Value normalization

All reports, except the Spectrum and Equipment Operation reports, can benefit from normalizing data values to improve the usefulness of comparisons.

Figure 241. Normalization properties

Property	Value	Description
Normalization, Floor Area	check box	Enables the use of the floor area of the facility to normalize the values used in the resulting chart. Refer to Floor area normalization.
Plus icon to the right of the Floor Area row ()	Node editor	Opens a window to configure the node from which to find the floor area tag for each node group.
Normalization, Degree Day	check box	Enables normalization based on the degree-day calculation. Refer to Degree-day temperature normalization.
Normalization, base outside air temperature	number with two decimal places (defaults to 65.00, which is a Fahrenheit temperature measurement)	Selects a base outside air temperature, which is used to calculate degree-day normalization. This base temperature is the outside air temperature at which neither heat nor air conditioning is required inside the building.
Normalization, scale	drop-down list	Selects the temperature scale to use: Fahrenheit, Centigrade or Kelvin in the degree-day normalization calculations.
Plus icon to the right of the Degree Day row ()	Node editor	Opens a window to configure the node from which to find the outside air temperature tag for each node group.
Degree day type	drop-down list	Selects the temperature supplementation being used: Heating or Cooling.

Floor area normalization

The average energy consumption of a commercial building varies depending on the building usage, such as commercial office space, warehouse storage, data center or industrial manufacturing. When comparing energy consumption from multiple buildings of the same type (commercial office space), those buildings may be different sizes (square footage), so simply comparing the total energy consumption of the buildings may not provide useful analysis. Normalizing each building’s energy consumption by its floor area yields energy consumption per square foot, which allows more accurate comparison of the energy efficiency among multiple buildings.

Figure 242. Floor area configuration

To set up your system for area normalization, you enter the area (square units) in a tag, such as the hs:area tag of the Haystack tag dictionary, associate that tag with each node (typically building or floor to be compared), configure the Area Tag property on the AnalyticService to use the tag for this purpose, and enable the Floor Area property under Normalization in the Report Editor.

For multiple groups, the framework aggregates (sums) the area of each group into a single total figure.

Degree-day temperature normalization

Degree-day normalization answers the question, “What would the value of energy consumption be if the temperature during the report period was equal to some base temperature?” Degree-day normalization applies only to temperature-dependent points. This type of normalization works for building areas and equipment whose energy consumption is subject to changes in outside air temperature. For example, you would not use this calculation with lighting energy consumption.

The normalization calculation requires actual air temperature values taken at different times of day and a base outside air temperature value with which to compare the actual values. The point used to collect OAT (Outside Air Temperature) values must be tagged with a unique OAT Tag. You configure the OAT Tag used by the framework by editing the Area Tag property on the AnalyticService Property Sheet.

The base outside air temperature is usually set to 65 degrees Fahrenheit, which is the balance at which no cooling or heating is required to maintain a comfortable indoor air temperature. Starting with the days of the Reporting Period, the base outside air temperature, and multiple OAT readings taken at intervals during the day, the calculation normalizes temperature using a simple ratio as follows:

For each day, it calculates the average of the differences between the base outside air temperature and each actual OAT reading. This calculation excludes days that were not included in the Reporting Period days of the week. If the interval is greater than a day, the calculation sums (rolls up) the values to match the interval.
The result is a value for each day (degree-day value), which indicates when cooling and heating was required.
Then, it divides the energy consumption for each day by the degree-day value. This gives the kWh per degree-day. In theory, dividing by the degree-day value factors out the effect of outside air temperature so you can compare the resulting kWh fairly.

Node editor for floor area and outside temperature mapping

This editor maps tag groups to the root nodes used to either normalize floor area or search for outside air temperature.

(Degree day mapping window)

Figure 243. Area and Degree day mapping windows

Property	Value	Description
Group	name	Identifies the node groups in the report.
Node	ORD	Identifies the location in the station database that contains the data (square footage or outdoor air temperature).