Retro-Cx Program Development: Achieving Portfolio Wide Energy & Carbon Reduction Goals through Training and a Culture of Collaboration

Justine Caccamo
Proposal Status
Ready for Committee Review
Username
Justine Caccamo
Proposer First Name
Saverio
Proposer Email
saverio.grosso@edisonenergy.com
Proposer Last Name
Grosso
Proposer Job Title
Managing Director
Proposer Additional Info
Saverio Grosso began his career commissioning aircraft carriers for the U.S. Navy before moving into an engineering and consulting role within the energy industry. With over 20 years of experience, Saverio has managed onsite commissioning, testing, troubleshooting, balancing and analysis for a wide range of HVAC equipment and systems, across a range of facility types. He has been invited to speak to at numerous events for the USGBC, BOMA, IFMA, BCxA and AEE. Saverio holds several certifications from the Association of Energy Engineers and recently served as a board member for the Building Commissioning Association. He has been instrumental in defining legislation supporting NYC’s PlaNYC 2030 and 80×50 goals.
Proposed Session Description
Every successful Retro-Commissioning (EBCx) Program includes collaboration with the building’s operating staff. It is critical to foster a culture of trust and engagement with all parties (across a portfolio of sites) in order to identify, implement, and sustain energy conservation and GHG reduction measures. Drawing on technical examples and lessons learned from real world projects, this session will provide guidance and best practices for working with onsite operations tea across various site as part of a broader Retro-Cx Program effort.
Why is this session important?
This session will also help attendees develop training materials that can be used for ongoing cx projects, and showcase examples of how previous award-winning project collaborations have shown significant benefits beyond the attainment of energy and carbon savings.

Comments

Jeannine Altavilla Tue, 04/06/2021 - 10:45 am

ROUND 1: YESThis sounds really useful topic area, and a special focus on collaboration in achieving results.

Susan Farber Mon, 04/12/2021 - 8:27 pm

ROUND 1 DISCUSSION: Two strong yeses. Dorit notes that to round it out, speakers will need to address failures as well.

Jeannine Altavilla Mon, 05/17/2021 - 11:00 am

YES - 60 minutesSaverio was very flexible for how this could be shaped. A lot of the value in collaboration here is that the service delivery team helped coordinate solutions with operations + management coordination. Case study is Northwell Health who worked on 9 of 21 buildings over 2 years. While all received the same service, each site had different healthcare focuses, needs, and issues to resolve. They have 8 more buildings that will be going through the process. Stumbling blocks included equipment and personnel. Communication with different levels of staff individually provided opportunity to address additional concerns and make identified solutions stick. 

Susan Farber Mon, 05/24/2021 - 12:02 pm

ROUND 2 DISCUSSION: Case study with Northwell Health buildings. Interviews with operators as well as management (good for the collaboration theme). Just one presenter, so 60 minutes seems good. Could we get another speaker, especially a building operator? He said he was flexible. Could also work in the idea of collaboration with people in the building (buy-in among building supers and staff).FOLLOW-UP from Jeannine: Here was Saverio's response on getting an operator to join the panel from an email request for Proposal 160. It sounds like it would still be up in the air, but if he couldn't find one, it seems like it would be a good fit to expand to another case study/group to bring that perspective so that we can cover that side of the story of retrocommissioning.I think that would add an interesting perspective as well. I can inquire with an operator about the possibility of speaking to some of the slides and sharing their perspective as well. If I can’t get an operations team member, maybe I can have someone from the client side speak on their behalf. 

Learning Objectives
How to work with operations team across a portfolio of sites as part of RCx Program Development (Describe the need to develop trust between RCx experts and building staff)
Develop programmatic training material for ongoing Cx to be shared across sites to ensure identified measure savings are sustained
Explain the benefits of RCx programs that extend beyond energy savings
Successfully implement their own training programs that will foster an environment of collaboration
Has this session been presented before?
No
Additional Comments
Presented similar presentation - "Unlocking the Value of EBCx: Achieving Success through Training and a Culture of Collaboration" at a number of conferences, including BCxA Annual Conference 2020, Building Energy 2018, CxEnergy 2018, among others. This presentation will focus on the programmatic and strategic approach of retro-cx, vs past presentations which were viewed through a tactical lens on a project by project basis.

NYC 2021 Areas of Focus

Target Audiences Level of Expertise
Level 2 - Some prior knowledge helpful.
Session Format
Interview or structured conversation among panelists
Debate between opposing viewpoints
Workshop or skill-building session
Recommended Length
60-minute session

Strongest Content Connection - NYC 2021

Reviewer 1
Cooper, Jeannine
Reviewer 2
Cooper, Jeannine
Curator
Altavilla Cooper, Jeannine
Proposal #
160
Session #
207
Committee Decision
Accepted

Presenters