RTM sustainability studio services: Commissioning & retro-commissioning

RTM Engineering Consultants works with building owners to provide a well-researched strategy with an emphasis on the economic value through detailed payback analysis. Sustainability is a priority because it keeps systems running efficiently and makes all the difference for tenants and building owners alike.

RTM’s sustainability studio offers a wide range of services that helps provide clean and efficient solutions to building owners nationwide.

Commissioning is a detailed process that ensures the systems in a new building are designed, installed, tested, operated and maintained for maximum efficiency while also meeting the owner’s functionality goals. Involving a commissioning agent early on in a new construction project provides a second set of eyes to help find opportunities for minimizing the carbon footprint of greenhouse gas emissions from heating, cooling and lighting. This process prevents having to address costly safety or maintenance problems later on in the construction or occupancy phase.

For existing buildings, the retro-commissioning process measures the health of the building’s MEP systems. A feasibility study is conducted that compares the expenses for upgrading these systems in relation to the operational savings that would be achieved with better performance. A retro-commissioning strategy can then be implemented to achieve worthwhile payback.

"After performing a facility assessment for a mission critical project, our team found that the facility was utilizing both the primary and back-up systems for cooling the building," said RTM Associate Marcin Jakubowski. "We suggested an energy-efficient solution that allowed the back-up system to function as was originally intended, preventing the need for installing additional units. The strategy would not only provide a lifetime of direct energy savings to the client, but the amount awarded in local utility incentives was tens of thousands of dollars, equivalent to the first year’s savings."

In a period of growing energy costs and increasing environmental awareness, sustainability has never been more important in the built environment. By prioritizing sustainable builds, building owners across any major market can experience long-term benefits including lower energy usage and expenses, improved operations, and better occupant comfort.

This article originally appeared on RTM’s website. RTM Engineering Consultants is a CFE Media content partner. Edited by Hannah Cox, content specialist, CFE Media, hcox@cfemedia.com.

Original content can be found at www.rtmassociates.com.

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