In an effort to save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Hennepin County is recommissioning several county buildings, including the Hennepin County Library - Central and the Government Center.
What is recommissioning?
Recommissioning is the process of studying the operation of a building to identify and implement energy-saving opportunities. A recommissioning study take a look at the guts of the building, which includes the boiler, chillers, air handling units, motors and lighting, to ensure that the systems are running properly and efficiently. A recommissioning study typically takes nine months to complete.
During a recommissioning study:
- Measurements are taken to verify that systems are working correctly.
The building automation system is reviewed to assure that schedules are correct and sensors are reading accurately.
- The entire sequence of operation for the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system is analyzed to see if there are any changes that could be made to reduce energy consumption.
- Identified energy conservation opportunities are evaluated based on project
payback. Projects with a payback of 10 years or less are the first to be implemented.
Why is recommissioning important?
Recommissioning typically reduces a building’s annual energy use by 10 to 20 percent. This results in significant cost-savings and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
What buildings are being recommissioned?
The county is in the process of recommissioning several buildings, including the Hennepin County Library - Central and the Government Center. These are very large and complex buildings, and the studies can take up to a year to complete.
The Public Safety Facility has already been recommissioned and studies have been completed for the Environmental Services Building and the Hennepin County Medical Center. The county plans to recommission additional buildings in 2009 and 2010.
