Once occupants are in a building, how can the project team maintain ongoing energy efficiency?

The most effective way for a project team to maintain ongoing energy efficiency in a building after occupants have moved in is through retrocommissioning and monitoring building automation systems. This approach involves regularly evaluating and adjusting the building's systems to ensure they are functioning as intended and operating at optimal efficiency.

Retrocommissioning looks at existing equipment and systems, identifies inefficiencies or areas for improvement, and implements changes to enhance performance. This can include fine-tuning HVAC settings, adjusting lighting controls, and optimizing indoor air quality systems. Monitoring these systems continuously allows for real-time adjustments and timely maintenance, which can help prevent energy waste and ensures that the building remains aligned with its energy efficiency goals.

The other approaches, while they may have some benefits, do not address ongoing energy management as comprehensively. For example, reducing building occupancy might lower energy use momentarily but is not a sustainable or realistic strategy for energy efficiency in the long term. Limiting HVAC operation times could lead to discomfort for occupants and potentially create an unhealthy indoor environment. Increasing the building's insulation could improve energy efficiency, but it is typically a longer-term strategy that does not address the immediate need for operational effectiveness after occupancy has begun.