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Market Research
How are markets reacting to this incentive or that program? What needs to change? Why is it important? How does it work? And who cares? PECI finds answers and analyzes the market characteristics, behavior, needs, and uptake issues that lay the foundation for market-ready action and prove the success of energy efficiency programs and commissioning practices.
Opportunities for Achieving High-Performance Operations in Commercial Real Estate and Hospitals
Throughout 2007, we conducted market research for the California Energy Commission with executive-level decision makers in the commercial real estate industry and other representatives of legal and commissioning-related fields. The outcome of this research is a better understanding and clarification of the value proposition that Cx and RCx bring to the commercial real estate and hospital sectors.
Out of this understanding, we developed and delivered webcast trainings for Cx providers about what really matters to owners, and also identified key points of entry into commercial real estate that could improve adoption of commissioning and retrocommissioning in the industry. For example, our research found that energy efficiency metrics could be an important addition to the documentation of commercial real property gathered during the due diligence process, when the potential buyer conducts in-depth financial, legal, and physical investigations of the property for sale.
Results of this research indicate that the due diligence effort can include identification of energy efficiency improvements – and fixes – as a profitable asset management and turnover opportunity for realtors and owners alike. We continue to explore ways to move this market sector toward increased energy efficiency.
Market Characterization of California Commissioning Practices
PECI completed market research for Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) to characterize California commissioning practices and provide information on how to increase commissioning services. The final report:
- Described the current status of commissioning in California, including the range of services offered, methods, tools and techniques used, and types of data collected;
- Summarized the methods, tools, techniques, training activities, and marketing materials that are needed to grow the market for commissioning;
- Recommended ways to increase the use of commissioning and building diagnostic services;
- Estimated the energy and cost-saving potential of commissioning in California.
The results of this research were used to better understand the market potential for commissioning. In turn, the market characteristics were used to inform utility incentive program planning and training initiatives in California. The cost, savings, and infrastructure analysis were updated in 2007-08 to support planning and budgeting activities for retrocommissioning programs for the 2009-2011 budget cycle.
Integration of Commissioning into Construction Practice
Southern California Edison (SCE) selected PECI as the project lead to identify how building commissioning practice could be integrated into common construction practices. The project involved on-site assessments of over 50 buildings, and the commissioning of seven buildings. We coordinated the work of three commissioning sub-consultants as well as provided in-building commissioning services with in-house staff. This project was a groundbreaking effort to obtain data regarding the costs and savings attributable to commissioning commercial buildings.
The case studies we developed based on this research were used by SCE to structure its retrocommissioning program, which has since grown into one of the largest such programs in the country.