From 2011 through 2018, Cx Associates worked as the energy consultant with National Life in Montpelier, VT – the largest office building complex in the State of Vermont, measuring approximately 500,000 square feet. Our work began with a retrocommissioning study that identified building performance improvement opportunities to reduce annual electrical consumption by 18% and cut biomass fuel use by about 425 tons of wood chips per year.  In addition to the resulting 770,000 kWh of annual energy savings realized by these projects, the firm is also saving 69% of their chiller operating costs from the chiller plant control sequences that Cx Associates developed in 2014. Through continuous engagement in identifying, developing, supporting implementation, and commissioning energy efficiency projects, we have helped the already Energy Star Rated facility save over 5,580 MWh and 51 million BTUs of fuel.

Cx Associates conducted an extensive retrocommissioning study for the Vermont Army National Guard’s Combined Services Maintenance Shop (CSMS) and Regional Technical Institute (RTI) located at Camp Johnson in Colchester, VT and at the Mountain Warfare School (MWS) in Jericho, Vermont. We identified energy savings opportunities that were estimated to generate $96,000 in energy savings per year.

Cx Associates performed an RCx study for Jay Peak Resort’s two-story Clubhouse which includes functional space types such as a kitchen, bar and dining area, pro shop, golf cart storage, and overnight suites. This is a year-round building with varying levels of occupancy. Our review included the mechanical, domestic hot water, controls, and lighting systems and resulted in recommendations that would focus on the building automation system and fan coil units.

After providing commissioning services for ECHO, Vermont’s first LEED certified building, in 2003, Cx Associates provided retrocommissioning (RCx) services for ECHO in 2014. We provided services to help ECHO achieve their goals to improve the performance of their pumping and air systems. In addition to reducing the operations staff's time required to maintain the building, the measures we identified included savings of 64,150 kWh annually across a couple of upgrades and improvements.

Cx Associates completed retrocommissioning studies at Browns River Middle, Jericho Elementary, Mount Mansfield High, and Smilie Elementary schools.  For these schools, we used historical energy data to benchmark each building in Energy Star Portfolio Manager and develop the sites’ Energy Usage Index (EUI). The implemented energy saving measures included adjustments to ventilation to match occupancy, modification of piping to segregate boilers and reduce losses through the standby boiler, hot water piping modifications to allow variable speed pump operation, and numerous mechanical modifications to ensure optimized operation and decreased maintenance costs.

Cx Associates identified and quantified over 200 measures and identified annual energy savings opportunities of over $237,000 during the retrocommissioning study we performed for Vermont State College. The goal of the study was to identify low cost opportunities to reduce building HVAC energy use and identify measures that could be applicable across multiple buildings not included in the study. The savings we identified resulted in a payback period of only 1.2 years.

Cx Associates was retained by Maine Medical Center to provide an engineering assessment for optimizing the replacement of AHU-44, which is at the end of its expected service life. We recommended an advantageous solution and provided a design narrative for use in pricing. We provided services throughout the replacement, by evaluating hospital spaces and programs, space conditioning and ventilation requirements, performing submittal reviews, and developing the final sequence of operation. To round out the project, we will conduct site work to review the installation and operation.

Cx Associates conducted a retrocommissioning qualification study for the chilled water plant at the Southwestern Vermont Medical Center. Our review of the facility focused on its chilled water plant, the BAS, as well as pumps and the cooling tower. Our study resulted in four measures we recommended to the owner. These four measures resulted in estimated annual savings of $17,000, which would result in a payback period of just 1.4 years.

Cx Associates worked with Efficiency Vermont to complete a retrocommissioning (RCx) process of nine Air Handling Units (AHU) at Northwestern Medical Center (NMC). The nine AHUs analyzed in this RCx study served several areas of the 200,000 square foot medical building including operating rooms, surgical services, ICU, PCU, laboratories, cafeteria, office spaces, and the emergency department. In addition to the original scope, we identified three further items during the implementation phase of the work that would give additional savings of over $9,000 per year. The final RCx report indicates savings of over $33,700 per year.

Retrocommissioning Your Building for Big Savings

Cx Associates worked with the owner of the Howard Opera House building in Burlington, Vermont, and the Burlington Electric Department (BED), to address issues related to the building's aging HVAC infrastructure. The four-story building in downtown Burlington was built in 1879. Over the years, it has housed a department store, an opera house in the upper floors, and various other commercial and office spaces.