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Recommissioning (RCx) Guide for Building Owners and Managers
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Chapter 2 - Investing in Recommissioning
Direct Benefits (Energy Savings)
A prevailing myth is that the many expenses associated with operating and maintaining a building are an unavoidable cost of doing business. The reality, however, is that the majority of buildings can operate at equivalent or improved levels of comfort and function for less money. Recommissioning addresses inefficiency by reducing operating costs through low-cost actions with high rates of return.
Cost savings from recommissioning can be significant; however, they can also vary significantly depending on building type and location, and the scope of the recommissioning process. A comprehensive study found average cost savings in the following ranges:
Value of Energy Savings11 $1.00 - $8.00 /m2
Value of Non-Energy Savings12 $1.00 - $4.75 /m2
These indirect benefits are described in the following sections.
There are certain economies of scale associated with recommissioning. For example, base costs are linked to the number of systems in a building. Consequently, for a large and small building with the same number of systems, per square meter costs of recommissioning will be lower for the larger building. Although it can be more challenging, smaller building owners can still achieve cost-effective recommissioning with payback times under 2 years. Also, payback periods typically decline with increases in facility energy costs. For example, a study conducted by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) found that laboratories, which have the highest energy cost per square meter ($/m2), had the shortest payback periods. In contrast, schools, with relatively low energy costs per square meter ($/m2), had longer payback periods.Savings from Recommissioning
Significant cost savings from a recommissioning process often result from reduced energy use. A 2004 study conducted by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) aggregated recommissioning results from 100 buildings13 and found overall electricity savings ranging from 5% to 15% and gas savings ranging from 1% to 23%. Corresponding payback times ranged from 0.2 to 2.1 years14. The median project energy savings found through this study was approximately $45,000 per year per building (in 2003 dollars), and ranged as high as $1.8 million per year. Payback times typically decline with increasing building size, especially for buildings with floor areas above 10,000 m2 (see Figure 2).Figure 2: Commissioning payback time vs. building size (existing buildings)
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11 $0.10 - $0.75/ft2
12 $0.10 - $0.45/ft2
13 The data in this section is based on information provided in the following publication: Mills, E., H. Friedman, T. Powell, N. Bourassa, D. Claridge, T. Haasl, and M.A. Piette. 2004. "The Cost-Effectiveness of Commercial- Buildings Commissioning", Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
14 See the US-EPA Guide related case study 'Marriott Marquis' in Appendix G.
