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Glossary
Energy standards and regulation

What is IPMVP?

Definition

IPMVP is the International Performance Measurement and Verification Protocol, maintained by the Efficiency Valuation Organization. It defines principles and four options, A to D, for verifying the savings from energy and water efficiency projects by comparing measured use with an adjusted baseline.

What it is

IPMVP sets out how to show that a project saved energy or water. Savings are the difference between adjusted baseline use and reporting period use. The protocol requires an M&V plan that is agreed before the project and followed afterward.

Option A, retrofit isolation with key parameter measurement, measures some parameters and estimates others. Option B, retrofit isolation with all parameter measurement, meters the affected system fully. Option C, whole facility, uses utility or main meter data, usually with regression. Option D, calibrated simulation, uses a calibrated model when measured data is limited.

Who it applies to / where it is used

IPMVP is used in energy performance contracts, utility incentive programs, green finance and corporate efficiency programs. Owners, ESCOs, lenders and program administrators use it so that savings figures mean the same thing to every party.

How it is measured / what evidence it needs

The right option depends on the size of the expected saving relative to total use, and on what can be metered.

  • An M&V plan agreed before the work starts
  • Baseline period data and the independent variables used
  • Reporting period data at the same boundary
  • Routine and non-routine adjustments, documented
  • A savings report that follows the plan

How Aqueduct helps

Aqueduct supports Option C, whole facility regression on meter or utility data, and Option B, retrofit isolation with sub-meters.

  • Whole-facility baselines from 6 to 12 months of utility bills or interval meters for Option C
  • Sub-metered system boundaries over LoRaWAN, Modbus, M-Bus or pulse for Option B
  • Weather normalization through aQ EnergySmart and water baselines through aQ WaterGuard
  • Savings reports with adjustments recorded, exported through aQ Assurance
Questions

IPMVP: common questions

Option A measures key parameters of an isolated retrofit. Option B meters all parameters of an isolated retrofit. Option C uses whole-facility meter data, and Option D uses a calibrated simulation model.

Option C suits projects where savings are large enough to show clearly in whole-facility data, or where many measures interact. It typically uses regression against weather and other variables.

Option B is better when the saving is small relative to total facility use, or when you want to isolate one system. It requires sub-metering at the boundary of that system.

Yes. Aqueduct supports Option C with whole-facility regression and Option B with sub-meters. The M&V plan and final verification remain with the parties to the project.

See Aqueduct on your own facility.

Bring a site, a utility bill or a question. We will show you where the loss is.

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