How to Have a Successful Retrocommissioning Project

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How to Have a Successful Retrocommissioning
Project
Successful Retrocommissioning

• Karl Stum, PE
• Portland Energy Conservation Inc. (PECI)

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What We Will Cover--

• Definitions
• Planning phase activities
• Investigation and implementation phases
• Hand-off phase

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Retrocommissioning

• Existing equipment
• Seeks low-cost operational improvements
• Likely wont get done with a conventional
  performance contract

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Phases of the Process

• Planning
• Investigation
• Implementation
• Hand-off

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Building Selection

• Enthusiastic facility staff
• Facility staff have time
• Owner has money to put into project
• High energy users?

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Objectives

• System verification (RCx)
• Energy savings
• Problem areas
• What systems?
• HVAC
• Lighting
• Controls
• Specialty

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System Verification

• Systematic testing of systems
• Like new construction testing
• Report card

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Energy Savings

• Focus on big energy using equipment
• Comfort?
• IAQ?
• Capital improvements?
• Energy-only may not be compatible with std. RCx

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Problems Areas

• Comfort
• System control
• IAQ

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Satisfy All Stakeholders
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Satisfy All Stakeholders

• Owner
• Utility
• Energy manager
• Facility manager
• Facility engineer/operator

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Types of Implementation

• By Whom
• All by owner
• CP oversees
• CP implements
• When
• Along the way
• After full finding report

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Selecting a Provider

• Done it before
• Experienced with your issues
• TAB
• Design
• Equipment
• Energy
• Troubleshooting
• Controls
• References
• Approach

Trust me.
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Scope of Work

• Dont promise the farm
• Be explicit
• Consider phasing the project--investigation /
  implementation

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Scope of Work

• All but insist that you do some implementation or
  follow-up
• Allow enough time for implementation
• Leave documentation for facility staff

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Expectations

• Understand them
• Manage them
• Document

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Budgeting

• Be realistic
• Many projects are scoped to a budget rather
  thanthe opposite
• Typical 100k - 500k sf, typical energy projects
• 20k-50k for investigation, and
• 10k-30k for implementation of findings

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Cx Plan

• Clear
• Complete
• Include a schedule

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INVESTIGATION IMPLEMENTATION PHASE
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Kick-Off Meeting

• Team building
• Communicate objectives
• Communicate process
• Clear up questions

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Staff Issues

• Managers support staff
• Time
• Appropriate staff resources
• Allocate budget to implement
• Commissioner respect staff
• Dont take their whole day
• Dont make staff look bad (call a spade a heart?
  Or is the glass half empty or half full?)

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Communication

• Document all scope directives and changes
• Keep parties informed of progress
• Meet to go over findings

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Communication

• Provide clear findings and recommendations
• Make report accessible--use summary tables

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Remaining on Track

• Remember to please all stakeholders
• Revisit your budget often
• Dont go too deep in one area
• Leave enough for analysis and implementation

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Implementation

• Consider interactions of recommendations
• Plan for verification, if required
• Identify that all players are satisfied
• Document

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HAND-OFF PHASE

• Provide a clear / accessible report
• Leave staff with guidance in writing
• Implementation plan
• Optimum operating parameters
• Updated sequences of control
• Recommissioning plan
• Energy accounting plan