In LEED NC there are explicit instructions as to whom is eligible to be the projects' CxA. I don't see reference to this in LEED EBOM. If we need work to be commissioned in Retrofitting/renovation work being carried out during our EBOM project, is the CxA bound to the same restrictions as in LEED NC? Our project is over 50,000 ft2, but the renovation project is over less than 50,000 ft2 of the building--I'm hoping the CxA could be hired by the contractor rather than by the owner or another party. Thanks for your comments!
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Ben Stanley
Senior Sustainability ManagerWSP - Built Ecology
LEEDuser Expert
250 thumbs up
April 14, 2016 - 12:17 pm
Hi Melissa, there's no prescriptive requirement within EBOM for who can do the commissioning work and/or who hires the Cx agent. Although, you do have a unique situation with a portion of the building being renovated because to earn the EBOM credit, the commissioning scope would need to cover the major building systems for the entire building, not just the renovated spaces. So you may have to strategize around that when selecting a provider or providers.
Melissa Merryweather
DirectorGreen Consult-Asia
245 thumbs up
April 15, 2016 - 3:57 am
Thanks.....that helps. I was trying to get my head around basic requirements to commission any work carried out as an implied part of the pre-requisite. For the EA credits, I think I'm understanding that there is no real requirement to specifically commission equipment until you get to EAc2.3 (unless you pursue Option 1 of EAc2.1 as well). So I'm going to take this to the client and find out if there is appetite to re-commission outgoing equipment a year or two before it is replaced (on the rest of the building not undergoing renovation). If not,which is what I expect, we'll skip EA 2.3 but do EAc2.1 option 2 and EAc2.2. That way the contractor is responsible for commissioning the work in our selected phase and we need no CxA.
Scott Bowman
LEED FellowIntegrated Design + Energy Advisors, LLC
LEEDuser Expert
519 thumbs up
April 25, 2016 - 12:08 pm
One thing to discuss with your client is the immediate benefits of doing retro-commissioning. As opposed to an audit, there is direct energy savings from retro-commissioning, and it can help develop a strong list of initiatives to pursue going forward, or as part of the renovation you are doing. There is high value and strong returns from retro-commissioning, and you may need the energy savings as part of your energy improvement.