In order to improve building system performance and reduce energy consumption, Energy Management has set a goal of recommissioning 40 buildings per year and servicing each building every five years.

Over time, building systems typically become less efficient as components wear out and building usage changes. Just as a mechanic can improve a car’s fuel economy with a tune-up, a recommissioning team improves a building’s energy efficiency.

Most buildings use more energy than necessary to provide a safe and comfortable environment for the occupants. Simple, low cost measures can reduce energy consumption while maintaining or improving the performance of the facility.

A typical recommissioning study will yield between 5% and 15%
energy savings, depending on the type of building. The U of M recommissioning team takes things a step further by finding ways that new technology or different operating methods can further improve efficiency and performance, like recommending that old lighting systems be replaced with newer technology.

Buildings account for nearly 40% of total CO2 emissions in the United States and U.S. buildings are responsible for nearly 8% of the world’s total CO2 emissions. University of Minnesota buildings emit 500,000 metric tons of CO2 each year.

Faculty, students and staff have been successful in stabilizing university CO2 emissions since 1988, despite campus growth of 15%. We need to start reducing energy consumption now. A five percent reduction by the end of 2010 will save the University $2.25 million each year and result in 25,000 fewer tons of CO2 being released into the atmosphere.

It all adds up.

See a list of upcoming building recommissioning projects.