Hartford Public Schools Energy Efficiency Retro-Commissioning

Improving energy efficiency for educational spaces.

Eversource and United Illuminating (UI) have launched a Retro-Commissioning Program with financial incentives available through the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Retro-Commissioning Program. The program is designed for Eversource and UI customers who want to conduct an in-depth review for inefficiencies in their building’s energy management systems and operating practices. The objective of the program is to find low or no-cost, non-capital energy efficient measures that can be implemented effectively and quickly resulting in decreased energy consumption.

As part of the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund’s Retro-Commissioning Program, Colliers Project Leaders was retained to provide the Hartford Public Schools with a building survey, retro-commissioning investigation, implementation services, training, and measurement and verification of more than 15 public K-12 schools encompassing over 1.9 Million square feet.

The objectives of the retro-commissioning program were to:

• Improve building energy and operating performance
• Identify and resolve building system operation control and maintenance issues
• Improve the buildings’ ENERGY STAR rating
• Document system operation and identify O&M staff training needs
• Increase equipment life-cycle
• Reduce or eliminate occupant complaints and increase inhabitant satisfaction
• Ensure the persistence of the improvements over the buildings’ life

Proposed solutions included:

• Optimization of the chiller and pumping system
• Optimization of the dual temperature pumping system
• Optimization of the rooftop units
• Addition of occupancy control for HVAC and lighting serving the gymnasium, field house, atrium, cafeteria and kitchen
• Addition of occupancy control for administration area