Saving the Environment One Building at a Time

Saving the Environment

One Building at a time

Lyn Gomes, P.E., LEED AP, CLCATT, kW EngineeringTracey A. Whaley, P.E., F.P.E, Ambient Energy

Introductions…

• Lyn Gomes, P.E., LEED AP• Commissioning Authority/Agent• Triple Talent: design, construction, startup• I love pastries and pickles

• kW Engineering• Energy engineering – efficiency & renewables• Oakland, Long Beach, Chicago, Salt Lake City

• We walk the talk: our HQ building is LEED® Gold certified with Energy Star = 100

• Tracey A. Whaley, P.E., F.P.E, CxAP• BS Architectural Engineering, Kanas State

University• Licensed in mechanical and fire protection

engineering

• Ambient Energy• Commissioning Team Leader• Provide New Building Commissioning, Retro-

Commissioning and Re-Commissioning• Our office is LEED – CI Certified Gold

What we’ll cover

• Buildings use energy?!

• Building Commissioning:

• What’s that?

• Why should I care?

• Auditing:

• What is it?

• How does it save energy?

• What it takes

• Commissioning Provider

• Energy Engineer (Energy Auditor)

Building Energy Use

• Half of all the energy consumed in the U.S. is due to the operations of the buildings we live and work in.

• HVAC, Lighting, Refrigeration, and Water Heating account for 2/3rds of that all energy used in buildings.

Building Systems Commissioning

• A quality-focused process for enhancing the delivery of a project.

• Ensures building meets the Owner’s Project Requirements.

• Planning � Design � Operation � Maintenance

• “It is a risk-management strategy that should be integral to any systematic approach to garnering energy savings or emissions reductions.” – Evan Mills, PhD, LBNL

This is what Cx helps to avoid.

We don’t know what it is.

Does this look familiar?

Cx: Good for Environment and Wallet

• Energy -> CO2 emissions

• Commissioning is arguably the single-most cost-effective strategy for reducing energy, costs, and greenhouse-gas emissions in buildings today.

• New Buildings:

• 13 % median energy savings

• 4.2 year payback

• Existing Buildings

• 16% median energy savings

• 1.1 year payback

Source: California Energy Commission Study, Mills, Evan, PhD, “Building Commissioning: A Golden Opportunity for Reducing Energy Costs and Greenhouse Gas Emissions,” (2009) http://cx.lbl.gov/2009-assessment.html

“Well there’s your problem”

Energy Audits and Retrocommissioning

Retro-Commissioning (RCx)

• Cx for existing buildings

• >80% building stock

• 86% construction spending

• Trend review

• Logic

• Setpoints

• Maintenance

• 2030 savings:

• $30B

• 340MTons CO2

Retro-Cx is a growing field

• Currently $200 million per year

• $4 billion per year potential

• 1,500 to 25,000 F.T.E. workers needed

• Bold, but realistic- Evan Mills, PhD, LBNL

Energy Audits

• Focus: Equipment/Systems

• Inspection

• Mechanical equipment

• Control systems

• Lighting

• Water too!

• Analysis

• Crunch those numbers!

• Team building is key to audit & implementation success

• Seek involvement with key players at site

• Let folks do what they’re good at

• Leave site staff with the knowledge to follow through

• Don’t believe everything you hear

• Site inspections with staff can be misleading

• Auditor questions may be threatening

Good auditing must consider human factors

Lyn and Tracey’s Path to Cx

• Lyn

• BS Mechanical Engineer

• HVAC Design

• LEED AP, PE

• Construction

• Startup & O&Ms (wastewater)

• UCBerkeley Extension Course

• CLCATT

• Tracey

• BS Architectural Engineer

• Electrical & mechanical design

• PE

• Mechanical

• Fire Protection

• Cx for military facilities

• U of Wisconsin coursework

Architectural Engineering Programs in US

• California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo• University of Colorado at Boulder• Drexel University• Illinois Institute of Technology• Kansas State University• Pennsylvania State University• The University of Kansas• University of Miami• Milwaukee School of Engineering• Missouri University of Science and Technology• University of Nebraska-Lincoln• North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University• Oklahoma State University• Tennessee State University• University of Texas at Austin• University of Wyoming

Energy Auditing Career Path

15

• ME or CEE or EE or Arch E• BS minimum• MS beneficial but not required

• Industrial Assessment Centers (DOE-funded)• SFSU, SDSU, OSU, Colorado State, Boise State• http://energy.gov/eere/amo/locations-industrial-assessment-

centers

• Stanford MS CEE• Sustainable Design/Construction or Atmosphere/Energy

• Get an internship• Work for an “Energy Engineering” Firm• Find role model(s) or mentor(s)• Professional societies: ASHRAE, AEE, BCA

Engineers save the world

…with buildings that useless energy or no energy! (Net Zero buildings)

…with buildings that use less water!

…by decreasing our carbon footprint.

Thank you!

• Lyn Gomes

• [email protected]

• (510) 843-6420

• Tracey Whaley, P.E., F.P.E.

• [email protected]

• (303) 278-1532 x 214

• End of presentation

Thank You

• Questions?

Tracey A. Whaley, P.E., F.P.E.

Hanson Professional Services, Inc.

[email protected]

Why Save Energy in Buildings?

• Buildings consume

• 40% of our energy(1)

• 12-20% of our water (our largest user) (2)

• Energy -> CO2

emissions

• Water is a precious resource

• Because it works

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1. USGBC via http://www.epa.gov/oaintrnt/projects/2. USGBC, EPA

Who can do Cx?

Recommend Design Professionals perform Building

Commissioning

Why?

Design Professionals understand the design process and intent that may be more complex than traditional systems.

Why can’t the engineer monitor the installation of their design?

The Cx Authority looks for different things than the engineer. We are the Owner’s Advocate. We have ‘no skin in the game’. So, we can give the Owner our unbiased opinion regarding the project.

We ask if a change in the project is consistent with the Owner’s Project Requirements or Design Intent.


According to Evan Mills, PhD, LBNL:

• Commissioning is more than “just another pretty energy saving measure.”

• It is a risk-management strategy that should be integral to any systematic approach to garnering energy savings or emissions reductions.

• Ensures that a building owners get what they pay for when constructing or retrofitting buildings

• Provides insurance for policymakers and program managers that their initiatives actually meet targets

• Detects and corrects problems that would eventually surface as far more costly maintenance or safety issues.

How much does Cx Cost?

• Commissioning is an underutilized strategy for saving energy and money and reducing greenhouse gas emissions while managing related risks.

• Reasons for this underutilization:• widespread lack of awareness of need and value on the part of prospective customers• insufficient professionalism within the trades• splintered activities and competition among a growing number of trade• groups and certification programs• misperception that it is not cost-effective in smaller buildings• the absence of commissioning-like requirements in most building codes• omission or obfuscation of the strategy in most energy-efficiency potentials studies.• tension between standardization and recognition that each building is• unique and must be approached with an open mind

Evan Mills, PhD, LBNL

Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design TM

A system for designing, constructing, operating and certifying the world’s greenest buildings.

PR 1 Pre-requisite Commissioning

EA Cr 1 Enhanced Commissioning


US Green Building Council’s

Why Implement Building Commissioning?

• Failure of traditional methods to provide an acceptable product.

• Building doesn’t meet User’s expectations.

• Excessive change orders.

• Reduce problems and complaints at completion.

• Building O&M personnel don’t understand their building.

• High utility bills

Commissioning Savings

The ‘Bottom Line”

• Energy Savings – Offices

$0.10 - $0.40 / sq. ft./year

• Energy savings – Tech. & Manufacturing

$0.15 - $0.75 / sq. ft./year

• Comfort and Productivity

$150 / sq. ft./year payroll costs

$0.10/ sq. ft./year lost to complaint time

A/E Coursework

• Coursework varies by University (programs 4-5 years for BS or MS)

• ABET Accreditation is Required!!!!

• Attend University out of state? Check for credit transfer

• Become LEED Accredited Professional (USGBC)

A/E is unusual field….How do I get a job?

• Take advanced/specialize courses in your area of interest.

• Structural

• HVAC

• Plumbing

• Electrical

• Lighting

• Green Building/Energy Analysis

• Etc.

• Learn about Building Codes in the area you will work

• Florida Building Code

• National Electrical Code

• National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)

• Maintain the existing building systems.

• ASHRAE Standard 180-2008 - Standard Practice for Inspection and Maintenance of Commercial Building HVAC Systems

• Use Standards:

• ASHRAE Standard 100 Energy Conservation in Existing Buildings (establishes the guidelines for the energy audit process)

Existing Buildings (more than 5 years old)

A/E Professional

• MUST be willing to get Professional Engineer License for most careers• Sign and Seal Construction Documents is required for

commercial construction• Earn more $$$$

• National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying: NCEES• Requirements for Licensure are different in each state.

Generally your college must be ABET accredited. • Pass Fundamentals of Engineering Exam in final year of

college• After 4-5 years of experience take Principles and Practice

Exam (PE)• PE Exam is given in 23 formats.• Since Spring 2003 NCEES has offered the Architectural Exam• Continuing Education is required by most State Licensing

Boards

New Buildings (less than 5 years old)

• Small percent of the ‘stock’ of buildings in the U.S.• 2% of Building projects are New Construction

• Use standards• ASHRAE Advanced Energy Design Guides (free) Hotels, K-12 Schools, Retail,

Small Office Buidings.• ASHRAE Standard 90.1 – establishes the base line energy performance of

buildings.• ASHRAE Standard189.1 and USGBC LEED – establishes criteria for

sustainability and ‘Green’ buildings.• ASHRAE Guideline 0 – 2005, The Commissioning Process• ASHRAE Standard 180-2008 - Standard Practice for Inspection and

Maintenance of Commercial Building HVAC Systems

• Model the building to determine the most energy efficient system to be used.

• Software programs such as E-quest and others

• Work with the architect to determine that the envelope or shell of the building is ‘tight’ and has proper insulation and quality low-e windows.

• HVAC system is only as good as the envelope of the building it serves.

What we’ll cover

• Creating the Built Environment

• Why save energy in buildings?

• Commissioning (Cx)

• What is it?

• Who, Why, and When?

• How do you get to do it?

• Energy Audits

• Why do we audit?

• What do we audit?

• Audits have Levels

• How do you get to do it?

32

What’s in a Building

33

• HVAC

• Lighting

• Controls

• Envelope

• PV

• Backup power

• Compressed air…

Life of a Building

34

Planning (1 yr) Design (1 year) Construction (1-2 years)

Creation Operation (30-50 years)

Audits, RetroCommissioning (RCx), ReCommissioning

Commissioning (Cx)

Creating a building

• Owner

• Commissioning Agent (CxA)

• Design Team

• Architect

• Engineers

• Construction team

• General Contractor

• Subcontractors

� Owner’s Project Requirements

• Basis of Design

• Contract Documents• Plans (drawings)

• Specifications (specs)

• Submittals (product information)

• As-Builts

• Systems Manual

35

People Documents

Operating a building

• Owner

• Building Engineer

• Tenant


• Energy Auditor

• OPR

• Drawings

• Sequences of Operation

• O&M Manuals

• (Systems Manual)

• (Specs)

36

People Documents

Combine the next two slides into 1

37

Commissioning (Cx)38

Cx: What is it?

• Commissioning is a process to ensure the building performs as intended and to the Owner’s expectations

• Part of Codes:• LEED

• Title 24

• ASHRAE 90.1

• Ensures energy savings are realized• Critical to Net-zero goal

• Makes sure people are as comfortable as possible

∫ ⋅++= dteKeKVV ipo

2/26/201139 SWE Region A

Conference

Process: Planning and Design

40

• Review Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR)

• Ideally help develop it as well

• Review engineer’s Basis of Design (BOD)

• Review specs and drawings for

• commissionability of systems

• compliance with BOD, OPR

� Create and implement Cx Plan

Process: Construction and beyond

� Review submittals• Test energy-

using/producing systems• HVAC• Lighting/lighting controls• Renewable energy• Domestic hot water• Building Control System

• Systems Manual for the Building Engineer

• Training• Post-occupancy review

41

Who Does it?

42

• Team based, collaborative process

• Owner• Design Team

• Architect• ME• EE


• Contractors• GC• Mechanical• Electrical• Controls

Why do we do it?

43

• Fundamentally: verify that the facility satisfies the Owner’s functional needs.

• Reduced callbacks

• Happier Owners

• Reduced energy use

• Lower operating costs – Good ROI

• Improved occupant comfort and productivity

• Enhanced marketability and value of property

• Accountability by project team

• Reduced risk of exposure for project team

When is Cx required?

• Energy savings or Mission Critical

• LEED• EA Prereq 1: Fundamental Cx

• EA Credit 3: Enhanced Cx

• Title 24/CalGreen• LEED Fundamental Plus

• Strong requirements for Lighting

• ASHRAE 0, 90.1• 0: Cx

• 90.1: Energy standard (baseline for many states)

44

When does commissioning take place?

• Predesign• Owner’s Project

Requirements (OPR)

• Design• Review

• Will it work IRL?

• Stable control?

• Persistence?

• Construction

• Startup, tuning

• Testing

2/26/2011 SWE Region A Conference

45

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Once It’s Built

• Persistent energy savings

• Occupancy surveys

• Recommissioning

• Retesting a building that’s been commissioned

• Retrocommissioning

• Commissioning a building that’s never been commissioned

46

Cre

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RCx: Trend Review

47

• When to use:

• Building is already occupied

• Verify equipment is controlled smoothly

• “Loops are tuned”

• System is stable

• Rogue zones

• Determine whether demand based resets are working

Impacts

• Older buildings weren’t built to current standards but they make up the majority of the U.S. building stock; 75%-80% of all buildings that will exist in 2030 exist today; 86% of construction dollars go to existing buildings.

• Retro-Commissioning has the potential to save $30 billion by the year 2030, which corresponds to an annual greenhouse gas emissions of 340 megatons of CO2 each year. (Evan Mills, PhD, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

• Energy Efficiency is complex

• Good energy projects depend on particulars

• Your building(s)

• Systems

• Operations

• Occupants

• Climate

• Other projects

• It’s all in the details

• LEED Credits

• Energy Star

Why Retro-Cx or Energy Audit?

Career Path

• ME or EE or ArchE or CE• EIT• Work in design

• Envelope• HVAC• Lighting• Controls• PE license

• Work in construction• Coordination, startup,

controls

• ACP, CCP, BMCP• LEED AP• CLCTT-AT• CEM

50

Resources

51

• PECI: peci.org• Pacific Energy Center: www.pge.com/pec/• Commissioning guides for new and existing

buildings: http://www.cacx.org/resources/commissioning-guides.html

• Retrocommissioning:http://www.energy.wsu.edu/Documents/BuildingCommissioning.pdf

• Lighting Commissioning:http://goo.gl/YNFWuH (Part 1)http://goo.gl/sGJ9YN (Part 2)

Energy Audits52

LEED EBOM Credits

• Energy efficiency can get you ~half way to LEED certification

• Energy credits are the only ones with a payback!

LEED 2009 for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance Project Name

Project Checklist Date

Possible Points: 26Y ? N Y ? N

Credit 1 4 Credit 6 1

Credit 2 1 Credit 7 1

Credit 3 1 Credit 8 Solid Waste Management—Durable Goods 1

Credit 4 3 to 15 Credit 9 Solid Waste Management—Facility Alterations and Additions 1

Credit 5 1

Credit 6 1 Possible Points: 15Credit 7.1 1

Credit 7.2 1 Y Prereq 1

Credit 8 1 Y Prereq 2

Y Prereq 3

Possible Points: 14 Credit 1.1 IAQ Best Mgmt Practices—IAQ Management Program 1

Credit 1.2IAQ Best Mgmt Practices—Outdoor Air

Delivery Monitoring 1

Y Prereq 1 Credit 1.3 IAQ Best Mgmt Practices—Increased Ventilation 1

Credit 1 1 to 2 Credit 1.4 IAQ Best Mgmt Practices—Reduce Particulates in Air Distribution 1

Credit 2 1 to 5 Credit 1.5 IAQ Mgmt Plan—IAQ Mgmt for Facility Alterations and Additions 1

Credit 3 1 to 5 Credit 2.1 Occupant Comfort—Occupant Survey 1

Credit 4 1 to 2 Credit 2.2 Controllability of Systems—Lighting 1

Credit 2.3 Occupant Comfort—Thermal Comfort Monitoring 1

Possible Points: 35 Credit 2.4 Daylight and Views 1

Credit 3.1 Green Cleaning—High Performance Cleaning Program 1

Y Prereq 1 Energy Efficiency Best Management Practices Credit 3.2 Green Cleaning—Custodial Effectiveness Assessment 1

Y Prereq 2 Credit 3.3 Green Cleaning—Sustainable Cleaning Products, Materials Purchases 1

Y Prereq 3 Credit 3.4 Green Cleaning—Sustainable Cleaning Equipment 1

Credit 1 1 to 18 Credit 3.5 Green Cleaning—Indoor Chemical and Pollutant Source Control 1

Credit 2.1 2 Credit 3.6 Green Cleaning—Indoor Integrated Pest Management 1

Credit 2.2 2

Credit 2.3 2 Possible Points: 6Credit 3.1 1

Credit 3.2 1 to 2 Credit 1.1 1

Credit 4 1 to 6 Credit 1.2 1

Credit 5 Enhanced Refrigerant Management 1 Credit 1.3 1

Credit 6 Emissions Reduction Reporting 1 Credit 1.4 1

Credit 2 1

Possible Points: 10 Credit 3 1

Y Prereq 1 Possible Points: 4Y Prereq 2

Credit 1 1 Credit 1.1 1

Credit 2.1 1 Credit 1.2 1

Credit 2.2 1 Credit 1.3 1

Credit 3 1 Credit 1.4 1

Credit 4 1

Credit 5 1 Possible Points: 110

Sustainable Purchasing—Ongoing Consumables

Innovation in Operations: Specific Title


Regional Priority: Specific Credit

Fundamental Refrigerant Management

Additional Indoor Plumbing Fixture and Fitting Efficiency

Water Efficient Landscaping

Cooling Tower Water Management

Documenting Sustainable Building Cost Impacts

On-site and Off-site Renewable Energy

Sustainable Purchasing Policy Regional Priority Credits

Total

Sustainable Purchasing—Facility Alterations and Additions




Sustainable Purchasing—Reduced Mercury in Lamps

Sustainable Purchasing—Food

Sustainable Purchasing—Electric-Powered Equipment

Sustainable Purchasing—Furniture

Site Development—Protect or Restore Open Habitat

Materials and Resources, Continued

Solid Waste Management—Waste Stream Audit

Solid Waste Management—Ongoing Consumables

Water Efficiency

Performance Measurement—System-Level Metering

Stormwater Quantity Control

Heat Island Reduction—Non-Roof

Heat Island Reduction—Roof

Light Pollution Reduction

Sustainable Sites

Integrated Pest Mgmt, Erosion Control, and Landscape Mgmt Plan

LEED Certified Design and Construction

Building Exterior and Hardscape Management Plan

Alternative Commuting Transportation

Materials and Resources

Green Cleaning Policy

Indoor Environmental Quality

Minimum IAQ Performance

Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) Control

Minimum Indoor Plumbing Fixture and Fitting Efficiency

Water Performance Measurement



Performance Measurement—Building Automation System

LEED Accredited Professional

Minimum Energy Efficiency Performance

Certified 40 to 49 points Silver 50 to 59 points Gold 60 to 79 points Platinum 80 to 110

Optimize Energy Efficiency Performance

Existing Building Commissioning—Investigation and Analysis

Energy and Atmosphere

Innovation in Operations

Existing Building Commissioning—Implementation

Existing Building Commissioning—Ongoing Commissioning

Solid Waste Management Policy

WEWE

EAEA

IEQIEQ

© 2013 kW Engineering, Inc.

� Energy Star performance: Minimum 69

� Up to 18 points for a 95+ Energy Star score

Possible Points: 35

Y Prereq 1 Energy Efficiency Best Management Practices

Y Prereq 2

Y Prereq 3

Credit 1 1 to 18

Credit 2.1 2

Credit 2.2 2

Credit 2.3 2

Credit 3.1 1

Credit 3.2 1 to 2

Credit 4 1 to 6

Credit 5 Enhanced Refrigerant Management 1

Credit 6 Emissions Reduction Reporting 1

Fundamental Refrigerant Management

On-site and Off-site Renewable Energy

Performance Measurement—System-Level Metering

Performance Measurement—Building Automation System

Minimum Energy Efficiency Performance

Optimize Energy Efficiency Performance

Existing Building Commissioning—Investigation and Analysis

Energy and Atmosphere

Existing Building Commissioning—Implementation

Existing Building Commissioning—Ongoing Commissioning

LEED EBOM Credits


Credit Description AvailablePoints

TKW

WE Prerequisite 1Indoor Plumbing Fixture Efficiency

0 0

WE Credit 1*Water Performance Measurement

2 -

WE Credit 2*Additional Indoor Plumbing Fixture

Efficiency

5 5 + 1

WE Credit 3Water Efficient Landscaping

5 -

WE Credit 4*Cooling Tower Water Management

2 -

*Additional points available

LEED Water Efficiency Credits

What do we audit?

• Anything that costs $

• Energy-using systems

• HVAC

• Lighting

• Processes

• Water-using systems

• Processes

• Cooling towers

• Irrigation systems

• Domestic water

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• How deep do you need to go?

• ASHRAE Audit Levels

• Level 1 – Walk-through / Scoping

• Level 2 – Standard Audit w/ Analysis

• Level 3 – Detailed Analysis (Capital)

• Each level builds on the level before

• Alternates:

• Targeted audits

• Retro-commissioning

Audit Levels

www.ashrae.org/bookstorewww.kw-engineering.com/audits


Preliminary Energy Use Analysis

Level 1: Walk-through / Scoping

Level 2: Energy Survey & Analysis

Level 3: Detailed Survey & Analysis

• Analyze current use• Benchmark

• Identify Potential Projects• Only Rough Cost & Savings Estimates

• End-use Breakdown • Detailed Analysis• Cost & Savings for Recommended Measures

• Refined Analysis• Additional Measurements• Building Model Simulations


Water Savings

• Check for leaks• Install high

efficiency aerators• Save energy• Water plants

toward the end of the day

• Buy more efficient water appliances

• Take shorter showers

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Energy Auditing Team

• Trained and experienced energy auditor

• Committed management

• Engaged financial staff who understand risks and rewards

• Trained building engineers

• Trusted contractors and vendors

• Utility account representatives

• Engaged and informed building occupants


• In-college

• EIT

• Post-college [none are be-all end-all ]

• P.E. (Professional Engineer)

• BEAP (ASHRAE Building Energy Assessment Professional)

• CEM (AEE Certified Energy Manager)

• EBCP, CBCP (AEE Existing/Certified Building

Commissioning Professionals)

Energy Auditor Certifications


• Auditing is a focus

• Multi-disciplinary knowledge

• Lighting, HVAC, controls, refrigeration, behavior, envelope, data centers, kitchens…

• Integrated approach

• Familiar with the latest best practices

• Including newer technologies

• But not trying to push them

To be good in your job…


Resources

• How to Hire an Energy Auditor • (California Energy Commission, 2000)

• www.energy.ca.gov/reports/efficiency_handbooks/400-00-001C.PDF

• A Guide to Energy Audits• (DOE/Pacific Northwest National Lab, 2011)

• www.pnnl.gov/main/publications/external/technical_reports/pnnl-20956.pdf

• U.S. Department of Energy: Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy • (extensive information on energy efficiency in

buildings)

• www.eere.energy.gov/topics/buildings.html



Impact of Commissioning

• Nursing facility has back up systems but occupants don’t know how to operate them.

• Staff use buckets to transfer water to the facility for critical operation.

• Water system pump had never been started. Staff did not know the purpose of the pump in the system.

• This building was not commissioned. If it had, the staff would have been trained to know how to use the domestic water pump system.

• Lake County, Florida – Central Utility Plant

• Oversized chiller and Boiler replaced with ‘pony’ chiller and boiler

• Sizes matched interim load and permitted much more efficient operation – min. first cost savings, operating savings $15,000 / yr.

• North Carolina Central University - School of Nursing• Used design checks to determine equipment oversized with multiple, redundant

units. Deleted one chiller, one tower cell, two pumps and the size of three AHUs

• Estimated energy savings $10,000 yr.

Impact of Commissioning

What can we do to reduce energy use?

According to Evan Mills, PhD, LBNL:

Commissioning is arguably the single-most cost-effective strategy for reducing energy, costs, and greenhouse-gas emissions in buildings today.

• Energy savings tend to persist well over at least a 3- to 5-year timeframe, but data over longer time horizons are not available.

• Median commissioning costs: $0.30/ft2 and $1.16/ft2 for existing buildings and new construction, respectively (and 0.4% of total construction costs for new buildings).

• Median whole-building energy savings: 16% and 13%.

• Median payback times:1.1 and 4.2 years.

• Median benefit-cost ratios: 4.5 and 1.1, cash-on-cash returns of 91% and 23%.

Benefits of Building Systems Commissioning

• Ensure Compliance with Design Intent and Owner’s Operational Needs

• Early detection of potential problems

• Establish protocol for issues resolution

• Reduce change orders, claims and Contractor call backs

• Better building documentation

• Shortened occupancy transition period

• = Increase Value for the Owner!

Why should we care about buildings at all?

Building energy consumption:

• Represent over 72 percent of all electrical power generation, 55 percent of natural gas consumption

• Responsible for more than 1/3 of our total carbon dioxide emissionsGordon Holness, P.E., Fellow ASHRAE, Life Member, 2009-10 ASHRAE President

What is HVAC? Why is it important?

• HVAC: Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning.

• HVAC (or Mechanical) Engineers design the indoor environmental systems for the buildings we work, play, and live in.

• Why is HVAC important?

• Americans spend 90% of their time indoors. (source: EPA)

• Indoor levels of pollutants may be 2-5 times higher than outdoor levels. (source: EPA)

Factors affecting HVAC System Efficiency

What can we do to reduce energy use?

• Install energy efficient HVAC Systems and plumbing systems in our homes and offices.

• Properly maintain these systems.

• Properly operate these systems.

• Implement the Commissioning Process.