2024 was full of major milestones in the world of commercial building efficiency. Efficiency Works' Building Tune-Up (BTU) program, once a quiet presence in the industry, expanded its commercial buildings services to 52 buildings, representing a tenfold increase in participation. The program’s impact extends beyond these numbers.
For over a decade, the BTU program had been operating below the radar. The Efficiency Works team refined their approach in 2021 to better meet the needs of Platte River’s growing owner communities. The new program emerged through extensive utility program research, stakeholder engagement and consultation. It reduces financial barriers, offering tools and significant rebates that make energy efficiency options accessible to more businesses than ever before.
The relationships built through BTU efforts are laying the groundwork for a promising future, with the hope that the virtual power plant (VPP) will signal a building’s automation system to adjust energy consumption in response to grid needs, supporting our energy load use. Strategic relationships between the Efficiency Works team and key account managers continue to create valuable pathways for direct customer outreach and participation throughout our energy transition.
This revamp marked a shift from simple lighting upgrades to tackling the energy-hungry HVAC systems. By focusing on middle-of-life equipment, the program found a sweet spot – optimizing existing systems without requiring costly replacements. This practical approach not only saves energy but also lays the foundation for these optimized systems to potentially provide a reliable buffer during periods of low wind or solar power generation.
The BTU program offers two main options: Performance Plus and retrocommissioning. Performance Plus focuses on HVAC optimization, where contractors perform enhanced maintenance and upgrades on existing equipment in buildings of all sizes.
Meanwhile, the retrocommissioning path took a different approach, diving deep into the digital brains of buildings – their automation systems. Engineers can uncover and fix issues that quietly reduce efficiency over the years. According to Pierce Robbins from McKinstry, a contractor partner, "the new Efficiency Works program is the Cadillac of retrocommissioning programs."
The results speak volumes: hospitals across three communities opened their doors to the program, a large church joined the energy-saving movement, and the entire eligible portfolio of Poudre School District buildings embraced the change.
The BTU program stands as a testament to what's possible when innovation meets community needs, proving that the most powerful transformations start with innovative utility staff listening to customer needs.
Service providers
The BTU program relies on qualified service providers to complete enhanced maintenance and retrocommissioning studies that benefit our communities. We appreciate the efforts of our current participants and look forward to welcoming new contractors to serve our utility customers. To join the program and offer enhanced services to your customers, learn about how to become a listed Performance Plus or Retrocommissioning service provider at efficiencyworks.org/service-providers/.
Commercial customers
Commercial customers looking to enhance their building’s efficiency may benefit from the BTU program. Evaluate if your building is eligible for the BTU program and connect with listed service providers at efficiencyworks.org/business/building-tune-up/ to start you HVAC optimization journey.
