Queenborough & Rushenden
BPE Data analysis and Dissemination Report
BPE Intern Specification
Data analysis & Building Performance Evaluation
September 2012
BPE Intern Specification Data analysis & Building Performance Evaluation Part 1 – Project Background 1.1 Summary The Institute for Sustainability is leading a project to conduct “measuring, monitoring, and evaluation” for a 270 home domestic retrofit project in the communities of Queenborough and Rushenden, in Swale, Kent. This project will include pre-retrofit physical testing of properties, installation of monitoring equipment in a small number of properties to capture building performance data over the course of the project, and post-retrofit physical assessment. The project will also assess resident expectations and experiences. 1.2
About the Institute
The Institute for Sustainability is an independent charity established in 2009 to support cross sector collaboration and innovation. Our mission is to significantly accelerate the delivery of economically, environmentally and socially sustainable cities and communities Our focus is on delivering innovative demonstration projects and developing programmes to actively capture and share learning and best practice. The Institute plays a number of roles in supporting and enabling projects. These include acting as an independent facilitator brokering strategic and operational relationships with partners; leveraging funding; shaping and sharing knowledge and best practice and; managing projects, shaping and guiding them from inception through to delivery. Our activity is in the areas which we believe present the greatest challenge – and opportunity – to creating sustainable cities and communities. These are resource efficient buildings, sustainable infrastructure and resources, transport and logistics and Total Community Retrofit (TCR). A number of our projects are cross-cutting across all of these areas and have a specific focus on innovation and supply chains.
1.3
About the Queenborough and Rushenden retrofit project
Project overview This is a comprehensive, whole house (as required), whole community retrofit scheme that will deliver substantial carbon, energy and financial savings to the residents of Queenborough and Rushenden. The project has been designed to help alleviate the complex social problems within a community characterised by extensive unemployment, low aspiration, high levels of deprivation and
fuel poverty. It will bring the current low property energy standards up to current levels and in so doing enable greater social and community cohesion, improving standards of living considerably. The total number of homes within Queenborough and Rushenden is just under 1,500 and the proposed first phase of the project in Rushenden, contains approximately 270 homes retrofits across all forms of tenure. Current funding levels will enable each retrofit to deliver a carbon saving of around 40-50% and an annual residential saving of approximately £350 assuming current energy prices. There will also be a set of water efficiency measures introduced to participating households, helping to minimise water stress and further reduce the energy used to heat water for use within the home. The energy measures proposed, derived from an initial wide ranging survey of 120 local properties, will vary by individual property and include: Insulation – loft, cavity and solid wall as appropriate with draught proofing throughout Boiler replacement and central heating systems, with new control systems, smart meters and real time displays Solar thermal (in part) New, low u-value glazing Water efficient fixtures and fittings (in part) Fuel switching (electricity or coal to gas if required) This capital work is expected to range approximately £4k-£15k per dwelling. The Queensborough and Rushenden project is set out as a “best practice” demonstrator, intended not only to deliver a practical scheme and improve the quality of the community but to serve as a guide for future, and larger, projects across the UK. The key process for identifying and developing these best practices is deployment of a comprehensive measurement, monitoring, and evaluation (MME) programme through the life of the Q&R project: Dwelling descriptions Detailed property data will be provided to the winning bidders to facilitate development of the service. The following summary is provided for context. Of the 270 properties to be treated, 203 are owned by the registered social landlord Amicus Horizon, and 67 properties are privately owned. The majority of the private properties included in the project are terraces constructed between 1900-1929, while the social properties are both similar terraces and a number of detached homes/bungalows, typically built between 1950-1965.
Project scheduling considerations Retrofitting of the private homes began in November 2011 and finished in April 2012. Retrofitting of the social housing stock is to begin in July 2012. The Experiment Design takes into consideration this schedule and challenges it poses for collecting pre-retrofit baseline data and implementing a robust methodology. The Institute’s MME project will run from September 2011 through to March 2013. Evidence base to support private sector investment To achieve the level of retrofitting required to meet statutory carbon reduction targets, it is clear that significant private sector investment will be required. Private sector financing is predicated on clear and reliable business models which set out anticipated returns on investment. These business models offset the investment costs of retrofitting with the gains achieved through reduction in ongoing energy costs. However, these business models are only sustainable when retrofit programmes achieve the performance results anticipated. Currently, it is uncertain whether retrofit measures consistently achieve planned energy savings, and this uncertainty will limit the availability of private sector financing. Improved information and, ultimately, results, achieved through MME programmes, are the key to attracting private sector financing for carbon reduction. Technical information vital to SME and larger companies entering the low carbon supply chain. The UK Government has made clear the business opportunities anticipated by a transition to a low carbon economy. Retrofitting programmes stimulate a significant demand for new business, new skills, and new jobs. Many of these businesses are SMEs with limited research, development, and economic resources. Effective MME programmes will provide valuable, and specific, information to firms across the low carbon supply chain to improve their operation and success. 1.5
MME Project Objectives and Approach
Technical objectives of the Q&R MME programme The MME programme will achieve these objectives: Establish projected economic model for changes to energy costs, payback periods for measures deployed, impact on access to financial support (fuel poverty, etc.) Compare and document achieved carbon savings against projected savings as a result of planned measures: o at the project level o at the property level o at the component level (heating source, walls, windows, etc) Compare occupant satisfaction responses to those originally measured prior to the retrofit
• Highlight aspects of the retrofit project management that encourages/discourages and ensured take up by residents Specific activities of the Q&R MME programme To achieve the technical objectives of the Q&R MME programme, the programme will include the following activities for selected properties to be studied: Document targets for carbon savings, and economic models Conduct thorough “pre-retrofitâ€? property evaluations, including: o Thermal imaging o air tightness testing o Empirical testing of wall U-values o Occupant questionnaire to assess awareness, expectations, concerns, and satisfaction with existing conditions o Economic assessment (energy costs over previous heating/cooling season, etc.) Systematically document, to the extent possible, retrofit implementation activity (installer techniques, issues encountered, etc.) Conduct post-occupancy monitoring through installed equipment to measure: o internal and external temperature and humidity o energy use o (hot) water use, if water measures are included in retrofit Conduct an initial physical post occupancy evaluation, assessing: o Thermal imaging o air tightness o Empirical testing of wall U-values o Thermal efficiency (energy use to achieve a benchmark internal temperature) Conduct a regular series of occupant assessment interviews, to consider: o occupant satisfaction o occupant feedback on retrofit process Identify situations, if any, where new occupants move into retrofit properties, and assess occupant acceptance and performance with retrofit components (thermostats, meters, etc.) Assess any system/performance degradation over an extended period (i.e. loss of air tightness, decreased energy efficiency of components/properties)
Part 2 - Project Execution Strategy 2.
Overall Strategy 
The Institute needs to put in place an analytical structure which produces the Q&R BPE dissemination reports, which will review the Q&R retrofit methodology and execution based on data being collected from the building performance evaluation. This Part sets out this strategy and what key outputs need to be produced. The specific descriptions for the various services are set out in Part 3, and the specific service requirements for this tender are set out in Part 4.
2.1 Services structure The Institute has been reviewing the structure required to deliver this phase of the project and successfully deliver the outcomes in the agreed project time. This is represented below;
Data Collection
Data management tool Development
(already contracted & underway)
Data analysis & Building Performance Evaluation
Direction, control & management [Institute]
Academic and Industry review
Dissemination reports
2.2 Key outputs This phase of the project will produce the following outputs; 2.2.1 Data management tool The data management tool is intended to take the various types of data that are being collected as part of the measurement, monitoring and evaluation works, and combine and cross-reference them to produce graphical outputs which aid in understanding the building performance and produce reports from the data collection. It’s envisioned that this might be an Excel based tool, though other platforms may be considered. Analytical tool which will use CSV format technical data being collected by the installed equipment in about 70 homes (IPR of the tool will be vested in the Institute)This will include: o Outputs from a BUS Occupant Survey report (analysis to be done by others) o SAP ratings and CESP assessment data o U-value tests on building fabric o BUS Report outputs (actual BUS analysis to be done by others) o All energy and environmental data listed in section 3.1 o Property data (number of occupants, floor area, dwelling type, etc) 2.2.2 Dissemination Reports The reports are intended to provide an unbiased review of strategies and methodologies used in the retrofit and compare the post-retrofit data to the initial design (CESP) predictions and make recommendations for improving the delivery of future large-scale retrofits. The Institute also wishes to examine a number of hypothesis and questions which will help interested stakeholders and others to have clearer understanding of the issues that arise from a retrofit project and the exact nature of the end results.
The reports will include a detailed analysis of building performance data, based on the tool outputs, including analysis of: Occupant comfort Energy performance financial evaluation Comparison of design targets to in-use performance Internal and external environmental conditions Industry benchmarks
Key Deliverables: Interim dissemination report by November 2012 Final dissemination report by April 2013
In addition to the analytical data, the Institute sets out below an initial set of hypothetical questions to be considered for inclusion in the reports, in addition to the analytical data, where sufficient evidence may exist for this project; 1. Are the residents with more high-tech measures more satisfied? 2. In home displays – did residents find them useful, how did they use them, did people actually use them, did they like them or not 3. How does family size relate to energy use 4. How to resident expectations compare against experience for both pre & post retrofit 5. To what extent do people understand their energy use 6. What aspects of the retrofit delivered high levels of occupant satisfaction 7. Advantages/disadvantages of doing a community wide or at least street wide retrofit 8. Focus group reviews (excluding SBC & AH) to ask first hand on experience and knowledge of the retrofit project 9. Soft landings – information given to ‘run’ new home , what information would be useful to residents 10. Review of BPE process – use of broadband, wireless and home collected data 11. Does this work influence residents’ whole outlook on sustainability/recycling etc 12. How can SBC or AH change or be influenced by this project 13. Which measures delivered value for money 14. What were the risks to implementing the retrofit that can be better managed on future projects These questions represent some early thinking and can change as the project progresses, and the Institute understands that not all questions can be answered with the information being gathered. Structure of report The Data analysis & Building Performance Evaluation Intern (Associate) will author the dissemination reports based on the outputs from theData Management Tool. An initial report format is set out below, this is only intended to enable some common ground and the final content and structure will need to be agreed through the strategy in this phase. Draft report structure Executive Summary Introduction Equipment installed in each property Analysis of data and trends Social information, baseline and current status Question testing and hypothesis Data analysis Recommendations and Findings
Conclusion Glossary and Index Annex
Part 3 – Scope of Various Services 3.1 Data Collection (Already Contracted and underway) The previous phase included the design and installation of monitoring equipment into about 65 homes. To satisfy the objective of assessing whether each of the retrofit measures is effective we are currently monitoring the following information: Energy o Electricity use o Gas use Internal & External Environmental conditions o Living room temperature and relative humidity o Bedroom temperature o External weather conditions (via an external station) The MME installation contractor has been commissioned to ; Supply and install all monitoring equipment (internal & external) Display, as close to real time as possible, the data on a consumer in-home display, Enable data to be viewed via an on-line interface Manage data collection, collation and submission to the Institute in an agreed (CSV) format No MME equipment was installed prior to the retrofit to any of the private homes but the sample set of the social homes will receive MME equipment prior to the main retrofit works. Therefore the pre-retrofit baseline data and any existing records in-lieu of physical monitoring data will be collected using the questionnaire, which will ask for utility data (electricity, gas and water) for the last 12 months and general/household information. The data is recorded every 15 minutes and saved to a remote data-store that clearly identifies individual properties and the data source. Data will be made available in a CSV format with column headings and rows starting with the date and time and columns for each data source grouped by dwelling number. Data will be collected until at least March 2013 and could be possibly extended through future discussion; however this is yet to be confirmed. The total number of properties that are being retrofit is 274. The sample base for MME installation is split as follows; Private homes – 40 units Social homes – 30 units To enable energy data to be corrected for external conditions, local weather data is being collected via a newly installed weather station at 15 minute intervals and will include:
Temperature Rainfall Sunshine Wind speed Wind direction
3.2 Data Management Tool Development (currently being tendered, under separate cover) The Institute will employ a BI (business intelligence) specialist to produce the soft tool (Excel-based, or similar) required to process the data gathered. This tool will generate graphical reports and outputs on a variety of KPIs and aspects of performance: Annual energy consumption (corrected for standard degree days) pre and post retrofit. With comparison of improvements made. Seasonal daily consumption profiles (average) – against average internal temperature Compare annual and daily consumption changes for certain retrofit measure with the others. Compare environmental performance KPIs of individual houses, house types and occupant types before and after retrofit Occupant satisfaction- performance and comfort Compare before and after U-value improvements relative to heating consumption
3.3 Data analysis & Building Performance Evaluation Intern The Institute is currently tendering for a Building Performance Evaluation intern, who can assist the BI specialist in designing the report outputs and shaping the tool development, use the outputs from the tool to assemble the dissemination reports, and liaise with the Acadmic and Industry review team to ensure the reports quality before being publically disseminated, and work under the direction of the Institute’s internal technical specialist. 3.4 Academic and Industry review (tendered under a previous notification) The Institute will establish a group of technical experts (contracted) who will provide review of the project’s technical reporting and dissemination. They will be provide constructive criticism and help shape the report structure, detail and content to help with the industry acceptance of the report findings, by ensuring that conclusions are robust.
Part 4 – Specific Services Required 4.1 BPE Intern (Associate) Specification The Institute is currently tendering for a Building Performance Evaluation intern to be engaged as an Associate. They will work with the BI specialist in designing the report outputs and shaping the tool development, use the outputs from the tool to assemble the dissemination reports, and liaise with the Acadmic and Industry review team to ensure the reports quality and robustness of findings before being publically disseminated, and work under the direction of the Institute’s internal technical specialist in BPE.
Responsibilities
Define, analyse and evaluate the key performance indicators that come from the measurement and monitoring of the Q&R homes to address some of the agreed research questions. Research and define appropriate UK benchmarks for comparison with case study KPI’s Maintain a reference list to key guidance and benchmark documents used to assemble the reports and conduct the data analysis. Occasionally attend site meetings, and document site conditions, photographically. Conduct several days of semi-structured interviews with select residents of the site (to be held at the local community centre) to understand their perspective of the retrofit process and extract key learning that can aid future developers and landlords in gaining greater takeup for future retrofit programmes. Work with the Data Management contractor to ensure the Analytical Tools calculate and graphically communicate the relevant KPI’s from the raw CSV and project data, including helping with sketching out graphic concepts for graphs, charts and reports, feeding back into the tool development, and helping to quality check the outputs. Write the interim and final technical reports, in plain language for a SME audience, with the guidance of the Institute’s technical expert. The reports will vary in length, according to the required content, breadth of technical findings, and required supporting documentation, but will include: o Interim Pre-Retrofit Survey and Testing Report, on the results of pre-retrofit testing o Construction Activity Report, on the resident’s perception of the retrofit process and having the works done on their homes o Fabric Improvement Effectiveness Report, on the pre- and post- retrofit testing results, and some preliminary energy and environmental improvements o Close of Project Report, on all data gathered to date, summarising key findings from the previous three interim reports and adding additional data analysis from subsequent data gathering and analysis
If the associate executing this work would like to publish an anonymous data academic paper, as first author, s/he will be allowed to do so in their own time, pending the approvals from all project
partners on the content of the paper and the use of data. All academic papers produced with project data are required to have an Institute employee as a co-author. To ensure compliance with the Data Protection Act the associate will not be allowed to keep data in their own possession beyond the end of the project.
Skills
Degree in e.g. built environment discipline e.g. architecture, environmental design, building performance, building systems Excellent writing skills UK experience in a professional consultancy Good analytical, communication and research skills Good technical knowledge of o Building performance and building physics (housing, ideally) o Specifications for building products (awareness of NBS and similar databases) o Renewable technologies & building systems o Envelope Construction o Building user perceptions, comfort, and occupant satisfaction Awareness of existing and emerging Industry standards, material databases, knowledge management systems, building regulations and environmental systems e.g. BIM, NBS, Code for Sustainable Homes, BREEAM, Part L, etc
Tender Plan Invitation to tender period – September 2012 Tender submission deadline – 12.00midday, 24 September 2012 Tender review period – 25 September 2012 Order raised – 26 September 2012 (provisional) Initial meeting – 28 September 2012 (provisional) End date – May 2013 Payment Payments will be made monthly based upon the number of days worked either in whole or part day portions to an agreed set of deliverables between September 2012 and May 2013. Your bid could be either based upon a day rate or a fixed fee for this service, including disbursements, and bidders are expected to confirm their capacity, availability, limitations, days allowed and charges. It is envisaged that this service does not require a full time person, but tasks will vary and time allocation will not necessary be the same each week. You are required to indicate how long on average you have allowed to spend on this task per week. The following terms and conditions will apply; http://www.instituteforsustainability.co.uk/uploads/File/TermsAndConditions.pdf Evaluation will be based upon the following criteria 1.
Capacity & availability statement
2. 3. 4.
Experience and expertise of carrying out similar roles Robustness and quality of proposal Cost (30% of marks)
Tender Response The tender bid should contain at least the following; 1. A statement that sets out how you will approach the task and the delivery approach, including capacity and availability. It should reflect your views on the proposed approach, review method and any issues you consider we have not addressed. (max 2 pages) 2. Details of the cost and any deviation or qualifications against the Institute requirements 3. The tender pricing schedule must include for all disbursements, expenses, etc. 4. CV of relevant skills only (max two pages for each person) 5. Any added value you can bring to the service e.g. existing methodologies already available and can be used 6. The whole submission to be c5 sides maximum The tender sum must be in pounds Stirling and include all disbursements. All meeting will be held at the Institute’s office in London, these will be twice weekly, however it is envisaged that this person could be placed in our office. Tender Form: Please show splits (for cash flow) Cost per half day including disbursements £ Cost per whole day including disbursements £ Option: Fixed fee for whole service £
Please submit your tender bid together with all supporting information to; info@instituteforsustainability.org.uk with "Tender – Q&R BPE Intern tender" in the subject line, clearly identifying the source and including requirements stated above. Closing date for tender submission is 12.00midday, 24 September 2012 For any queries please contact either Lisa Pascale or Lali Virdee on 020 7517 1830