, and enhance operational efficiency. This measure estimates 3% annual electricity savings based on manual operational adjustments.
Automatic receptacle controlAutomatic receptacle control (ARC) eliminates energy waste by disconnecting non-critical equipment in non-critical spaces when spaces are unoccupied. This measure implements smart outlet controls or intelligent panelboards to automatically cut power to selected receptacles during unoccupied hours (typically midnight to 6:00 AM).

Prosumer

Solar PV, Battery Energy Storage System, and MicrogridThis measure includes Rooftop PV Panels sized to utilize ~70% of available roof area, with 16% panel efficiency and 1 kWh/m² solar radiation, aligned with NREL PVWatts guidance. The Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) is sized at 2× PV capacity, with a roundtrip efficiency of ~86%, with daily discharge cycles. The Microgrid Management System controls onsite generation, storage, and grid interaction for optimal performance and cost savings.
EV ChargingEV chargers are installed and connected to the building’s electrical infrastructure with smart load management for dynamic load balancing to prevent overloading circuits, scheduling, and demand-response participation to align charging with low-carbon grid periods. This measure assumes each Level 2 AC charger has a power rating of 11 kW (user adjustable), with efficiency determined based on usage and session duration which varies by building type. Chargers increase building electricity consumption and associated emissions (included in the Calculator), but enable EVs to offset emissions from fossil-fuel-based commuting (not accounted for in the Calculator).

Electrification

Space heating electrification This measure replaces natural gas-powered heating systems with electric Air-Source Heat Pumps with coefficient of performance (COP) of 2.8, connected to the Building Management System for optimized control and scheduling.
Service hot water
electrification 		This measure replaces gas-fired and electric resistance water heaters with heat pump water heaters, which operate at a COP of 2.8, and integrate to the Building Management System for optimized control and monitoring.
High efficiency
transformer 		Implementation of high-efficiency transformers typically as part of a broader electrical distribution upgrade reduces electrical losses and improves energy transfer efficiency, with savings applied as a reduction to overall building electrical energy consumption. For Pre-2004 baseline vintages, this ECCM assumes 0.5% reduction in total electricity use, while for the 2004-2009 and 2010-2015 baseline vintages, this ECCM assumes 0.25% reduction in total electricity use.

Refrigeration and Cooling

Refrigerant monitoring and leak detectionThis ECCM focuses on proactive monitoring and maintenance of the refrigeration system to maintain optimal refrigerant charge, ensuring peak system efficiency, and prevent refrigerant loss, with early leak detection enabling repairs and preventing major failures.
Refrigeration system advanced controls This ECCM focuses on optimizing refrigeration system performance through advanced control strategies that reduce energy consumption and improve operational efficiency. In detail, savings are delivered with the following control strategies: High-Pressure Modulation (Floating Head Pressure): The system adjusts the high-pressure setpoint based on outside air temperature to maximize heat exchange at the condenser. Suction Pressure Modulation (Floating Low Pressure): Dynamically adjusts suction pressure based on real-time load demand across connected refrigeration units to optimize compressor performance without compromising cooling or defrost cycles.

Other

High efficiency lighting upgradeThis ECCM includes the replacement of inefficient lighting systems with high-efficient alternatives in compliance with ASHRAE 90.1-2019 lighting power density requirements, reducing lighting power density 10%.
Additional wall and roof
insulation		Upgrading the building envelope is typically one of the most carbon-intensive strategies to reduce energy demand when analyzed based on whole life carbon, but has additional benefits of improving occupant comfort and supporting compliance with building performance standards. This measure includes an upgrade to ASHRAE 90.1-2022 compliant envelope, improving the U-values and R-values for walls and roofs by adding R-5 insulation for walls and R-10 insulation for roofs.
VFD control for elevatorsConventional elevator systems run at fixed speeds, wasting energy during partial-load conditions. Implementing Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) optimizes motor speed, reducing energy use without compromising performance or peak capacity. This measure includes VFDs on elevator motors to enable variable speed operation.

Building Management System (BMS)

Summary Table of ECCM Availability

The following table describes which ECCMs are available for which building use types.