NYC DCAS
At a Glance
Industry
Government/Public Administration
Project Type
Commercial Energy Efficiency
Year
2016
Location
New York, NY
Summary
Muhammad Kamil Qaddus designed a new architecture and customized templates for improving NYC DCAS’ Measurement and Verification system.
Goals
NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) Division of Energy Management (DEM) wanted to evaluate its current Measurement and Verification (M&V) system as part of its Accelerated Conservation & Efficiency Program (ACE). The M&V system, used to verify estimated and claimed energy efficiency savings and GHG reductions, needed to be redeveloped as per International performance protocols. EDF Climate Corps fellow, Muhammad Kamil Qaddus, was tasked with designing an improved M&V system for ACE that can be utilized by other programs of DCAS.
Solutions
After mapping the M&V process-flow, Kamil designed a new macro-level architecture of the proposed system and linked it to other energy efficiency programs within DCAS. The next step was improving the M&V plan templates. These standardized forms included specific guidelines for the most common type of technology, along with an “Internal Reviewer Document” that describes how to evaluate the templates once they are filled by the city agencies.
Once micro-level detailing of the templates was completed, Kamil collaborated with both the Investor Confidence Project (ICP) of EDF, to strengthen the M&V system for future private investments, and the City University of New York, to review their M&V training curriculum and incorporate its structure in DCAS’s system. These feedback loops add sustainability to the system architecture, resulting in a continuous improvement cycle.
Pushing beyond the project’s initial scope, Kamil designed an innovative framework for Employee Crowd Financing for Public Buildings energy efficiency projects. These investment options further incentivized the project stakeholders, employees and the City.
Potential Impact
The templates are ready for the next round of ACE applications. The new M&V system architecture has the capacity to connect with other DCAS programs and create a centralized system. It too, will inform the agency on which ECMs are not just efficient, but also effective. Financing avenues, capable of helping NYC engage in more projects, will also be available as a result of a more robust system. The proposed employee crowd financed structure will help the city reduce more GHGs with the same dollar amount investment, increase the effectiveness of each project by incentivizing stakeholders for mutual benefits and deliver the benefits of energy efficiency across the City and its employees.