Regular retro-commissioning can save healthcare facilities on their energy costs — without requiring them to spend money for major improvements, according to an article on the FacilityCare website.
But experts say healthcare facility managers still have a lot to learn when it comes to how — and why — to recommission their buildings, the article said. They offered the following advice to facility managers about what this process really means for a building.
• Proper operation should be of primary concern and energy savings secondary
• While retro-commissioning can bring improvements, this happens because a system is operating well below where it should be
• A thorough retro-commissioning takes time
• Depending on the age of the building, utility savings resulting from upgrades could range from 10 to 30 percent
• The building management system (BMS) is underutilized in most facilities