The Art of Commissioning: A Cost Benefit Analysis of 23 Large-scale Federal Facilities

Energy is being wasted, possibly unrecognizably, on a daily basis when commissioning is not performed. This results in a reduction in profit, equipment lifespan and overall sustainability. Common misconceptions can be that operating systems are already efficient since they work, making commissioning unnecessary, and that there is not much benefit from periodically commissioning a building throughout its lifespan. This research details pre-commissioning energy consumption versus post-commissioning as well as commissioning costs of three different test groups of facilities which have undertaken various commissioning projects. This article will be a logical argument to motivate building owners to consider commissioning.