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Savings You Can Defend
How BERT Calculates Savings—and Proves Them
Anyone can publish a percentage. BERT publishes a method: savings are estimated conservatively, measured against a real baseline, and documented so an ESCO, utility or engineer can review them.
The Savings, Step by Step
Each number below is a percentage of something different. Here is how they connect.
All commercial building electricity
Step 1 · The category
Step 2 · The window
Step 3 · The reduction
Step 4 · The result
Bars are illustrative and not to scale.
Plug load share: NREL, Assessing and Reducing Plug and Process Loads in Office Buildings (PDF, 2013). Savings ranges are BERT planning ranges, validated with site data, device counts, schedules and application review.
Is Your Facility a Strong Fit?
BERT is often a strong fit when several of these are true:
- Your buildings have 50 or more devices that stay powered when no one is using them
- Your equipment follows mostly predictable operating schedules
- You want automation instead of relying on people to turn equipment off
- You want energy savings you can measure and report
- Your IT network can support connected building technology
- Your blended electricity rate is about $0.11/kWh or higher, if a quick payback matters to you (check your state’s commercial rate)
Not sure? Run your numbers in the savings calculator or talk with our team.
Start With a Screening Estimate
Share your building types, square footage, and operating schedules, and BERT will develop a low/base/high savings range for your portfolio.
Want a savings range for your own buildings? Start with a simple count of what you have. BERT handles the rest.
Work with BERT directly or through a BERT partner.
From Estimate to Verified Performance
Savings are refined as better information replaces assumptions.
- Screening estimate. Facility type, area, operating schedule, expected control density, and a representative equipment mix produce a planning range.
- Audit-based estimate. Field-observed device counts, confirmed schedules, and documented equipment characteristics replace modeled quantities.
- Baseline-referenced savings. After installation, BERT recommends a 30- or 45-day measured baseline of uncontrolled operation before schedules activate, then compares controlled operation against it. Control can also start right away on the customer's schedules; the baseline is what provides the measured before-and-after comparison.
- Formal M&V support, when required. The responsible ESCO, utility program, engineer, or third-party M&V provider sets the plan. BERT supplies data and technical support.
Conservative by Design
BERT does not count the wattage a device happens to draw at the moment it is switched off. Savings are based on the average energy the device would actually have used during the controlled hours, taken from measured data. Missing data is treated as missing, never as zero. Controller energy, recovery energy (such as charging later), and availability are deducted.
Aligned With Recognized Standards
The methodology is informed by ASHRAE Standards 100 and 211, the IPMVP, ASHRAE Guideline 14, and DOE FEMP M&V guidance. Energy savings and cost savings are reported separately, and fixed utility charges are never counted as savings.
For ESCOs, Utilities, and Technical Reviewers
The complete Savings Calculation & M&V Support Methodology, the baseline interpretation method, and supporting reference extracts are available to authorized partners and reviewers. Request the Methodology Package.
Let’s See What Your Buildings Could Save
Tell us about your facilities and we will size the opportunity: device counts, control hours and a savings range you can take to your team.