Retro-Commissioning Strategies for Long-Term Efficiency

As commercial building operators face rising energy costs, optimized Building Automation Systems (BAS) offer a data-driven way to improve performance, but only if they continue to operate as intended. At the Rockville District Courthouse, an advanced BAS installed at opening was not delivering expected efficiency due to control deficiencies that developed over time. RMF Engineering worked alongside Controls Sources to investigate and remedy 34 priority control issues, including outdated software, disconnected control devices, and manual overrides that had overridden automated system intent.

The team’s retro-commissioning process uncovered opportunities for relatively simple corrections with major impacts. By upgrading the BAS software, restoring automation sequences, and aligning setpoints and schedules with the facility’s actual use patterns, the project achieved a 50% reduction in heating and cooling energy use, a $40,000 utility rebate, and a payback period of less than three months. By the end of 2023, natural gas consumption had decreased by 46% and electricity use by 30% compared to 2018 baselines, earning the courthouse recognition with a State Building Energy Award.

The article highlights retro-commissioning as a cost-effective strategy for uncovering operational inefficiencies, improving energy performance, and supporting long-term facility management, with periodic reviews recommended every few years to sustain gains and adapt to changing building needs.

Read the full article here: "Promoting Building Longevity and Cost Optimization Through Retro-Commissioning"

ADDITIONAL MEDIA COVERAGE:

Propmodo: The Inconvenient Truth About Building Automation Systems