Construction Productivity Advancement Research (CPAR) Program. An ImprovedBuilding Energy Performance Commissioning Process Based on Short-Term Testing

摘要

As buildings become more complex or take on new functions, new operationalproblems tend to surface. These include excessive energy costs, malfunctioning mechanical equipment, and uncomfortable working conditions. Energy-related problems often can be identified and documented for correction through the process called commissioning. Commissioning could have a major positive impact on institutional energy bills and occupant comfort, but the procedures currently available are not standardized and are variously flawed. Problems include limited scope and quality control of inputs to building design model, need for inconveniently long-term energy flow data, and failure to provide substantial diagnostic information to correct problems. As part of the Army Corps of Engineers Construction Productivity Advancement Research (CPAR) Program, the U.S. Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratories (USACERL) and Colorado State University developed and demonstrated an inexpensive commissioning procedure based on short-term energy monitoring and performance testing. This commissioning procedure was field-tested on commercial-scale buildings of various design and locale. The procedure successfully revealed defects in the design, construction, or operations of each building tested.