A properly tuned building automation system is the single most cost-effective way to cut HVAC energy use in an existing commercial building. The combination of high-performance sequences (ASHRAE Guideline 36), real-time submetering, automated demand response, and ongoing analytics typically delivers 20-40% HVAC energy reduction on retrofit projects, with paybacks in two to four years — verified against ASHRAE Guideline 14 measurement and verification protocols, not vendor marketing claims. Vertex does the work and writes down the savings.
WHAT WE DELIVER
Submetering — electrical, gas, water, BTU
Branch-circuit and main-feeder electrical submetering, gas meters, water meters, and chilled water/hot water BTU meters. Integrated onto the BAS via BACnet or Modbus, exposed as trended points with proper scaling and rollover handling.
ASHRAE Guideline 36 sequence implementation
AHU supply air temperature reset, static pressure reset, demand-controlled ventilation, optimal start/stop, condenser water reset, chiller staging optimization, and hydronic differential pressure reset — all per Guideline 36 reference sequences.
Automated demand response and load shedding
Utility signal integration (OpenADR where available), peak demand monitoring, sheddable load mapping, and pre-configured response sequences that drop load gracefully without compromising occupant comfort or critical operations.
Measurement & verification (M&V)
Baseline establishment, post-retrofit metering, ASHRAE Guideline 14 Option A/B/C/D methodology selection, and regular savings reports. Documentation that holds up in utility incentive applications.
Energy dashboards
Consumption by end-use, demand profiles, cost allocation across tenants, weather-normalized trending, and benchmarking against prior periods. Built into Niagara or exported to your reporting platform of choice.
Retro-commissioning (RCx) and ongoing tune-ups
Periodic sequence review, sensor recalibration, setpoint validation, schedule audit, and trend-based fault detection. Energy savings degrade over time without ongoing attention.
HOW WE WORK
Five stages we run on every energy project — adjustable to your timeline, but never skipped.
Energy audit and baseline
Walk the building, review utility bills, install short-term metering where it's missing, and establish a baseline against which we'll measure savings.
Opportunity assessment
Identify the highest-value sequences and submetering targets. Quantify expected savings per measure, with payback estimates based on local utility rates.
Implementation
Submetering install, sequence programming, demand response setup, and dashboard buildout — all on top of your existing BAS where possible.
Verification
Post-retrofit metering, M&V calculation per Guideline 14, and a written savings report. Required for most utility incentive programs.
Persistence
Quarterly tune-ups, trend review, sequence drift correction, and alarm response — so the savings still exist two years from now.
STANDARDS WE WORK TO
- ASHRAE Guideline 36-2021High-performance sequences of operation. The reference standard for HVAC controls energy performance.
- ASHRAE Standard 90.1Energy Standard for Buildings — minimum efficiency for HVAC, lighting, and envelope systems. The baseline most utility incentive programs reference.
- ASHRAE Guideline 14Measurement of Energy, Demand, and Water Savings. The documented methodology for verifying savings claims.
- ENERGY STAR Portfolio ManagerEPA's free benchmarking tool. We populate it and use it for portfolio-level energy reporting.
TYPICAL PROJECTS
Existing building with no submetering and 15-year-old sequences. We submeter, implement Guideline 36 sequences, run a 12-month M&V protocol, and produce documentation the utility accepts for incentive payout.
Office building with shared HVAC and an owner who wants to bill tenants for actual energy use. We submeter at the tenant level, implement BTU metering on chilled water if applicable, and feed allocations to the property management system.
Building hit by punishing utility demand charges. We map sheddable loads, install demand monitoring, and implement automated load-shed sequences that hold demand below the target.
Building with sequences that worked at commissioning but have drifted. Quarterly retro-commissioning service catches sequence regression, sensor drift, and schedule chaos before it shows up on the utility bill.
RELEVANT CASE STUDIES
Medical Office BAS Upgrade: 200,000 sq ft
Full controls retrofit of a 200,000 sq ft medical office building from proprietary DDC to Niagara N4 with BACnet integration. 32% energy reduction in year one.
Industrial Facility Energy Optimization
Chiller plant and air handling optimization for an industrial facility. Submetering, demand response, and automated sequencing delivered 38% HVAC energy reduction.