Home > Commissioning and Technical Services > Projects > Commissioning Projects
Commissioning Projects
PECI projects are touchstones for hands-on proficiency, where we test new methods and tools in field work. Staying grounded in technical Cx/RCx, we maintain our lead in developing up-to-date tools and guides that become our clients’ paradigm.
Case Study: Hatfield Courthouse, Portland, OR
In 2003, the US General Services Administration (GSA) initiated a full retrocommissioning study of a federal courthouse located in Portland, Oregon. The Hatfield Courthouse, built in 1997, has a total of 21 floors and a gross square footage of 591,689 sq. ft. The GSA’s RCx goals included:
1. Improving occupant comfort
2. Identifying O&M and energy efficiency improvements
3. Training the building operators on improving persistence
4. Reviewing and enhancing building documentation
Investigation involved reviewing the building’s documentation and utility bills, inspecting building equipment, interviewing building operators, testing selected equipment and systems, and extensive trending of the heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) control system. The investigation process identified 29 findings that addressed GSA’s RCx goals.
The implementation process involved coordinating efforts among the commissioning provider, facility staff, and building services contractors. Twenty-three of the 29 recommendations to address these findings were implemented. This process resulted in a 10% reduction in energy use and significant improvements in building comfort and system operations.
Improvements through retrocommissioning led to the building receiving an ENERGY STAR® label. To ensure that the benefits persist over time, GSA is employing an “ongoing commissioning” approach to its operations.
Case Study: San Diego Marriott Hotel & Marina, San Diego, CA
Marriott International, a hospitality company with locations worldwide, sought ways to reduce energy consumption and minimize the environmental impacts of operations at its 1.4 million square foot San Diego Marriott Hotel & Marina in San Diego, California. The 1,362-room hotel is a full-service, resort-style property that includes meeting space, multiple restaurants, and a marina.
The Marriott Hotel & Marina’s engineers suspected that there were opportunities to reduce energy use and increase hotel profitability, as well as improve guest comfort. For these reasons, Marriott’s management decided to participate in the San Diego Retrocommissioning (RCx) Program, a program administered by San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E®) through a contract awarded to PECI.
Marriott’s participation in the RCx Program resulted in an 8.4% reduction in energy use at the Marriott Hotel & Marina with an expected annual cost savings of $272,500. In addition, another 10.6% reduction in energy use, or $346,000 in potential savings, has been identified for future implementation at the property.
The building staff’s dedication to retrocommissioning efforts has improved facility operation, and has enabled staff to identify problems that might have been missed during construction or initial equipment installation. Retrocommissioning will also help the staff identify problems that may develop throughout the property’s life. The Marriott Hotel & Marina RCx project has been a huge success for the hotel, resulting in significant energy savings and increased hotel guest comfort, as well as earning it a 2006 San Diego Excellence in Energy Award for its commitment to energy efficiency.
More information on this project is available here: http://www.sandiegorcx.com/docs/marriott_casestudy.pdf.
Case Study: Federal Courthouse, Seattle, WA,
PECI conducted design- and construction-phase commissioning activities for the new 23-story, 615,000 square foot Seattle Federal Courthouse building, completed in 2004. Design activities included review of the design documents and development of the commissioning plan and specifications. PECI also provided construction-phase commissioning including:
1. Construction observation
2. Prefunctional and functional testing
3. Control system trend analysis.
The process ensures that the building operates effectively and cost-efficiently, and also identifies "fatal flaws” in the project design that will cause problems during construction or occupancy. The integrated design, value engineering, commissioning, and construction resulted in $6,441,000 in first cost savings, plus significant life-cycle savings without sacrificing energy efficiency, occupant comfort, or aesthetics. Commissioning is especially important in a public building, where longevity, functionality, and public perception of quality are especially important.
In 2006, the building was named the year’s most impressive engineering achievement at the 40th Annual Engineering Excellence Awards, sponsored by the American Council of Engineering Companies.