Retro-Commissioning (Retro-Cx)

Enovity can provide Retro-commissioning (retro-Cx) of your existing facility. Retro-Cx services can save your facility thousands in energy costs annually by “tuning-up” your building — identifying and correcting problems in building systems operation HVAC, lighting and control systems, and making it easier for your facility management staff to identify future problems quicker and more accurately.

We have shown that as much as 15% of your annual energy bill can be saved with simple no-cost and low-cost corrective measures. Examples include discovering equipment that runs longer than is required or comment energy-saving control strategies that are not being employed. The added benefit is that we will also simultaneously identify energy saving equipment that can replace your existing equipment as your operating budget permits. The benefits of retro-Cx include:

What is Retro-Cx?

Retro-commissioning is defined as a commissioning process tailored to existing buildings that were not commissioned during initial construction. Retro-Cx is therefore effective at any time during a building’s life cycle. Alternatively, “re-commissioning” is defined as a process to commission a building that was previously commissioned during its initial construction, and is also equally effective in finding building deficiencies that have arisen as a result of inadvertent operator changes to building controls, equipment that has failed, and staff operator turnover.

Our approach to Retro-Cx begins with an on-site assessment of lighting and HVAC systems, central plant, domestic hot water, process equipment and building controls. We interview staff, collect historical energy usage and inventory equipment. During this phase, we use the building automation system (BAS) to trend systems’ performance over time to ensure proper function. We also perform spot measurements and/or longer-term stand-alone monitoring of equipment to verify trends. Operational deficiencies and energy savings can be easily identified from these performance snap-shots.

We identify and prioritize energy and operational improvements based on expected savings, implementation cost, constructability and likelihood of acceptance. We develop a Retro-Cx report that is detailed, informative, and well documented. Our recommendations are supported by conceptual design narratives as well as on constructability challenges and economics: simple payback, life cycle cost or internal rate of return. We provide a project implementation plan that addresses implementation barriers, code issues, performance standards, scheduling conflicts, training, warranty issues, service agreements, staff capabilities and client risk. Enovity can also self-perform the measure implementation in a “turn-key” fashion or can help you manage the measure implementation by a third party contractor.

Representative Projects:

2004-2006 CPUC Statewide Building Tune-up Program. Enovity provided extensive building retro-commissioning for this $7.2 Million program at the following sites:

2006-2007 Retro-commissioning of State of California Facilities, DGS State of California. Enovity is retro-commissioning 1.16 million square feet at the following State facilities:

BAS Retro-Commissioning of Five (5) Federal Facilities

Other RCx buildings: