Written By: Nicole Imeson
Unlocking significant energy savings without breaking the bank is a top priority for building owners today. Shallow energy retrofits offer a powerful strategy to achieve this goal, delivering substantial performance improvements without the high cost of deep energy retrofits. While shallow energy retrofits offer immediate improvements, their true potential is often best realized when combined with commissioning.
Understanding Shallow Energy Retrofits
Shallow energy retrofits offer a targeted and cost-effective approach to enhancing building performance. These projects often include small but impactful envelope improvements, such as sealing air leaks around windows, doors, and penetrations with caulking, weatherstripping, and spray foam to reduce energy waste. Insulation upgrades in attics, walls, and crawl spaces improve thermal efficiency. HVAC system optimization focuses on cleaning and tuning equipment—filters, belts, and motors—while refining control systems by adjusting temperature setpoints and schedules. Lighting upgrades replace inefficient incandescent and fluorescent bulbs with energy-saving LEDs and increase natural light usage. Water conservation efforts introduce low-flow fixtures for showers, faucets, and toilets, along with smart irrigation and rainwater harvesting technologies. These individual upgrades provide immediate benefits, but their effectiveness can be amplified through a holistic approach.
The Power of Existing Building Commissioning (EBCx)
Existing building commissioning (EBCx) provides that holistic framework, optimizing the entire building system to ensure that individual upgrades work together efficiently. EBCx goes beyond simply installing new equipment; it focuses on how systems interact and perform. For example, EBCx can ensure that insulation upgrades are properly installed and effectively reduce air leakage, maximizing their impact on energy savings. EBCx also optimizes occupant comfort and indoor air quality, creating a healthier and more productive environment.
Value and Return on Investment (ROI) of EBCx
A 2020 report by the Building Commissioning Association (BCxA) and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) analyzed over 650 energy conservation measure (ECM) projects, revealing an average payback period of just 1.7 years, with median energy savings of 6.4% and even higher savings for heavy energy users like food service and data centers. This underscores the cost-effectiveness and strong return on investment of building commissioning. Simple, low-cost measures, such as adjustments to operating schedules, operations, and controls, including implementing advanced reset functions and modifying set points and sequences, can yield substantial savings.
The Role of Commissioning Providers
Commissioning providers (CxPs) are essential to the success of both shallow retrofits and EBCx. They play a crucial role in verifying the proper installation and performance of all upgrades, ensuring that the intended energy savings are achieved and that the building operates at peak efficiency. CxPs assist with preparing essential reports, including energy performance data and system evaluations, and guide building owners in selecting upgrades with the best return on investment. Their expertise is invaluable throughout the process, from initial assessments to ongoing monitoring and development of comprehensive operation and maintenance (O&M) plans, outlining best practices to sustain long-term energy performance. CxPs ensure that systems function as designed, identifying and correcting inefficiencies such as improper tuning, faulty sensors, and control system malfunctions. Through fine-tuning, they optimize performance, boost energy efficiency, and lower operating costs.
Best Practices and Incentives
Maximizing the benefits of shallow energy retrofits and commissioning requires following key best practices. A thorough energy assessment identifies the most cost-effective and impactful retrofit opportunities. Engaging CxPs early in planning ensures proper project scoping and execution. A well-defined commissioning plan outlines the scope of work, testing procedures, and acceptance criteria for each system. A strong operation and maintenance (O&M) plan preserves the long-term performance of retrofitted systems. Ongoing monitoring and evaluation help detect and resolve emerging issues, sustaining energy savings over time.
Building owners can leverage available incentives offered by federal, state, and local governments and utility companies. These incentives, often in the form of grants, tax credits, rebates, and low-interest loans, can significantly reduce the upfront costs of energy efficiency upgrades. Some municipalities even streamline permitting or offer property tax reductions for energy-efficient buildings. Navigating the incentive process requires thorough documentation, where CxPs can be invaluable. By combining best practices, expert support from CxPs, and available incentives, building owners can make shallow retrofits combined with EBCx even more financially appealing, driving both cost savings and sustainability.
The Synergy of Shallow Retrofits and Commissioning
Shallow energy retrofits and commissioning work together to create a powerful synergy that elevates building performance. Commissioning professionals verify retrofitted systems, resolve operational issues, and maximize energy savings. Their in-depth testing and analysis uncover hidden inefficiencies that a simple visual inspection might miss, unlocking additional opportunities for energy reduction. By developing and implementing comprehensive O&M plans, commissioning ensures long-term performance gains from shallow retrofits. Regular system checks and maintenance prevent efficiency losses and sustain energy savings over time. Beyond reducing energy use, commissioning enhances building comfort by optimizing system performance, improving indoor air quality, refining temperature control, and increasing occupant satisfaction.
Shallow energy retrofits and commissioning form a powerful partnership for boosting building efficiency and sustainability. Combining targeted, cost-effective upgrades with a rigorous commissioning process allows building owners and operators to achieve significant energy savings, lower operating costs, improve occupant comfort, and maximize their return on investment. Embracing this integrated approach is key to creating a more sustainable built environment.