Commissioning HVAC Systems Can Reveal Ways to Save Energy and Money

Commissioning certainly has benefits, but there are two things to consider with commissioning: 1) commissioning (if done right) can bring an HVAC system back to the performance level of the system as it was originally designed, but that design may very well have not been driven by the goal of optimizing energy performance, limiting the amount of savings that can be achieved; and 2) commissioning is typically performed only once every few years, so in between commissioning, plant operating efficiency is unknown and likely drifts to less-than efficient operations.

We believe the key to true, sustained energy efficiency requires a different approach to commercial HVAC energy efficiency – one that 1) uses technology to optimize HVAC system performance for energy efficiency, continuously and based on real-time load conditions; and 2) provides 24/7 access to measurement and verification, so that plant operators can see, at any point in time, exactly how their HVAC system is performing. That level of real-time insight into actual plant performance means that if the HVAC plant is not performing as efficiently as it should be, problems can be identified and corrections made immediately – eliminating drift and the need for re-commissioning.

Affordable, proven technologies are available today that are reducing HVAC energy consumption by 30-60%, month-after-month, year-after-year, in a wide range of commercial facilities. Instead of periodic commissioning, why not consider a different approach – one that provides ongoing optimal performance and persistent savings?

When we commission equipment at our plant, the process is to make certain the machinery is valid as specified according to our engineering specs, the vendors quote, and our po. If a 10 year old piece of equipment is recommissioned according to spec, then heather above has a good point in limiting the energy performance level based on these requirements.

Doing scheduled PM's and simply upgrading to a programmable t-stat have been found to be effective cost savings.

Perfect article.  I work for a <a href="http://www.hvacknoxville.org">Knoxville HVAC</a> company and we regularly create commissioning reports for commercial facilities.  One thing we try to do with these reports is help our customers understand just how much they can save.  I also found another great article <a href="www.todaysfacilitymanager.com/.../a>.  Keep up the good work!

De-optimization of a building, which brings a need to recommission, is most commonly a event based process with definable points on a time line.

Facilities managers have a lot on their plate and there is a certain amount of pain in running a building. A fully optimized building runs with equipment capable of full performance and a defined schedule of occupancy based on the construction design requirements. You really can not plot a curve of decreasing performance over time. It is a step process.

The first time an occupant with political clout works a Saturday and the air conditioning is off an event takes place. If they called the director of facilities the word may come the the maintenance supervisor that "I never want a call like that again." An Event! Now the schedule changes from 6AM-6PM M-F to 6AM-6PM M-S. A small change that removes that piece of pain from the operation. A few more blood curdling "Events" and the whole place is 24/7.

Financially a budget may be cut for water loop chemical treatment. This is an Event. I once saw alternating biocide treatment curtailed because the alternate biocide was "too expensive". These are the decisions that fill coils with silt. It is not the age of the unit. It is the Event of the decision.

Facilities operations are constantly required to react and usually the least painful way wins.

When a third party comes in to recommission they basically put all the operations "pain" back into the building. If they leave the supervisor on his own after their event it will take about three years for a normal process of events to remove the pain. If a managing group is formed as part of the recommissioning the supervisor can have support and reactions can be moderated; sometimes avoided.

Continuous Commissioning with a group buy-in is the way to reduce energy consumption 30 to 40% and a way to get full life cycle performance from your equipment.

I’m all for HVAC systems and I am speaking from an environmentally conscious voice, but it is really up to the schools and training centers to design a god board programs so as to support its accrediting commission organization as it is challenging enough to encourage strong participation.

Regards,

Simon

http://www.eurocell.co.uk