Small Building Tune-up Pilot Program Kevin Afflerbaugh, LEED AP Jim Zarske, PE, CEM, LEED AP Nexant, Inc.
AIA Quality Assurance Learning Objectives 1. The significant, yet untapped commissioning opportunities in the small to medium sized existing building market 2. Challenges in delivering existing building commissioning services to this market 3. Technology, resources and processes which enable an innovative, lowcost commissioning approach on existing buildings. 4. Quantifying the energy savings associated with commissioning efforts for the existing building market.
City of Boulder Climate Action Plan Background Program Background What is the Small Building Tune Up Program? Why? Who? Pilot Design Fieldwork Process Results Full Scale Rollout Agenda
City of Boulder CAP Background 2006 Climate Action Plan: actions and strategies to meet Kyoto Protocol Focused on voluntary action by providing education and connection to resources Funded by CAP Tax passed by voters in November, 2006
Program Background: What is the Small Building Tune Up Pilot Program? Launched in June 2010 Existing building tune up: HVAC Lighting Controls DHW Computer power settings Went beyond preventative maintenance Variety of building/system types Focused on buildings between 5,000 and 50,000 SF Free for Pilot participants
Program Background: Why the Small Building Tune Up Pilot Program?
Program Background: Why the Small Building Tune Up Pilot Program?
Program Background: Why the Small Building Tune-up Pilot Program? Most cost-effective path to efficiency Filling market gap No utility program Lack of implementation Direct install Different type clientele (owner and contractors) Launched as Pilot to understand process, cost/savings and market needs
Program Background: Who was Involved? City/County of Boulder Nexant, Inc Heating and Cooling Subcontractor Utility Representative
Pilot Design Evaluated other similar programs around the country Evaluated energy-saving measures Determined participant selection criteria Size, bldg type, existing relationship, system type Developed deemed savings for each measure Projected costs and savings
Pilot Design Developed Program Forms Application - Screening - Inform contractors Onsite Forms - Paperless - Calculations Marketing Materials - Case Studies - Marketing flyers Final Report - High Level - 2-3 pages - Summary of Findings/Energy and Cost Savings
Pilot Design
Pilot Design Energy Conservation Measures Scheduling using existing equipment Programmable thermostat installation and programming Install override timer for HVAC controls Outside air economizer adjustment Economizer repair - outside air sensor Economizer repair - damper actuator Integrated economizer and D/X controls D/X outside air lockout controls Morning warm up / cool down programming Adjust minimum outside air fraction Check refrigerant charge Add refrigerant BMS on RTU - Check economizer sensor calibration Cleaning coils + filter change out Comb condenser coils Heating adjustment/tune-up DHW temperature adjustment Install a DHW pump timer Adjusting DHW pump timer schedule Lighting controls PC power management BMS sensor calibration BMS damper calibration BMS programming Custom Testing and balancing Check cleanliness of coils
Pilot Design Evaluated Specialized Tools PC Tablet Flow Plates Field Diagnostics HVAC Assistant
Fieldwork Process Scheduling Site Visit Protocol Assessing Needed Measures Prescriptive Custom Work order Implementation Progress updates from contractor Reporting Building: ECM's Qty Notes Scheduling: Adjust HVAC equipment operation to match building s occupancy Controls Installation: DHW: Install upgraded thermostat and update scheduling Adjust domestic hot water temperature Install or adjust timer on domestic hot water circulation system pump RTU / Split Repaired damper seal or actuator linkage (1) diagnostics: Replaced damper actuator (1) Adjusted minimum OA (1) Check Coil Cleanliness (1) Replaced OA sensor (1) Added D/X outside air lockout controls (2) Added morning warmup / cool down controls (3) Check BMS sensor calibration (3) Enabled economizer to work in concert with DX (4) Preventative Maint. Checked refrigerant charge (5) Preventative Maint. Added refrigerant (5) Preventative Maint. Cleaned coils and changed filter (5) Preventative Maint. Comb condenser fins (5) PC Power Mgmt Lighting Controls Heating Adjustment BMS Calibration and Programming Set-up power management for personal computers Calibrate lighting occupancy sensors Tune gas combustion equipment of furnace or boiler Check building automation system to: review the point list and controlled equipment/systems. Discuss possible adjustments and if appropriate make changes to programming and setpoints. verify that overrides are not used. Review control sequences and appropriate use of controls. If incorrect, work with building operator to revise and reset.
Pilot Program Results 15 Buildings participated Variety of findings
Pilot Program Results Top Five Measures Installing programmable thermostats Scheduling programmable thermostats Fixing economizers Adjusting minimum outside air percentage Adjusting domestic hot water temperature Programming rooftop unit heating/cooling controls Using tablet at Boulder Beer
Pilot Program Results * Include program administration costs Currently calculating results based on first years worth of actual utility bill data
Case Study: Boulder Chamber Heating on warm days and during unoccupied periods Simultaneous heating and cooling Faulty economizer/no outside air during heating season Boiler tune-up Tune-up costs: $5,000 (less than 3 year payback) Estimated annual savings: $1,800 1,540 therms 26,000 kwh 31 tons CO 2
Case Study: 1245 Pearl Street Consolidated multiple manual thermostats Chiller programmed to run during unoccupied periods and in winter Improperly sized boiler regulator Tune-up costs: $7,500 Estimated annual savings: $2,000 17,900 kwh 2,100 therms 27 tons CO 2
Lessons Learned Program design time intensive and costly Every building is unique Realistic timeline for a small business Contractor competence/objectives PC control difficult
Lessons Learned, cont. Define preventative maintenance versus tune-up efforts Seasonal factors Success of PC tablet Flow plates were very helpful determining min OA Refine savings estimate approach
Full Scale Program Launch Boulder County Heating & Cooling Optimization Service 80 potential participants Refined savings estimates Prescreening process Building size HVAC system Preventative maintenance Increased # of mechanical contractors Contractor training Streamlined number of energy conservation measures Measurement & Verification Plan Adjusting minimum outside air percentage
Full Scale Program Launch 10 Prescriptive Energy Conservation Measures Checking cleanliness of coils Scheduling using existing controls equipment Installing and scheduling programmable thermostats Adjusting economizers Repairing economizer sensors Repairing economizer damper actuators Installing direct expansion (DX) outside air lockout controls Adjusting minimum outside air fraction Adjusting/tuning up furnaces Adjusting domestic hot water temperatures Potential Custom Measures Installation of economizer on an RTU Installation of lockout controllers on chiller/boiler system
Questions?
Thank You! Kevin Afflerbaugh, Project Manager kafflerbaugh@nexant.com, 303.998.2462 Jim Zarske, Senior Project Manager jzarske@nexant.com, 303.402.2497 1401 Walnut St, Suite 400, Boulder, CO, 80302