Business Energy Assessments provide affordable building analysis for Xcel Energy customers

Aug 3, 2022
office building

Did you know it is recommended by industry experts to recommission commercial, educational, and healthcare buildings every five to seven years? As your building ages, mechanical and controls systems need to be fine-tuned to meet increasing energy needs and/or return to their original operational design intents. When energy experts thoroughly assess your building, they can identify low- and no-cost operational improvements to reduce energy costs, extend equipment life, and meet sustainability goals.

Xcel Energy Minnesota commercial customers now have access to affordable whole-building energy assessments through the Business Energy Assessments (BEA) program. BEA, provided by CEE’s engineering team, replaces Xcel Energy’s recommissioning program and has been redesigned to include a wider range of building types and sizes.

CEE's engineering team offers free building screenings to determine if a Business Energy Assessment is likely to identify significant savings opportunities. Xcel Energy provides co-funding to qualified pre-screened buildings to reduce the cost of assessments. Ideal candidates for BEA include buildings with central chillers or DX cooling, boilers, centralized HVAC systems, building automation systems (BAS), 50,000 sq. ft. or more space, or any business looking to save energy and implement conservation measures.

During the whole-building assessment, CEE engineers analyze:

  • HVAC recommissioning opportunities for air-handling units including:
    • Air leakage reduction
    • Coil cleaning
    • Economizer optimization
    • Outside air reduction
    • Run-time reduction
    • Supply air static pressure adjustments/reset
    • Air temperature reset
    • Lighting efficiency/optimization and scheduling improvements
    • Variable air volume (VAV) minimum flow reduction
    • Unoccupied setback
  • Commercial refrigeration recommissioning opportunities
  • Lighting schedule adjustments
  • Cost-effective capital improvements for all major energy consuming end uses (e.g., lighting, HVAC, refrigeration, motors, etc.)

Using the data from this analysis, CEE’s engineers develop a customized energy management roadmap detailing existing equipment, recommendations on best operating practices, and step-by-step instructions for implementing energy efficiency and conservation opportunities.

An in-depth analysis of a building’s energy systems will help business owners understand how to optimize existing equipment, resulting in reduced energy usage and operating costs and greater environmental savings. CEE’s engineers will guide you through the implementation process for any recommendations you decide to move forward with, complete and submit rebate paperwork, and access grants and financing options.

Learn more about the BEA program and sign up for a free building screening at mncee.org/BEA.