Building recommissioning projects are intensive in nature, aiming to focus efficiency efforts on the entirety of a building with the goal of significantly reducing its energy load, energy costs, and its need for maintenance procedures, while increasing the comfort of the facility, its efficiency, and sometimes even its usability. Building recommissioning studies are often needed to ensure that energy systems are in good working order after a building has been in use for several years.
Over time systems tend to work more inefficiently due to deferred maintenance. Recommissioning studies seek to restore the most efficient operating performance of the building, identifying low- and no-cost measures to remedy these deficiencies. Steps taken during a recommissioning study include the following:
- Measure systems’ performance and verify that they are in good working order.
- Identify shortcomings in the entire sequence of system operation for heating, cooling, ventilation, lighting, air handling, and operations management.
In general, recommissioning projects can cut the building’s energy use by 10-20% once suggested energy-saving measures are implemented.
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) projects in the cities of St. Paul and Chisago, MN carried out recommissioning projects at city-owned facilities. Prior to the grant period, the City of St. Paul had already begun to evaluate 13 of its buildings’ energy efficiency and performance. The EECBG funding allowed studies to occur at an additional 15 municipal buildings. Efficiency improvements at these buildings included the additions of controls, updated energy management systems, lighting retrofits, HVAC upgrades, and installation of occupancy sensors.
In the City of Chisago, city staff used the recommissioning study to determine if an historic building was worth investing in for city use, or if its energy deficiencies might prove too costly to fix. Strom Hall, a 7,000 square foot building constructed in the 1960s, had all its original parts—doors, windows, appliances, and furnaces. It was soon determined that Strom Hall was an energy hog, and Chisago City set the following goals: bring the building into compliance with Minnesota Sustainable Building 2030 guidelines and reduce the building’s energy costs by at least 50%.
A recommissioning study can help determine where your building might be losing the most energy, and how to optimize your building’s energy use. In Minnesota, Xcel Energy offers discounted recommissioning studies for Xcel Energy business customers (natural gas and/or electricity). It might be worth checking out if your building has never been commissioned or has outdated energy systems. Read more about recommissioning projects in St. Paul and Chisago in our Building Recommissioning Mini-Series as part of the larger theme Local Government Energy Action!
Other Local Government Energy Action Building Recommissioning Stories:
- Community center is Chisago City’s dream come true
- A citywide efficiency overhaul: Saint Paul recommissioning, lighting, and community outreach
About the Local Government Energy Action Series:
This year-long effort tells the stories of nearly 50 Minnesota municipalities, counties, and schools and the tangible results of their energy-saving efforts to inspire others to take their own actions.
Local Government Energy Action is brought to you by the Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Commerce, Division of Energy Resources.
