SRS Blog

Building energy efficiency insights from the innovators behind EPIC
July 10, 2021

What’s New with EPIC: All-Electric Systems Feature

Background

As a pioneer in cloud-based building energy performance assessment technology, SRS has earned a reputation for developing cutting edge software, data, and predictive analytics solutions. Our latest innovation is the Energy Performance Improvement Calculator (EPIC™).

EPIC continues to be enthusiastically adopted across the ecosystem of energy efficiency project professionals for its ability to help drive sales of higher ticket, higher margin equipment.

New Features

In response to the growing trend driven by corporate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) policy and greenhouse gas emission legislation to reduce carbon dioxide emissions (referred to as decarbonization), owners of existing commercial buildings are increasingly exploring ways to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, including totally electrifying their property.

To support building energy efficiency professionals’ assessment and optimization of electrification scenarios, SRS is pleased to announce EPIC users can now, in real time with minimal data inputs, estimate the energy and emissions reductions when converting from fossil fuel powered to all-electric heating and cooling systems, e.g., heat pumps and variable refrigerant flow (VRF).

This new state-of-the-art functionality to support conversions from fossil fuel powered to all-electric heating and cooling systems expands upon EPIC’s “like-for-like” equipment replacement capabilities.

EPIC System Conversions

  • EPIC now enables users to select high efficiency conventional heat pumps or VRF (with or without heat recovery) as an Energy Efficiency Project Type:
  • Upon selecting an all-electric system conversion option, e.g., Heat Pumps or VRF, EPIC, based on building characteristics and weather normalized energy consumption by end-use, calculates the system’s key performance metrics as displayed below:

  • In addition, EPIC, based on building age and characteristics, estimates the existing heating and cooling systems’ key performance metrics as displayed below:

  • EPIC enables users to review and edit estimated performance metrics associated with the new and existing equipment, where applicable, such as from data collected during a building inspection.

  • Upon EPIC user’s review, editing, and submittal of final systems’ performance values, EPIC calculates the new system’s energy and cost savings, and key financial impacts:

EPIC Report

EPIC enables users to download an EPIC Report, including Heat Pumps or VRF system energy savings and key financial impacts. Such report can be created in real time and is typically appended to the project developer’s cost proposal to help make the business case to the building owner. Moreover, EPIC users can create, in real time, an EPIC Scenario Comparison – a one-page, side-by-side comparison of key performance metrics for two system options, e.g., like-for-like fossil fuel powered equipment vs. conversion to all-electric heat pumps or VRF systems.

To learn more about how these new state-of-the-art EPIC building electrification conversion features can help improve your project scoping and proposal process, Contact Us to schedule a demonstration.

About the Author

Brian J. McCarter is Chief Executive Officer at Sustainable Real Estate Solutions. Mr. McCarter has been a leader in the commercial real estate software and due diligence information services market for over 25 years. He may be contacted through our Contact page.