This study explores and quantifies the energy and construction cost savings provided by Convia, an infrastructure for power, communications, and structural attachment of interior lighting and control devices that provides logical and physical flexibility. Investigation of the value in Convia’s flexibility is motivated in part by analysis of field verification data that indicates that 20-60% of expected energy savings are lost because controls are not implemented as designed. A single office building of typical geometry, 194,000 sf, is studied with DOE2.1 energy simulation, cost modeling, and scenario analysis. The energy strategies studied span multiple market segments of typical controls, from occupancy sensors to building wide controls. Reconfiguration is studied through analysis of corrective actions for daylighting and lighting control strategies, as well as through four scenarios of typical office space changes.

• Energy simulation results show that integrated combinations of controls provide annual savings of 6-30%, representing $0.07-0.40/sf annually in Denver and Las Vegas
• Daylighting systems offer the greatest opportunity for corrective actions. The average NPV of 5 years of energy savings from corrective actions for daylighting controls (discounted at 5%) plus the construction cost savings for implementing the daylighting system with Convia relative to Traditional systems ranges from $0.24/sf to $0.36/sf
• The change scenarios indicate value of flexibility for energy controls and lighting systems with NPV ranging from $150,000 for simple control system reconfiguration changes in open offices to $526,000 for complete reconfiguration for a new tenant. The NPV is calculated with energy savings discounted over 5 years at 5%, less construction cost savings for Convia compared to Traditional construction

In general, corrective actions are easier with Convia because it facilitates changing or adding controls; moving sensors and fixtures; and reprogramming, all without rewiring. In Traditional construction, systems are often disabled when problems arise due to barriers in access, wiring, and programming. With Convia, the costs of making changes to optimize energy controls when a space is otherwise reconfigured are shown to be justified by the energy savings thus achieved.

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