APPENDIX 8

- B. UNCERTAINTY AND VARI ABILIT Y

TABLE OF CO NTENTS

8

- B.1 INTRODUCTION

................................ ................................ ................................ . 8

- B

- 1
8

- B.2 UNCERTAINTY

................................ ................................ ................................ ... 8

- B

- 1
8

- B.3 VARIABILITY

................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 8

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- 1
8

- B.4 APPROACHES TO UNCERT AINTY AND VARIABILIT Y

............................. 8

- B

- 2
8

- B.5 PROBABILITY ANALYSIS AND THE USE OF CRYST AL BALL

................. 8

- B

- 2

LIST OF FIGURE S

Figure 8

- B.5.1 Normal Probability Distribution

................................ ................................ 8

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- 3 Figure 8

- B.5.2 Triangular Probability Distribution

................................ ............................ 8

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- 3 Figure 8

- B. 5.3 Uniform Probability Distribution

................................ ............................... 8

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- 3

8 B

- iAPPENDIX 8

- B. UNCERTAINTY AND VARI ABILITY

8

- B.1 INTRODUCTION

Analysis of a potential energy efficiency standard inv olves calculating effe cts, for example, the effe ct of a standard on c onsumer life

- cycle cost (LCC). T o perform the calculation, the analyst must first: ( 1) specify the equation or model that will be used; ( 2) define the quantities in the equation or model ; and ( 3) provide numer ical values for each quantity. In the simplest case, the equation is unambiguous ( it contains all relevant quantities and no others), each quantity has a sing le numerical value, and the calculat ion produces a single value.
U nambigu ousness and precision are rarely the case

, however

. In most cases, the model and/or the numerical values for each quantity in the model are not completely known ( i.e. , there is

uncert ainty) or the model and/or the numerical values for each quantity in the model depend upon other conditions ( i.e.

, there is variability).

Thorough analysis involves accounting fo r uncertainty and variability. Although the simplest analysis involves a sin gle numerical value for each quantity in the calculation, arguments can arise about the appropria te value for each quantity. Explicit analysis of uncertainty and variability provide s more complete information to the decision

- making process.

8

- B.2 UNCERTAINTY

When making observations of past events or speculating about the future, imperfect knowledge is the r ule rather than the exception. For example, the energy consumed by a particular type of appliance (such as the average residenti al cl othes washer ) is not recorde d directly , but rather estimated based on available information. Even direct laboratory

measureme nts have a margin of error. When estimating numerical values expected for quantities at some future date, the exact outcome rarely is known.

8

- B.3 VARIABILITY

Variability in the calculation of a quantity means that different applications or situations produce different numerical values. Specifying an exact value for a quantity may be difficult because the value depend s on something else. For example, the annual number of cycles for a
commercial clothes washer application depends on the specific circumstances and behavior of
the user. Variability makes specifying an appropriate population value more difficult

, because n o one value is likely to be representa tive of the entire population. Surveys can be helpful here, and analysis of surveys can relate the variable of interest ( e.g. , cycles per day ) to other variables that are better known or easier to forecast ( e.g. , avera ge number of users of a laundry facility on a given day ).

8

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- 18

- B.4 APPROACHES TO UNCERT AINTY AND VARIABILIT Y

This section describes two approaches to uncertainty and variability:

• scenario analysis and

• probability analysis.

Scenario analys is uses a single numerical value for each quantity in a calculation, then changes one (or more) of the numerical value s and repeats the calculation. Numerous
calculations are performed , which provide some indication of the exten t to which the result depends on the assumptions. For example, the LCC of an appliance could be calculated based on electricity costs of 6

, 11 , and 14 cents per kilowatt

- hour

.

The advantages of scenario analysis are that each calculation is simple; a r ange of estimates is used; and cross over points can be identified. (An example of a crossover point is the energy rate above which the LCC is reduced, holding all other inputs constant ; t hat is, the energy rate at which the consumer achieves savings in ope rating costs that more than compensate for the increased purchase price .) The disadvantage of scenario analysis is that there is no information
about the likelihood of each scenario.

Probability analysis considers the probabili ties within a range of valu es. For quantities characterized by variability ( e.g. , electricity rates in different regions ), surveys can be used to generate a frequency distribution of numerical values ( e.g. , the number of customers subject to electricity rates at particular levels) t o estimate the probability of each value. For quantities characterized by uncertainty, statistical or subjective measures can be used to provide probabilities ( e.g. , manufacturing cost to improve energy efficiency to a given level may be estimated to be $1 0 ± $3).

The major disadvantage of the probability approach is that it requires more information, namely information about the shapes and magnitudes of the variability and uncertainty of each quantity. The advantage of the probability approach is that it provides more information about
the outcome of the calculations ; that is, it provides the probability that the outcome will be in a particular range.

Scenario and probability analysis provide some indication of the robustness of a policy given the id entified uncertainties and variability. A policy is robust when the impacts are acceptable over a wide range of possible conditions.

8

- B.5 PROBABILITY ANALYSIS AND THE USE OF CRYSTAL BALL

To quantify the uncertainty and variability that exist in inputs to the engineering, LCC, and payback period analyses, DOE used Microsoft Excel spreadsheets combined with Crystal Ball, a commercially available add

- in software , to conduct probability analys es. The probability analyses used Monte Carlo simulation and probability distributions.

8

- B

- 2Simulation refers to any analytical method meant to duplicate a real

- life system, especially when other analyses are too mathematically complex or difficult to reprod uce. Without the aid of simulation, a spreadsheet model will reveal only a single outcome, generally the most likely or average outcome . Spreadsheet risk analysis uses both a spreadsheet model and simulation to automatically analyze the effect of varying i nputs on outputs of the modeled system. One type of spreadsheet simulation is Monte Carlo simulation, which randomly generates values for uncertain variables numerous time s

. Monte Carlo simulation was named for Monte Carlo, Monaco, where the primary attrac tions are casinos containing games of chance. Games of chance such as roulette wheels, dice, and slot machines, exhibit random behavior. The random behavior in games of chance is similar to how Monte Carlo simulation selects variable
values at random to si mulate a model. When you roll a die, you know that a 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 will come up, but you do not know which number for any particular roll. So too with variables that have a known range of values but an uncertain value for any particular time or event ( e.g. , product lifetime, discount rate, and installation cost).

For each uncertain variable ( a variable that has a range of possible values), a probability distribution is used to define possible values

. The type of distribution selected is based on th e conditi ons surrounding that variable. Types of p robabi lity distribution s include the following.

Figure 8

- B.5.1 Normal Probability Figure 8

- B.5.2 Triangular Figure 8

- B .5.3 Uniform Probability
Distribution Probability Distribution
Distribution

During a simulation, multiple scenarios are calculated by sampling values repeatedly from the probability distributions for the uncertain variables. Crystal Ball simulations can consist of as many trials (or scenarios) as desired

— hund reds or even thousands

. During a single trial, Crystal Ball randomly selects a value from the defined possibilities (the range and shape of the probability distribution) for each uncertain variable and then recalculates the spreadsheet. NORMAL TRIANGULAR UNIFORM

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- 3