FRESA
A first-order screening tool to identify potentially cost-effective applications of renewable energy technology on a building and facility level. FRESA (Federal Renewable Energy Screening Assistant) is useful for determining which renewable energy applications require further investigation. Technologies represented include: active solar heating, active solar cooling, solar hot water, daylighting with windows, daylighting with skylights, photovoltaic, solar thermal electric (parabolic dish, parabolic trough, central power tower), wind electricity, small hydropower, biomass electricity (wood, waste, etc.), and cooling load avoidance (multiple glazing, window shading, increased wall insulation, infiltration control). Life-cycle cost calculations comply with 10 CFR 436. Screen Shots
Keywords
renewable energy, retrofit opportunities
Validation/Testing
N/A
Expertise Required
Must be able to gather summary information on building and installation energy use patterns; intended for use by trained auditors; results should be interpreted by someone familiar with the limitations of the program.
Users
50 contractors under the SAVEnergy Audit Program administered by the Federal Energy Management Program.
Audience
Building energy auditors.
Input
Summary energy load data; solar and wind resource data provided in a database indexed by ZIP code; biomass and solid waste resource data must be gathered by the auditor.
Output
Annual cost and energy savings; life cycle economics; a red flag if an option is viable; viable options ranked by savings-to-investment ratio.
Computer Platform
PC-compatible, 286 or better, operating with DOS.
Programming Language
Advanced Revelation Database Environment, provided to auditors with the program.
Strengths
Establishes consistent methodology and reporting format for a large number of audits in varying locations and with varying building use types; sophisticated analyses of technology performance and cost while keeping data requirements to a minimum.
Weaknesses
Provides only first-order screening, to focus design; requires more detailed feasibility analyses on applications most likely to be cost-effective; requires high level of knowledge about energy audits and the limitations of the program; not suitable for general use.
Contact
Company: |
National Renewable Energy Laboratory |
Address: |
1617 Cole Boulevard |
Telephone: |
(303) 384-7518 |
Facsimile: |
(303) 384-7411 |
E-mail: |
|
Website: |
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/femp/information/access_tools.html |
Availability
Available to download at no cost from web site.