Global credential supports asset performance uplifts

• Geronimo Advisory principal Nalin Nanayakkara has achieved PMVA certification, jointly issued by Energy Efficiency Council and Efficiency Valuation Organisation
• The International Performance Measurement and Verification Protocol (IPMVP) can be used for robust performance audits for any type of built asset
• IPMVP guidelines and PMVA credential meet the requirements of many Federal and State Government energy efficiency and emissions reduction schemes 

One of the challenges for any building owner is having a clear understanding of how a building is currently performing in terms of energy and water use. The International Performance Measurement and Verification Protocol (IPMVP) framework is a globally recognised set of standards for designing and delivering credible asset performance audits.

The professional credential, PMVA, achieved recently by Geronimo Principal Nalin Nanayakkara, requires a practitioner to hold both technical knowledge and have demonstrated experience in delivering measurement and verification projects.

Nalin is a Chartered Engineer, with a substantial track record as an energy auditor and energy efficiency consultant. He also has expertise in designing and implementing effective building controls and monitoring systems, including Building Management Systems and Building Automation.

Where IPMVP differs to a scheme such as NABERS is the guidelines can be used to undertake an audit at any stage of the asset lifecycle, whether or not the building is tenanted or empty. It also encompasses any asset type, including those for which NABERS tools are not currently available. In this way, PMVA certification becomes a valuable additional assurance for owners of portfolios, or owners of non-traditional built assets.

The guidelines can also be applied for water and emissions, as well as energy.

The foundation of IPMVP assessment is to assign the appropriate boundary conditions for the assessment, to ensure that the initial data can be used to provide a fair comparison to data gathered after an efficiency or building performance improvement activity.

The boundary also needs to factor in operational specifics to design out exceptions. For example, if energy used by lighting is the focus of an assessment, the boundary needs to identify and exclude changes to lighting use caused by alterations to occupant densities, or variations in occupant operating hours. By doing this, the audit can establish the energy used by lighting based simply on the technology and its operating system.

That then creates a suitable benchmark to inform the design of an energy efficiency initiative.  Once the initiative has been completed, the methodology is used for the post-project audit to quantify energy performance improvements.

For owners or managers of buildings looking to leverage state government incentive schemes such as those in NSW and Victoria, the IPMVP guidelines can be used by the consultant to ensure there is robust evidence to meet the requirements for acquitting the grant and reporting to the funding body.

Another way IPMVP approaches can be beneficial is for owners of B and C-grade buildings that are currently untenanted or significantly under-tenanted. When a building is not attractive in the market, retrofits and upgrades become important, but for true future proofing, upgrades need to go beyond the cosmetic. A new lobby should be matched by improved energy efficiency for lighting, optimised water efficiency and quantified operational emissions reductions.

Having the credible data that ensures you have sound foundations for making investment decisions, and feeding into reporting to stakeholders, investors, tenants and regulators, is something that is becoming increasingly vital in this decarbonising world.