Recommissioning (RCx) Guide for Building Owners and Managers

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Table of Contents
 

About this RCx Guide

List of Acronyms

Ackowledgements

Chapter 1 - Building Performance as a Building Strategy

A Case for Improving Building Performance
Recommissioning Can Help
Recommissioning as Part of your Business Strategy
     Putting the "O" in O&M

Chapter 2 - Investing in Recommissioning

Direct Benefits (Energy Savings)
Indirect Benefits (Non Energy Impacts)
     Increased Asset Value
     Lowering Operating and Tenancy Costs
     Improved Equipment Performance
     Increased O&M Staff Capabilities and Expertise
     Improved Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ)
     Improved Building Documentation
Costs of Recommissioning
     Budgeting for Recommissioning
     Strategies to Reduce Costs of Recommissioning
     Involving Facility Staff to Save Time and Money
     Selling Recommissioning from Within

Chapter 3 - Project Basics

Recommissioning Process Overview
Breaking Down the Process
     Phase 1: Planning
     Phase 2: Investigation
     Phase 3: Implementation
     Phase 4: Hand-Off and Persistence Strategies
Recommissioning Team
Determining Roles
Involving Facility Staff
     Outsourced O&M Services
Additional Team Members/Contractors
Key Strategies for Success
     Identify the Best Building Candidates
     Develop Well-Defined Objectives
     Select a Recommissioning Provider Well-Suited to the Project
     Designate an In-House Champion
     Assign Key Facility Staff
     Define Project Deliverables
     Hold a Project Kick-Off Meeting
     Define the Owner's Operating Requirements
     Accomplish Strategic O&M Tasks Prior to the Investigation Phase
     Review the Findings Log with the Recommissioning Provider
     Select an Implementation Approach
     Require or Develop an Implementation Plan
     Require an Implementation Report
     Require a Final Report and Hold a Project Hand-Off Meeting
     Develop Persistence Strategies

Chapter 4 - Project Planning - Part 1: Building(s) Pre-Screening Selection

Good Candidates for Recommissioning
     What Makes a Good Candidate for Recommissioning?
     When is Recommissioning Not the First Step?
     Other Pre-Screening Characteristics to Consider
     Portfolio Approach to Building Selection
     Working with a Recommissioning Provider to Select a Building
     Coordinating Recommissioning and Retrofits
Defining Objectives and Project Scope

Chapter 5 - Project Planning - Part 2: Selected Building Scoping

Selecting a Recommissioning Provider
     Recommissioning Tasks
     Provider Qualifications
     The Selection Process
The Building Walk-Through
The Recommissioning Plan

Chapter 6 - Investigation

Project Kick-Off Meeting
Building Investigation
     Documentation Review
     Facility Staff Interviews
Diagnostic Monitoring and Functional Testing
     Diagnostic Monitoring
     Functional Testing
Prioritize and Select Operational Improvements
     Develop a Findings Log
     Develop the Investigation Report

Chapter 7 - Implementation

Selecting an Implementation Approach
     Turn-Key Implementation
     Recommissioning Provider-Assisted Implementation (Consulting Option)
     Owner-Lead Implementation
Setting a Timetable
The Implementation Plan
Implementation Verification and Reporting

Chapter 8 - Project Hand-Off

The Recommissioning Final Report
Facility Staff Training
     Recommended Hand-Off Training Topics
Recommended Persistence Strategies
Project Hand-Off Meeting

Chapter 9 - Making Recommissioning Benefits Last - Strategies for Ensuring Persistence

Building Documentation
     O&M Manuals
     Control System Documents
Building Staff Training
Maintaining Efficient Operating Performance
Performance Tracking
     Benchmarking
     Utility Bill Analysis
     Trend Analysis
     Automated Diagnostic Tools
     Energy Information Systems
     Periodic Recommissioning
     Time to Recommission?
     Ongoing Commissioning Plan
     Feedback and Success Celebration

Energy Conversion Tables

References

Appendix A - List of Preferred Building Characteristics for Recommissioning
Appendix B - Owner's Operating Requirements
Appendix C - Recommissioning Implementation Plan
Appendix D - Recommissioning Implementation Report
Appendix E - Request for Proposal Checklist
Appendix F - Linking Energy Savings Performance Contracts and Recommissioning
Appendix G - US-EPA Guide Related Case Studies