Saving energy doesn’t always require investing in new equipment. Retrocommissioning and operations and maintenance (O&M) projects can improve the performance of the systems you already have. By identifying small adjustments, these efforts can extend the life of your equipment while reducing energy use.
With support from Energy Trust of Oregon, facilities staff may be able to complete retrocommissioning and O&M projects at little to no cost, without the need for large capital investments.
What is retrocommissioning?
Retrocommissioning evaluates a building’s energy performance to identify ways to optimize existing systems and operations. It’s a good fit for equipment that still has useful life but could benefit from a tune-up to improve performance.
When you complete a retrocommissioning project with Energy Trust, a contractor conducts a free technical analysis study to identify opportunities for building equipment and system improvements. Recommended changes often involve small adjustments, like refining schedules or fixing sensors, that restore equipment to optimal operational conditions.
Even minor improvements can have a significant impact across an entire facility, reducing energy use and lowering energy bills. Energy Trust covers the cost of the study and up to 90% of eligible project costs, helping many projects quickly pay for themselves.
Retrocommissioning in action: optimizing controls
The Molalla Aquatic Center’s HVAC and water heating system serving the pool area appeared to be working properly, but its controls settings weren’t optimized. By making a few adjustments, including reducing supply fan airflow during unoccupied hours, the facility expects to significantly reduce energy use.
These improvements are projected to save the center up to $13,000 a year in energy costs.
Small adjustments, like refining schedules or fixing sensors, can restore equipment to optimal operational conditions.
What O&M is and why it matters
O&M is a proactive approach to managing equipment and systems to ensure they operate reliably, efficiently and as intended. O&M can help extend equipment life, reduce energy use, improve air quality, boost occupant comfort and minimize unexpected breakdowns.
By participating in Energy Trust’s Strategic Energy Management (SEM) offering, you can receive hands-on support for O&M efforts. An SEM energy coach will first meet with you to learn about your facility’s goals and maintenance challenges. After completing a site walkthrough and reviewing your Building Automation System (BAS), they will help identify practical, low- and no-cost opportunities for optimization.
A strong O&M strategy emphasizes preventive maintenance and consistent operating practices to reduce equipment failures and costly downtime. Developing and following standard operating procedures (SOPs) with clear instructions for operating and maintaining equipment, systems and facilities helps your team spot issues faster and keep operations running smoothly.
O&M in action: spotting HVAC malfunctions
Varying temperatures throughout a building or facility could indicate a hot water valve malfunction, known as a “leak-by”. This issue forces HVAC systems to provide heating and cooling simultaneously, wasting energy and creating discomfort. Regularly reviewing BAS data and equipment summaries for inconsistencies can help your team quickly identify and correct the valves causing the problem.
Watch Hot Water Valve Leak-By: A Silent Energy Waster in VAV Units for more information about this issue and possible solutions.
A disconnected outside air temperature sensor can cause a boiler to run unnecessarily. Even when settings appear correct in a facility’s BAS, the boiler may rely on a separate sensor. Regularly comparing boiler and BAS outside air temperature readings can help teams catch this issue early.
Learn more about this scenario by watching Boiler Breakdown: The Case of the Disconnected Sensor on our YouTube channel.
For more videos on O&M approaches, review this video playlist.
Reduce energy waste and lower energy bills with Energy Trust
Retrocommissioning and O&M projects are two ways to improve your facility’s efficiency and address equipment performance issues. These efforts can start saving you energy immediately and continue delivering results when supported by a thorough maintenance schedule or SOP.
Energy Trust is here to help you complete retrocommissioning, O&M and other projects that reduce energy use. Reach out to our team at existingbuildings@energytrust.org to get started.