Historically, building retrocommissioning services have been conducted by engineering staff often requires the installation of data loggers to capture trends of equipment performance. Since the introduction of the 2005 Title 24 building code, newly installed HVAC and lighting control equipment are required to undergo acceptance tests which include construction inspection and functional performance tests to assure that equipment operates according to the intent of the energy code. A significant amount of research was expended to design these tests to capture common failure modes through a short test that could be conducted by a technician. These tests are conducted by the contractor and equipment is fixed on the fly until the equipment passes the test. This paper offers a new paradigm for providing retrocommissioning services that uses the facilities' maintenance contractors to quickly identify common problems and fix them. This new paradigm opens up the field of retrocommissioning to the much broader field of mechanical and electrical contractors, test and balance technicians and control contractors. Huge energy and cost savings, estimated to be approximately 3.4 Billion kWh/yr, 1,500 MW and $480 Million/yr in California alone creates the financial basis for green collar job opportunities that cannot be outsourced.
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