Retro-Commissioning

How it Can Help You Save Energy, Money, and the Environment

Commercial building owners and operators are facing rising energy costs and sustainability pressures. Optimizing existing facilities should take priority over new construction. Retro-commissioning offers a systematic approach. It improves buildings’ efficiency through low-cost tune-ups and upgrades. Retro-commissioning lowers bills, reduces emissions, and enhances comfort. It targets air, water, and lighting systems. This article provides an overview of retro-commissioning and the involved process. It will also provide insight into how it will make our environment green.

What is Retro-Commissioning?

Retro-commissioning applies the commissioning process to existing facilities. The goal is to optimize the performance of building systems and their operations. It identifies and corrects the buildings’ deficiencies. It focuses on low-cost measures like repairs, adjustments, and enhanced control strategies.

Retro-Commissioning Process Steps

Retro-Commissioning involves the following key steps: 

Assessment 

Documenting critical facility data. It involves equipment inventories, operating conditions, and energy usage patterns.

Planning 

The team develops a retro-commissioning plan. The plan involves scope, schedule, costs, and projected benefits.

Implementation

Implementing corrective measures. Implementation involves adjustments to setpoints or scheduling. It optimizes performance. 

Verification

This step verifies ongoing monitoring and functional testing. It verifies that building systems meet expectations.

Hand-Off

The final retro-commissioning report documents activities. It provides guidance for ongoing commissioning.

Retro-Commissioning fixes problems. It enhances the life of integrated equipment and boosts efficiency.

Typical Energy Savings From Retro-Commissioning

The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and others have conducted retro-commissioning. They found that retro-commissioning saves energy up to  5-15%, with the largest up to 30%. P Efficiency opportunities stem from:

• Heating/cooling – Optimizing ventilation, economizer operation, setbacks/setups. It also involves sequencing balancing system interactions.
• Lighting – De lamping, daylight controls, and scheduling adjustments.
• Building envelope – Sealing leaks, adding insulation, and managing solar loads.
• Domestic hot water – Adjusting pump cycles, lowering thermostat setpoints, and repairing pipe insulation.
• Controls – Reconfiguring setpoints, implementing auto-demands, adding sensors, and upgrades.

Identification of problems, and adoption of measures drive the energy reduction magnitude.

Retro-Commissioning Reduces Environmental Impact

Besides monetary benefits, Retro-commissioning improves sustainability. It reduces energy waste and lowers greenhouse gas emissions associated with facility operations. Efficient energy use minimizes the environmental footprint of buildings. EPA found that buildings account for 39% of U.S. total energy consumption and one-third of greenhouse gas emissions. Retro-commissioning existing buildings is essential to meet emissions reduction targets. It will also combat climate change through smart energy management. Proactive retro-commissioning exemplifies responsible stewardship of resources. Retro-commissioning maximizes building performance, helps protect the environment while also achieving financial objectives.

Retro-Commissioning Saves Money

Retro-commissioning costs are driven primarily by required labor hours for typical projects. Leading research institutions have found retro-commissioning cost-effective. It costs $0.27 per square foot, leading to energy savings of 15%. The payback period was under one year. One-third of buildings reported the benefit of extended equipment life after retro-commissioning.

Following examples showcase the potential:

• Target Stores employed retro-commissioning adjustments to refrigeration systems. It yielded $5,000 to $10,000 in annual savings per Super Target store. 
• The Hatfield Courthouse in Portland reported Oregon cut energy use by 10%. Retro-commissioning boosted its ENERGY STAR rating from 65 to 75. It reduced annual utility costs by $56,000.

The following graph shows the cost-efficiency of Retro-Commissioning.

The Strong Return on Investment from Retro-Commissioning 

The initial capital investment in retro-commissioning is an opportunity rather than a cost. The potential return on investment (ROI) makes it financially prudent. The payback period is mainly under one year. The benefits continue to add over the lifespan of equipment. The first costs are meager in comparison to the long-term savings. 

There are also indirect benefits. They include enhanced occupant comfort, increased rental income, and asset valuation. It also avoids costs from deferred maintenance issues. Retro-commissioning creates value that translates directly to the bottom line. The following chart exhibits an increase in investment over a period of 10 years.

Overcoming Misconceptions About Retro-Commissioning

Despite its proven merits, some building owners remain skeptical about retro-commissioning. Common misconceptions include:

It’s Too Expensive 

In fact, retro-commissioning costs are modest. The average cost is $0.30 per square foot with paybacks of under a year. The ROI makes it financially attractive.

It will Disrupt Building Operations

A quality provider will work closely with the facility’s staff to minimize disruptions. Most retro-commissioning activities can be performed off-hours.

 My Older Building won’t Benefit

Older buildings often have the most to gain from tuning up existing systems. Age is not a limitation when the process focuses on low-cost optimizations.

When decision-makers understand the real costs and process, these misconceptions are removed. Retro-commissioning delivers large rewards for a relatively small investment.

Complementary Tactics to Consider

Retro-commissioning increases efficiency by integrating complementary tactics. Tactics include the following: 

• Re/retro-commissioning

• Apply the process proactively to sustain savings through ongoing monitoring and adjustments.

• Operational optimization

• Perform data analytics on building and equipment usage to refine operating parameters.

• Fault detection and diagnostics (FDD)

• Install smart systems continuously, sensing performance and identifying faults and deviations.

• Air barrier remediation

• Use thermography to detect envelope leaks and prioritize needed sealing.

• Energy management and information systems (EMIS)

• Collect granular equipment data and analyze it to guide efficiency decisions.

• Staff engagement

• Train maintenance teams on recommended protocols to sustain improvements.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, Retro-commissioning optimizes building energy performance through systematic tune-ups. It upgrades existing infrastructure at reasonable costs. It lowers energy usage, reduces environmental impacts, and creates positive ROI. It is a best practice for institutions that want to achieve sustainability cost-effectively. Retro-commissioning ensures an energy-efficient future. It serves as an investment that will give long-term gains. The time for action is now to contact a qualified retro-commissioning agent.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How long does retro-commissioning save energy?

Studies reveal that 70% of efficiency gains persist after 5 years. It persists if re/retro-commissioning practices are maintained.

2. Does retro-commissioning require disruptive equipment replacement?

No, it focuses on tune-ups, adjustments, control settings, and repairs. Upgrade recommendations may occur separately. The process aims to obtain maximum savings from existing equipment cost-effectively.

3. What systems offer the biggest energy savings opportunities?

Heating, cooling, and lighting account for 50-70% of savings. Optimizing their interactions, reducing simultaneous heating and cooling, right-sizing, etc., provides major gains.

4. Are incentives available to help fund retro-commissioning projects?

Many federal, state, utility, and environmental agencies offer grants, rebates, and tax incentives. It aims to offset retro-commissioning costs based on projected energy savings. Your provider can detail options.