Existing Building Commissioning (EBCx)
Existing Building Commissioning (EBCx) helps owners understand how their buildings are operating, identify and resolve operational issues that affect efficiency, reliability, and occupant comfort, and create a stronger foundation for long-term building performance.
Buildings change over time. Valves, dampers, and actuators fail, controls are modified and drift out of calibration, occupancy changes, spaces are repositioned, and operational priorities evolve. These changes can create hidden performance issues that affect efficiency, reliability, and occupant comfort.
Existing Building Commissioning (EBCx) helps owners identify root causes, improve system performance, and prioritize practical operational improvements. Optimizing existing systems before investing in major capital projects can improve reliability, reduce energy use, and support long-term facility performance. EBCx is often the best first step and lowest cost action towards decarbonization.
Common Challenges We Help Solve
Operational issues often develop as buildings age, systems change, and facility requirements evolve.
Challenges include:
Buildings that were never properly commissioned
Persistent occupant comfort complaints
Rising energy use and utility costs
Equipment operating outside intended parameters
Control sequences that lack energy conserving routines
Unstable temperatures, airflow, or pressure relationships
Recurring and deferred maintenance issues
Limited visibility into system performance
Aging facilities with changing operational needs
Instrumentation in need of calibration
Air and water flows out of balance
Meeting corporate decarbonization goals
Failed devices
Our Approach
Every building operates differently. We begin by understanding how your facility is intended to perform before identifying practical opportunities for improvement.
Analyze Performance
Conduct field observations, measurements, functional testing, trend data, and operational reviews to evaluate system performance.
Identify Root Causes
Determine why issues occur so recommendations address the source of the problem—not just the symptoms.
Evaluate Existing Conditions
Review building systems, controls, documentation, and historical operating data to establish current conditions.
Meet with facility staff to understand operational problems, maintenance practices, occupant concerns, and performance goals.
Understand Building Operations
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Verify Performance
Support implementation and verify that completed improvements achieve the intended operational results.
Operator Training
We involve facilities personnel throughout the process and train them on the changes that have been made and on-going commissioning
Implement Changes
Develop scopes of work, manage subcontractors, and commission the changes
Recommend improvements based on operational impact, implementation effort, facility goals, available resources, carbon footprint reduction and return on investment.
Prioritize Improvements
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What We Evaluate
Building Systems
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Central plants
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HVAC systems
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Air and water distribution systems
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Terminal equipment
Controls & Automation
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Building Automation Systems (BAS)
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Sequences of operation
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Energy conservation strategies
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Instrumentation
Operational Performance
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Occupant comfort
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Equipment operation
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System stability
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Energy performance
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Site greenhouse gas emissions
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Fluid flows (TAB)
Supporting Data
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Owners project requirements
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Basis of design
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Utility consumption
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Trend logs
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Maintenance records
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Testing and balancing reports
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Occupant feedback
Deliverables
EBCx Services at a Glance
Existing conditions assessment
Operational performance evaluation
Functional performance testing
Controls review
Depending on project goals, deliverables may include:
Prioritized recommendations
EBCx report including budgets and economic analysis
Utility incentive calculations and applications
Implementation scopes of work
Owners project management
Verification of completed improvements
Record documents and training
Continuous commissioning plan
Benefits
Existing Building Commissioning provides a clearer understanding of how your building is operating and identifies practical opportunities for long-term improvement.
Benefits may include:
Greater visibility into building performance
Improved occupant comfort and system reliability
Reduced reactive maintenance
Better-informed operational and capital planning
Lower energy use and operating costs
Lower site greenhouse gas emissions
A stronger foundation for modernization and electrification initiatives
Why B2Q?
B2Q approaches Existing Building Commissioning from the owner's perspective. We combine commissioning, engineering, controls, and facility operations experience to develop practical improvements that facility teams can implement and maintain.
Clients choose B2Q for our:
Owner-focused approach
Collaborative work with facility teams
Root-cause problem solving
Experience with existing building systems
Practical recommendations that support long-term performance
Strong track record of success
Related Services
Monitoring-Based Commissioning (MBCx)
Building Analytics & Continuous Optimization
Controls Optimization
Energy Audits & Assessments