Mainstreaming Retrocommissioning in a Utility Program:
Lessons Learned Steven Long, P.E.
Retrocommissioning (RCx) commercial buildings is gaining recognition in the utility industry as a new potential means of energy efficiency. Realizing the “installed” savings from these programs has been difficult for a variety of reasons, including the difficulty and effort required to quantify savings and the persistence of measures. The design of recent programs has tried to address some of these issues and has also incorporated other related functions such as benchmarking. In some cases, the program design features have worked well, while in others, the design features inadvertently caused unforeseen problems.
This paper explores specific aspects of the 2006-2008 Southern California Edison RCx program and summarizes what was supposed to happen, how it has worked to date, what was learned, and what was done to deal with problems that arose. Among the topics discussed include marketing, screening, benchmarking, owner commitments and timeline, qualifying providers, incentives/offer, baseline data and calculations, grocery store RCx, and peak demand reduction.
Some general information about the program results to date is also presented.
Monitoring-Based Commissioning: 2008 Update Karl Brown
This presentation provides an update on Monitoring-Based Commissioning (MBCx), as implemented by the Energy Efficiency Partnership between the University of California, California State University (CSU), and the California Investor Owned Utilities (IOU). New information includes an analysis of benchmark information for 2004-05 MBCx project buildings, as well as the incorporation of this first set of projects into a meta-analysis of commissioning projects. Initial results from the 2006-2008 UC/CSU/IOU program cycle are explored. Use of MBCx concepts by other programs is identified. Implications for project savings accounting and program evaluation are considered.
Retrocommissioning in ConnecticutDavid W. McIntosh
In January 2005, The Connecticut Light and Power Company (CL&P) initiated a Retrocommissioning (RCx) pilot program as part of its existing Operations and Maintenance program. Currently, eighteen Connecticut buildings are participating in the program. The RCx pilot is administered by CL&P and guided by the Energy Conservation Management Board (ECMB). The Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund funds the pilot with customer provided funding for ECMB guided programs.
The pilot program identifies potential energy savings in existing commercial buildings by improving the operational control of their energy management systems (EMS). A building’s EMS often ceases to perform in an energy-efficient manner due to malfunctions, reprogramming glitches, and old age. Through targeted functional testing and trend data analysis, the RCx program identifies deficiencies in the operation of mechanical equipment and lighting controls. CL&P RCx engineers determine potential opportunities for operational and maintenance energy-saving improvements.
The goals of the RCx pilot are to:
• Produce cost-effective kWh savings
• Make building owners/operators aware of EMS deficiencies
• Systematically address deficiencies to generate energy savings
• Ensure program savings persist
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