Monitoring-Based Commissioning should be viewed as an ongoing operational maintenance, performance, and reliability program continuing throughout the building’s life, not a temporary project with a defined end date.
Initial intensive period (Months 1-12): The first year typically involves more intensive engagement. The MBCx provider establishes monitoring infrastructure, configures analytics platforms, conducts baseline testing, identifies initial optimization opportunities, and implements improvements. Monthly or quarterly reviews identify issues and track resolution. This period generates the most immediate energy savings and addresses low-hanging fruit. The earlier it is understood in a project that MBCx is needed, the better the design of the building automation or management systems performing the day-to-day control and alarming of the project. This will inform the point selection and mapping process, potentially identifying whether additional points or sensors are needed to support an accurate performance and operational history to support MBCx. Design-Build, Integrated Project Delivery, and Energy Projects will also benefit from early coordination of their building management and automation systems, and which points will be needed to feed the MBCx program. While this early coordination is a best-case scenario, many MBCx decisions remain to be made at various phases during design, construction, and even post-turnover to operations.
Steady-state monitoring (Years 2+): After initial optimization, the program transitions to steady-state monitoring with less frequent intervention. Quarterly or semi-annual reviews track performance, identify emerging issues, and implement periodic optimizations. Annual functional testing verifies continued proper operation. The focus shifts from initial optimization to preventing degradation and maintaining achieved savings. Close coordination with facilities and their maintenance plans is needed to ensure any repairs, replacements, or modernization efforts are captured in the MBCx and baselines adjusted where necessary.
Program duration rationale: Building systems continuously degrade, sensors drift, actuators stick, sequences get overridden, and operators make well-intentioned but problematic adjustments. Studies show commissioned buildings without ongoing oversight could lose ~50-80% of commissioning benefits within 3-5 years. MBCx prevents this degradation, ensuring initial design, construction, and commissioning investments persist.
Economic justification: If MBCx costs $0.10-0.25 per square foot annually and generates energy savings of $0.30-0.60 per square foot annually (typical results), the program pays for itself continuously. Discontinuing MBCx after initial savings risks losing those benefits.
Alternative durations: Some owners implement MBCx for fixed periods (3-5 years) to address specific performance issues or meet grant/incentive requirements. While better than no ongoing commissioning, this approach risks performance degradation after program conclusion.
Reduced-intensity alternatives: Budget-constrained owners may reduce MBCx intensity after initial years, with less frequent reviews, a narrower scope, remote-only monitoring, and maintaining some ongoing oversight at a lower cost. Some owners may also program features of the MBCx program into their BAS if their local controllers, CPU’s and servers can handle this added volume of data analysis.
The optimal approach treats MBCx as essential facility management infrastructure similar to work order management systems, maintenance contracts, or energy management programs, ongoing services supporting building performance and protecting capital investments.
For discussion of appropriate MBCx program duration and intensity for your building, contact Catalyst Commissioning Group at info@catalystcx.com.