10/5/2023
Group 1: Creating a Streamlined BEM Process
Working Group 1’s summer was focused on Building Performance Standards (BPS) and BEM. The Group 1 Co-Chairs hosted Andrea Mengual, PNNL, and Joshua Kace, LBNL, who provided two informative presentations, followed by a Q&A. Andrea presented an overview of BPS and how it relates to energy modeling, including which jurisdictions have adopted it so far, and how to get started with BPS. Joshua provided example BPS policies, approaches to setting targets, shared tools, and a specific example in the State of Maryland. Attendees provided feedback that Group 1 should continue discussions and education around BPS, this will likely be a topic at the Symposium and future meetings. If you have missed recent meetings, notes and slides can be found in the CalBEM Collaborative Efforts SharePoint here.*
The Prototype Unification Technical Advisory Group led by Bryan Boyce (Energy Solutions) continues to meet, advancing its goal to develop a single set of prototypes for use by all California state agencies and other public research/policy purposes.
The “PRM Case Studies by Practitioners” project discussed by the group last year, led by Greg Collins and Panos Bakos, was approved by the Committee in October 2022. They plan to kick-off the project this fall.
To attend future Group 2 meetings, or keep in the loop in real-time, sign up for the WG1 mailing list.
Group 2: Developing BEM Education and Resources
On August 2nd, Working Group 2 held a BEM Practitioner Panel where three experts shared their workflows, best practices, and the challenges they face. The panelists included Kevin Gilleran with Gilleran Energy Management, Liu Liu with Atelier Ten, and Tim Kohut with National CORE. The presentations and Q&A session provided valuable information to attendees on how all-electric buildings are complying today, modeling gaps, educational gaps from engineering and design teams, and IES-VE workflows. The Co-Chairs plan to bring the meeting takeaways to the symposium and future group meetings. If you have missed recent meetings, notes and slides can be found in the CalBEM Collaborative Efforts SharePoint here.*
To attend future Group 2 meetings, or keep in the loop in real-time, sign up for the WG2 mailing list.
Group 3: Advancing BEM Capabilities and Metrics
Working Group 3 Co-Chairs held a Summer Meeting on August 29th, which reviewed and discussed 2025 CASE measures with impacts to the CA compliance model. They reviewed Multifamily Domestic Hot Water, MF Restructuring, and NR HVAC Space Heating. The team received valuable feedback from attendees and CASE Measure leads who attended the meeting. If you have missed recent meetings, notes and slides can be found in the CalBEM Collaborative Efforts SharePoint here.*
The Alternative Calculation Methods (ACM) Manual Enhancement project, approved by the Steering Committee in July 2023, kicked off in September, under the leadership of Elizabeth McCollum (TRC). We are looking forward to hearing how this project is going at CalBEM 2023’s WG3 breakout sessions.
To attend future Group 2 meetings, or keep in the loop in real-time, sign up for the WG3 mailing list.
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* Working Group participants can email info@calbem.org to gain access.