There are over 5 million commercial and institutional facilities in the U.S., and these sites are responsible for around 40 percent of the nation’s energy use. The EPA estimates that most of these facilities could
There are over 5 million commercial and institutional facilities in the U.S., and these sites are responsible for around 40 percent of the nation’s energy use. The EPA estimates that most of these facilities could make reductions of up to 25 percent in their energy output, and further study showed these reductions on average saved businesses around 15 percent in energy costs. Retro commissioning is the process of benchmarking and evaluation for systems which have never been commissioned, and can greatly increase the efficiency of energy monitoring systems. Managers today want to cut costs wherever they can, and retro commissioning a facility is an environmentally-conscious way to do so.
When looking for a team to retro commission any facility, managers should look for energy efficiency consultants with extensive expertise. The primary function of these retro commissioning agents is investigation. They have to compile individual system capabilities and record all the performance requirements of on-site technology so they can later be tested. System installers may be unavailable, so this team must be comprised of knowledgeable technicians. If the assigned team has had no experience with handling energy control equipment or working with HVAC scheduling software, their input will be less valuable.
The two vital components of this energy management consulting process are building-performance benchmarking and monitoring. Benchmarking the energy of performance of a facility versus other buildings of the same size, location, and occupancy level enables managers to establish their optimum level of energy performance. Rather than requiring site officers to call up other facilities managers in the area and compare utility data, retro commissioning consultants will apply customized software tools which enable them to make precise judgments. Whether or not there are other facilities in the region by which to judge energy output, checking an energy monitoring system for efficiency is essential. Submeters used by consultants on HVAC, lighting, domestic processes, and plug loads will provide extensive data for how to alter a business’s energy consumption behavior, cutting costs and reducing energy waste.
A typical retro commissioning consulting program costs somewhere between 20-50 cents per square –foot of a facility, though this can vary depending on the complexity of the HVAC systems and the length of the evaluation. While these costs can seem high, the resulting benefits from energy cost reductions typically pay off the initial expenditure within two years, and continue to cut costs throughout the life of the facility.
Knowledgeable retro commissioning agents will offer an estimate of environmental impact in terms of energy costs to a facility and potential budgetary energy savings which could be incurred with recommended changes to energy monitoring systems. An effective team will always provide helpful data, but it is then up to the individual manager to decide whether they will proceed with the consulting team’s results. Whether the recommendations are carried out or not, retro commissioning can be a very useful way to determine the performance level of any energy monitoring systems. sewa truk engkel Surabaya