Developing a Process for Continuous Commissioning

The energy benefits of building recommissioning are well documented, but their efficacy decreases with staff turnover and as systems drift or malfunction over time. Most models recommend recommissioning approximately every five years. Despite this cyclical reinvestment, recommissioning remains one of, if not the most, effective methods for organizations looking to reduce energy consumption and utility expenditures and has become a priority for the facilities management group at the University of Oregon. Given the large variety of buildings on campus and connections with local building research organizations, the recommissioning team has developed and tested a general model for a continuous commissioning process. This process leverages new visualization and analytics software that interfaces directly with building automation systems to drastically increase the visibility of building operational and performance characteristics. This visibility has created both monetary and energy savings via faster and more efficient maintenance response, has guided recommissioning efforts, facilitated continued system optimization, and reduced the investment required for ongoing efforts. Initial results are promising. Significant reductions in energy consumption have been observed in the first three months since the process was deployed in the pilot building and occupants are reporting improved comfort characteristics. Given the unique attributes at a university setting, the team also uncovered non-energy benefits associated with this new program, including increased research and teaching productivity.