About half of all commercials buildings in the United States were constructed before 1980, as reported by The ACHR News. Those buildings stand with nearly four decades of wear and tear, meaning they’re in fairly poor shape. But hope is not lost for restoring and revitalizing these buildings to be better, stronger, and more energy-efficient than ever before. All of this is possible with retro-commissioning services.
In this post, we explore the true benefits of retro-commissioning, from energy savings to improved occupant comfort, reduction in maintenance costs, and more.
What is retro-commissioning?
Retro-commissioning is simply the application of the commissioning process (testing a piece of equipment, facility, or plant to verify that it functions according to design objectives or specifications) for existing buildings.
Bringing in a trained consultant such as Control Solutions to perform retro-commissioning services can help resolve problems that occurred during the building’s initial design or construction, or address problems that may have developed throughout the building's life.
The end goal of a successful retro-commissioning consultation (and appropriate follow-up steps) is to improve a building's operations and maintenance (O&M) procedures to enhance overall building performance.
Common systems and facilities that Control Solutions and similar companies will perform retro-commissioning services for include:
- Existing Buildings
- HVAC Systems
- Electrical Systems
- Clean Room Applications
- Health Care Facilities
- Education: K-12 & Higher Education
- Commercial Buildings
- Industrial Process
- Paint Booths
- Industrial Automation Systems
Retro-commissioning helps boost energy savings
As a building owner, you may know that your building could benefit from energy savings by having your facility retro-commissioned, but this one benefit also may not be enough to convince you to invest in retro-commissioning. This isn’t uncommon, according to Richard Starr, president and CEO of Enterprise HVAC Service and Control in Twinsburg, OH.
As quoted in the same article by The ACHR News, Starr says, “Energy savings alone does not move very many customers to act. Even in California, where electrical rates are second only to Hawaii, it is a lack of comfort or IAQ concerns that move them to spend money on repairs and improvements.”
The good that happens from investing in retro-commissioning
When a building owner does invest in retro-commissioning services, several of the problems that are uncovered are more likely to motivate them to make improvements, such as improper air pressures, a lack of proper air changes per hour, building controls that are not calibrated properly, among several others.
Again, according to Starr, “Retro-commissioning helps building owners and managers create environments that are conducive to productivity, safety, and good health. As a result, the building operates more efficiently, there is less liability in terms of mold and IAQ problems, and there is the potential for higher rent revenues.”
Interested in commissioning or retro-commissioning services?
Control Solutions provides commissioning and retro-commissioning services for our customers, such as building owners, facility management groups, engineering firms, general contractors, and mechanical and electrical contractors. Benefits of these services include improved system efficiency, a reduction in design changes and additional cost during the construction process, improved occupant comfort, and a reduction in maintenance cost.
Contact us today for more information or to schedule a consultation!
Credits:
The ACHR NewsBDC Network
