Inefficient heating and cooling systems are a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and global warning, according to the United States Department of Energy (DOE).
Indeed, the DOE estimates that buildings account for nearly 40% of all energy consumed in this country. In addition, hvac and water heating account for 64% of all energy consumed by the average commercial building.
However, owners of the nearly 5 million commercial buildings in the United States can reduce their impact on the environment by as much as 30% through retro-commissioning, a process that ensures all heating, ventilation and air conditioning and integrated building controls are operating at peak performance, says the Gaithersburg, Md.-based National Environmental Balancing Bureau (NEBB).
“Retro-commissioning is a holistic approach to correcting the deficiencies in a building’s hvac and control systems,” says Gerald T. Bauers, president of NEBB, an international certification association. “NEBB-certified firms work with building owners to ensure that the building not only has properly sized equipment, ductwork, piping and electrical service, but also to correct problems such as leaking windows, inadequate insulation in roof and wall connections and unsealed air penetrations in walls and slabs.”
