Colorado-Real-Estate-Journal_437196

INSIDE O ver the past few years, building owners, finance teams and facilities opera- tors have been benchmark- ing their building’s energy usage to determine their Energy Use Index. This EUI lets them know where they stand for compliance. Both Building Performance Stan- dards and Energize Denver have established EUI targets for each building. If your EUI is below that target, the building is in good shape and doesn’t need to do anything. But many buildings in Colorado do need to make some energy-efficient upgrades. For many, reducing the EUI of a building can be achieved by replacing aged equipment, and electrification. Completing these tasks will reduce energy waste, but it’s best to have a plan in place that considers the esti- mated kilowatt- hour reduction and associated utility savings to determine which projects will have the most impact and the best simple payback. Strategies that lower EUI Once the EUI for a building is known, so is the amount of energy reduction that needs to take place. Making changes without a plan rarely reduces the EUI enough to become compliant. It is important to put a strategy in place that con- siders both budget and the antici- pated payback period. The below engineering services are effective, tried and true strategies that drive down a building’s EUI. n Low- to no-cost solutions. Engi- neering consulting firms can pro- vide retro-commissioning to ana- lyze a building for suggestions as to where existing equipment can be upgraded as well as low- to no-cost energy-efficiency measures. RCx is the process of evaluating, optimiz- ing, and improving the performance of existing building systems and equipment to enhance energy effi- ciency, occupant comfort and func- tionality. Many facilities staff are very tal- ented at what they do, though turn- over can be a barrier to knowing how to best operate building-spe- cific systems or receive necessary training. Bringing in an RCx special- ist helps ensure the facilities team is operating equipment such that there Regular electrical maintenance is required to keep equipment from deteriorating Maintain Manage liability exposure: Snow removal is more than plows and shovels Snow patrol PAGE 12 Leadership is vital to development of young emerging professionals BOMA January 2025 PAGES 16-19 PAGE 8 Lauren Monti Senior marketing specialist and sustainability associate, iconergy You know your Energy Use Index, now what? Please see Monti, Page 23