Many customers have energy-efficient equipment but their buildings are still not operating efficiently. By participating in the Building Tune-up program, customers will maximize the operating efficiency of their buildings and reduce their energy consumption.
Business Solutions FAQ - Building Tune-Up Services
To assist customers in performing Large Building Tune-up Services, SMECO has a list of approved building tune-up contractors on our Existing Buildings page. If a customer wishes to use a Service Provider that has not been pre-approved, the Service Provider must first apply to participate in the Large Building Tune-up Services offering. SMECO does not warrant or guarantee any work or equipment installed by a Service Provider.
Yes. The facility must have a functioning direct digital control (DDC) system; accessible and up-to-date building documentation and records; no major maintenance problems requiring costly repairs or replacements; and no planned major system renovations or retrofits. The facility also must commit facility staff to be actively involved in the entire Large Building Tune-up process.
SMECO will provide incentives up to 75% of the cost of the Large Building Tune-up study and implementation costs, up to a maximum incentive of $50,000. However, the incentive is contingent upon the customer making a commitment to invest a minimum of $50,000 in cost-effective measures (i.e., measures that will pay for themselves in 1.5 years or less).
Large Building Tune-up Services are available for facilities larger than 75,000 square feet and are more comprehensive than Small Building Tune-up Services. Large Building Tune-up Services are intended for customers with unusually high energy use, persistent failures of equipment and controls, tenant complaints, or indoor air quality problems. The process involves a detailed study conducted by a pre-qualified Service Provider who develops and carries out (or directs others to carry out) customized system and operational changes to reduce energy consumption. Large Building Tune-up Services typically include:
- HVAC calibrations
- Diagnostic and function tests of major systems and equipment
- Air and water systems balancing
- Calibration of energy management and control systems and lighting systems controls
- O&M tune-ups
- Education of facility personnel
To assist customers in performing Small Building Tune-up Services, SMECO provides the Business Solutions Program Service Providers Directory. If a customer wishes to use a Service Provider that has not been pre-approved, the Service Provider must first apply to participate in the Small Building Tune-up Services offering. SMECO does not warrant or guarantee any work or equipment installed by a Service Provider.
SMECO will provide incentives for up to 75% of the cost of the assessment and study with a maximum incentive of $3,000. SMECO estimates the cost of an appropriate study for Small Building Tune-up Services to be between $500 and $4,000, depending upon the complexity of the facility.
SMECO also will pay part of the costs for demonstration measures (i.e., measures that can save a significant amount of energy but will not pay for themselves in less than 1.5 years) with a cap on SMECO’s total project commitment of $25,000.
Small Building Tune-up Services are available for industrial process systems and commercial facilities less than or equal to 75,000 square feet. The process typically involves contractors assessing equipment/system conditions from a prescribed checklist of items. Small Building Tune-up Services focus on:
- Calibrating building systems and controls
- Replacing equipment filters
- Cleaning evaporator and condenser coils
- Sealing air and water leaks
- Re-balancing air handling systems
- Detecting compressed air leaks
- Educating facility personnel
Visit our Existing Buildings page for more information.
SMECO’s Enhanced Unitary HVAC Maintenance Services can tune up your facility’s Unitary HVAC system while ensuring its energy-consuming components function at peak efficiency.
For a list of measures and incentives, please go to our Existing Buildings page.
Since different opportunities exist for improving building performance based on building size and typical systems, SMECO offers 3 options—Enhanced Unitary HVAC Maintenance, Small Building Tune-up Services, and Large Building Tune-up Services—to meet varying customer needs. These can all be found on our Existing Buildings page.