Small Building Retuning Pilot

Building retuning is the process of making an existing building and its energy systems operate more efficiently at low or no cost by identifying and correcting operational problems.

The pilot program will include tailored operational assessments  using standardized retuning checklists

• For buildings with Building Management Systems (BMS), Baumann will use fault detection and diagnostics tools and analyze trend data via fault detection rulesets. Systems covered will include, but not be limited to, HVAC (airside and waterside), ventilation, lighting and plug loads.
• For buildings without BMS, Baumann will conduct on-site walkthroughs, operator interviews, and install temporary data loggers to collect equipment-level data (e.g., runtime, temperature, lighting schedules) to identify no- and low-cost ECMs based on their Facilities Diagnostics Services.

The pilot program team will identify potential energy conservation measures (ECMs), and select at least three ECMs per building to improve. The ECMs will be selected based on prioritization criteria including:

• Estimated energy and operational impact
• No-/low-cost feasibility and ease of implementation
• Frequency across the pilot cohort (to inform checklist development)
• Building readiness and operator capacity

The pilot program team will conduct performance verification. They will define baseline and post-implementation periods to evaluate how the ECM is performing, including

• HVAC and lighting runtime reduction
• Improved indoor environmental quality (temperature/humidity stability)
• Decreased equipment cycling and short cycling
• Ventilation schedule adherence
• Occupant or operator-reported comfort improvements

A building performance standard is a policy designed to reduce carbon emissions in buildings by improving energy, gas and water use, and peak demand, consequently reducing their cost. These standards become stricter over time, driving continuous, long-term improvement of buildings.

In the District, the Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS) will apply to buildings 25,000 square feet and up starting in 2028. The size threshold drops to 10,000 sq ft and up in 2033. One goal of this pilot program is to help smaller buildings prepare for compliance.

Benchmarking energy use helps building management teams understand how buildings are using energy and water resources and establish a baseline for usage. Since 2022, DOEE has required that buildings over 25,000 sq ft complete energy benchmarking. Buildings over 10,000 square feet will need to start benchmarking by May 1, 2026. 

DOEE recently published as step-by-step guide for first-time benchmarking reporters in 2026.

For additional resources, check out the Hub’s overview of benchmarking and BEPS.

Benchmarking refers to measuring a building’s energy use and comparing it to historical performance and the performance of similar buildings to identify opportunities for improvement.

A policy that sets specific deadlines for existing public and private buildings over a certain size to achieve quantified standards of performance across one or more metrics—such as energy use, water use, and/or greenhouse gas emissions.

Class B buildings are solid, professional spaces with fewer frills than Class A properties. They tend to be older (usually between 10 and 20 years old), with slightly dated systems and fewer luxury amenities—but they offer good value and location. Class C buildings are often much older (often 20 years or more), need substantial renovation or improvements, don’t usually have elevators or central air conditioning, and are often located farther from desirable areas.

Refers to specific actions taken to reduce energy use and improve efficiency, such as adjusting system schedules, fixing controls, or optimizing equipment performance—often at low or no cost.

An Energy Conservation Measure (ECM) can be defined as any kind of technological resource employed to improve the energy performance of a building. The objective of their application is to reduce the amount of energy used by a particular process, technology or installation.

See the Hub’s example O&M manual