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

Read the article.