Fundamentals of Retro-Commissioning

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Fundamentals of Retro-Commissioning

• Tom Meyer
• CSME, GGP, CBCP, QCP, EBCP
• The ESCO Group

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Fundamentals of Retro-Commissioning
Fundamentals of Commissioning Existing Buildings
Fundamentals of Optimizing Existing Buildings
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Purpose of Retro-Commissioning
Optimization of Existing Buildings
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Why Existing Buildings?

• Lots of existing buildings
• All have opportunities
• Benefits range from less than a month to a year
  economic payback
• Helps identify capital and rehab projects with
  economic payback from one to 20 years.

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Not ALL Buildings are Candidates

• If there is no functional use and you want to
  save energy close the building down.

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Flavors of Commissioning

• New Construction Commissioning
• Re-Commissioning
• Continuous Commissioning
• Retro-Commissioning

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Defining Retro-Commissioning

• Q What does retro-commissioning mean?
• Returning out of spec equipment back to original
  design.
• Commissioning a building again after several
  years since it was commissioned as new
  construction.
• Commissioning a building never before
  commissioned to the owners current requirements.

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Limited in Scope

• Most retro-commissioning programs are limited in
  scope.
• System
• Equipment
• Problem

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Motivation
The Building Owners motivation is the
determining factor of scale and depth of the
commissioning process.
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Nuts and Bolts of Cx

• Benefits of Retro-Commissioning
• Process of Retro-Commissioning
• Commissioning Methods
• Types of Commissioning

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Top 10 Retro-Cx Measures

• Improve boiler efficiency/controls
• 9. Reset supply static pressure setpoint
• 8. Review terminal unit operation
• 7. Return VFD to variable speed operation
• 6. Lower condenser water temperature

Courtesy of San Diego Energy Office
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Top 10 Retro-Cx Measures

• 5. Calibrate sensors and instrumentation
• 4. System level and balance
• 3. Optimize economizer operation
• 2. Eliminate simultaneous heating cooling
• 1. Turn off equipment when not needed

Courtesy of San Diego Energy Office
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Confused?
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Get Professional Help!
Any successful commissioning plan starts with the
right people led by a person with the proper
training and experience.
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QUESTIONS?