Introduction to the IPMVP
The International Performance Measurement and Verification Protocol (IPMVP) provides a framework for ‘measuring’ energy or water savings. It is especially used in energy performance contracts where savings must be reported to a client and may form the basis of a payment to an ESCO. IPMVP presents common terminology and defines full disclosure, to support rational discussion of often contentious M&V issues. It documents the state of the art, but does not specify project design since it is a high level framework. An M&V engineer is still needed to apply IPMVP principles to the ‘measurement’ of savings for each energy efficiency project.
A primary purpose of IPMVP is to publish current good M&V practise, as reassurance for the public about savings reports. For example, it explains the need to adjust raw differences in energy use for changes in conditions between baseline and savings reporting periods.
Performance contracting industry growth in the USA was facilitated by the publication of the IPMVP. Its global use has similarly helped the EPC industry worldwide.
IPMVP is prepared in three Volumes:
- Volume I Concepts and Options for Determining Energy and Water Savings
Volume I defines terminology and suggests good practices for documenting the effectiveness of energy or water efficiency projects that are implemented in buildings and industrial facilities. These terms and practices help managers to prepare M&V Plans, which specify how savings will be measured for each project. The successful M&V Plan enables verification by requiring transparent reports of actual project performance. The Preface of Volume 1, 2007, summarizes its contents, and is quoted below.
- Volume II Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) Issues
Volume II reviews IEQ issues as they may be influenced by an energy efficiency project. It highlights good project design and implementation practices for maintaining acceptable indoor conditions under an energy efficiency project. It advises on means of measuring IEQ parameters to substantiate whether indoor conditions have changed from the conditions of the baseline when determining savings.
- Volume III Applications
Volume III contains specific application guidance manuals for Volume I. The two current applications manuals address new building construction (Part I) and renewable energy additions to exisiting facilities (Part II). This Volume is expected to be an area of continued development as more specific applications are defined, or country-specific sections are contributed.
The latest English language edition of IPMVP Vol I (September 2010) with the new national additions from Romania, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Croatia and Poland can be obtained through EVO's website through the following link. Older editions of IMPVP in 6 other languages can also be found here.