monitoring based commissioning for leed building ... · boban ratkovich, p. eng, cem. besa, leed ap...

Boban Ratkovich, P. Eng, CEM. BESA, LEED APPresidentCES Engineering Ltd

Monitoring Based Commissioning for LEED Building Performance Optimization

AIA Quality Assurance

The Building Commissioning Association is a Registered Provider with The American Institute of Architects Continuing Education Systems (AIA/CES). Credit(s) earned on completion of this program will be reported to AIA/CES for AIA members. Certificates of Completion for both AIA members and non-AIA members are available upon request.

This program is registered with AIA/CES for continuing professional education. As such, it does not include content that may be deemed or construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA of any material of construction or any method or manner of handling, using, distributing, or dealing in any material or product.

Questions related to specific materials, methods, and services will be addressed at the conclusion of this presentation.

Monitoring-Based Commissioning (MBCx) - method for ensuring optimized performance of LEED buildings during the first year of operation, utilizing synergies between building energy simulations, measurement and verification (M&V) and building commissioning.

Monitoring-Based Commissioning is an up-coming LEED credit in the new USGBC LEED 2012 version, and is part of an industry-wide movement towards performance-based contracts for design and construction.

It is currently the most comprehensive process that validates equipment and systems performances during the first year operation period.

Course Description

At the end of this session, participants will be able to:

1. Identify synergies between Energy Modeling, Measurement and Verification and the Commissioning process

2. Understand Energy Information Systems features for performance monitoring as distinguished from Building Automation Systems

Learning Objectives

MBCx – Building Performance Optimization

Prescriptive versus Performance Based• 2009 NR Can study about LEED buildings

performance (80 LEED Certified buildings) ○LEED buildings utilize 18-39% less energy than

non LEED buildings.○28-35% of buildings in this study used more

energy than non LEED buildings ○No correlation between energy performance and

number of LEED achieved energy credits○No correlation between energy performance for

buildings that pursue enhanced Cx credits.


Prescriptive versus Performance Based• Today’s building construction and the Cx process

rarely considers energy performance targets.• Ideal performance is predicted using energy modeling

software• It is assumed that commissioned building will provide

this performance.• Fine-tuning for energy performance does not occur

during the first year of operation


Prescriptive versus Performance Based• Currently Cx is primarily comfort oriented and finished

at the occupancy phase• Performance assessment is ongoing continuous

process executed during post occupancy. • Building energy performance measurement is applied

under LEED M&V Credit (IPMVP Option D).• This involves calibration of the proposed and

reference building energy model to the actual building use and recalculating energy savings after calibration.


Prescriptive versus Performance Based• Typically, one year of operating data is gathered

before energy model calibration and calculations are attempted.

• To obtain LEED M&V credit, it is merely sufficient to develop M&V plan during design stage.

• Metered data are not analyzed • Limited examples of actual energy models calibration

process after one year operation period.


Commissioning for Performance• MBCx – process that ensures that new buildings

achieve optimum performance• MBCx utilizes

○ Energy metering info from electrical, gas and thermal meters○ Energy targets from energy models○ Trend-logs from building control systems

• MBCx provides○ Rigorous assessment of building performance○ Identification of performance discrepancies○ Adjustments to building use and control sequences for

ensuring optimum performance


Commissioning for Performance• Energy Management Information System (EMIS) is

mandatory tool for MBCx process○ Extreme quantity of data are processed during one year

period.○ Typical MBCx process monitors about 150 metering point at

minimum 15 minutes interval. ○ This frequency translates to 5,2 Million of data points for one

year period. ○ EMIS performs complex energy calculations and

benchmarking, conducts statistical analysis of data and provides user friendly energy and performance reports.


Commissioning for Performance• Energy Management Information System (EMIS) is

mandatory tool for MBCx process○ Cx agent utilizes EMIS to compare actual and predicted

energy use at the sub-metering level and to identify causes for performance deviations.

○ EMIS reports are utilized to perform typical commissioning activities of resolving performance deficiencies and engaging DDC contractor and building operator.


MBCx Process• Multi-disciplinary activity requiring increased

coordination beyond the typical commissioning process between:○ Commissioning agents○ Mechanical and electrical consultants○ Energy Modelers○ Contractors○ Building Owners

○ O&M personnel


MBCx Process


MBCx Process• Commissioning Agent Responsibilities:

○ Understands the roles and responsibilities of each team member

○ Facilitates communications and assigns action items in resolving deficiencies

○ Cx agent experience shall include energy management, metering, modeling, and statistical analysis.

○ Cx agent experience in all above areas is rarely available.○ Other team members energy experience shall be utilized


MBCx Process• Key Components and Functions:

○ Building DDC System ○ Building Energy Model(s) ○ Energy End-use Sub-metering ○ Metering System Calibration Tools ○ Data Acquisition System and Remote Database ○ Energy Management System and/or Analysis Software


MBCx Process – Design Phase• Include performance and metering system requirements

in the Owner’s Performance Requirements (Owner, CxA)

• Engage the building energy modeler to conduct parametric analysis of system options and control strategies (Owner, Energy Modeler)

• Establish key components of system efficiency in the Basis of Design (CxA, Consultants)


MBCx Process – Design Phase• Create a MBCx plan including metering system design,

and incorporate into projects specifications (CxA)

• Conduct commissioning design review outlining energy efficiency features and conduct review of energy modeling inputs (CxA, EMP)

• Develop detailed control sequences intended to optimize building energy efficiency (CxA, EMP, Consultants, DDC)

MBCx – Building Performance OptimizationMBCx Process – Design Phase

Design Model Sample Report


MBCx Process – Construction Phase• Conduct inspections to ensure correct meter installation

(CxA)

• Field-calibrate all key building sensors and meters (CxA, DDC)

• Install and commission Data Acquisition System (CxA, DDC)


MBCx Process – Acceptance Phase• Calibrate the design energy model during the first month

of operation, and produce MBCx energy targets for all major use categories (EMP, CxA)o Near the end of the construction phase, energy models can be

partially calibrated by using actual equipment shop drawings. o After the Data Acquisition System is commissioned and

functioning, energy models can be calibrated to closely represent actual building operation.



of operation, and produce MBCx energy targets for all major use categories (EMP, CxA)o Key items to consider in calibration are

o Plug load intensities and typical daily load profileso Typical lighting daily load profileso Outdoor air flow rateso Actual water and air flows from balancing reports or site

measurementso Measured equipment power consumption or efficiency.



of operation, and produce MBCx energy targets for all major use categories (EMP, CxA)o Key items to consider in calibration are

o Occupancy cannot be readily determined, but a good estimate based on discussion with the building operators is sufficient.

o The effect of occupant heat output on building energy use is typically small, compared to the effect of lighting and equipment energy, and outdoor air flows.



of operation, and produce MBCx energy targets for all major use categories (EMP, CxA)o Regression or other baseline modeling techniques are used to

create energy baselines. o The relationship between a given dependent variable and some

independent variable is generatedo Heating energy as a function of outside air temperature, or o Lighting energy as a function of the time of day and solar

radiation (if daylighting controls are used).


MBCx Process – Acceptance Phase• Identify opportunities for improvement and resolve

performance discrepancies (CxA, O&M, DDC)o With energy benchmarks in place, discrepancies in modeled

versus actual performance can be readily identified. o Ideally, appropriate model and metering system calibration will

rule out model and meter errors so the investigation can focus on the actual building operation.

o Optimization of control sequences will likely be required to reduce actual building energy if the building is over-consuming.

MBCx – Building Performance OptimizationMBCx Process – Acceptance Phase

EMIS Sample Report


MBCx Process – Acceptance Phase• Train operation and maintenance staff in the use of the

energy-metering/performance-tracking system (CxA, O&M)o During the MBCx process the building operators will be engaged

and kept up to speed on issues discovered, gaining valuable insight into the operation of their system.

o At the end of the process, formal training can occur in the use of the Energy Management System benchmarking and reporting, as well as in the ideal operating conditions of the building systems.


MBCx Process – Acceptance Phase• Calculate and report actual building performance (CxA,

EMP)o After a full year of operation, the building performance can be

calculated as annual energy savings relative to a code reference building.

o These savings normalized to average historical weather data provide a calculation of the return on investment in building efficiency.

o This information supports investments in future projects, and builds history data within CaGBC and USGBC for future analysis.


Conclusions• MBCx is an involved and comprehensive process that

requires diverse expertise. • Strength lies in diagnosing large and complex systems

by providing clear measures of performance• Identifies causes of poor performance • Efficient designs with heavy use of building controls are

great candidates for an MBCx process.


Conclusions• Monitoring-based commissioning is a developing field,

with plenty of room for growth and innovation. • MBCx demands experience in commissioning, energy

modeling, energy auditing, and measurement and verification

• Buildings put through MBCx process are optimal operations buildings – GUARANTEED.

Boban Ratkovich, M.Sc, P.Eng., CEM, BESA, LEED AP

CES Engineering Ltd

[email protected]

monitoring based commissioning for leed building ... · boban ratkovich, p. eng, cem. besa, leed ap...

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