Some need to be slain at birth; while others have "legs".
Balance point temperature...
Should we send it to the naughty step - or run it up a flagpole so we can salute it ?
Energy Managers must make decisions somehow - they must be the judge.
Our job is simply cajole, provoke or tease thoughts out stubborn unthinking material (do you have any I can use ? )
Objectivity's a fine thing, "you can't manage what you can't measure"- YAWN !
OK but what if you MUST manage what you can't measure.
A small amount of knowledge leads up s#%t creek without a paddle to mistakes.
So which is it when we consider Balance Point Temperature ?
The case for the prosecution:
If it please m'Lord... We heat buildings to stay warm. Sometimes it is warm so we don't need to heat. Somewhere between these two a decision is made. That point is the balance point temperature. Getting this right is the first pillar of energy management.
The defense:
Objection... If it was as easy as that we'd all be doing it. My learned friend refers to a mythical unicorn. Saving energy is essential and much is waste but ...
Yes we have motive, and certainly each day we have the opportunity - it's only a switch on the wall (or in the basement) - But we lack one critical aspect - the means.
The means to judge, as we must have if we are to be found guilty of waste.
Where I ask you, or at what temperature (Celsius for my colonial listeners) - do we need to switch boilers on, and conversely when do we switch off? About 10 ? - So why are there red days at 25C (77F to save the hassle) ? Do we need to heat at 1C : 33.8F ?
If so what about the weekends , school holidays - Should we turn heating off at night or when we stop ventilating ?, Part or all of the building ? - we must judge for ourselves.
The prosecution:
"I rest my case !" , the cry goes up - "mistrial !"
Judge bangs gavel and through all out of his disorderly courtroom - exit stage left (or here)
