California Commissioning Collaborative

Meeting Minutes

November 19, 2004

PacificEnergyCenter

San Francisco, CA

Attendees

Board

/

Advisory Council

/

Other Attendees

Gregg Ander

/ Martha Brook / Richard Chien
Ed Becker / Doug Chamberlin / Greg Cunningham
Grant Duhon / Tav Commins / Cliff Federspiel
Nancy Jenkins / Don Frey / Phil Haves
Arun Jhaveri / Ken Gillespie / Ed Jerome
Jim Parks / Randall Higa / Jim Koeppel
Dan Burgoyne (alternate for Richard Conrad) / David Jump / Rick Miller
Don Little / Patrick Pico
Bill Pennington / Amanda Potter
Treasa Sweek / Erik Ring
Glenn Friedman / Mike Savone
Jesse Smith
Maia Speer
Phil Welker
John Wimer

Introductions

Grant Duhon, CCC Board Chair, welcomed everyone.

Presentations

1. Cx Forum – Phil Welker, PECI

At the previous CCC meeting on August 10, 2004, PECI presented the results of a survey of 17 building owners and suggested that the CCC deliver four one-day commissioning information/training sessions targeting building owners. As a follow up, recommendations were presented for the target audience, content, marketing strategies and budget for these forums.

PECI recommended targeting energy/facility managers who report up to a VP or Director, and providing them both the technical and financial case information they need to implement commissioning. It was suggested to incorporate a trade show at the event, with local and regional vendors of commissioning services and related products. Recommended cities for the forums are theSan Francisco area, Sacramento, Los Angeles area and San Diego. Several organizations were identified to work as “messaging partners” to advertise the event, including: utilities, CEC, chambers of commerce, BOMA, IFMA, USGBC, IREM, ASHRAE, ACCA, city and county offices of energy and sustainability, Sustainable Silicon Valley, Silicon Valley Manufacturers’ Group, Energy Committee, E-Source, AIA.

CCC Board members and attendees made several suggestions for this event: 1) Identify LEED and introduce it to attendees while keeping the focus of the forum on commissioning; 2) Investigate similar forums being held in NY State for schools; 3) Include case studies and possibly a peer-to-peer presentation in the introductory session, customized to each city using local buildings and owners; 4) Make CEUs available to attendees; 5) Consider applying for grants to fund this and other CCC projects; 6) Incorporate action items into the agenda to help attendees not only take in the information but take action when they return to their building, for example, an implementation strategy with specific steps; 7) Seek co-sponsorships/co-branding from BOMA, IFMA and E-Source.

Action Items:PECI will conduct further informal research with energy/facility managers tocreate the agenda topics. PECI will also begin talking to messaging partners to gain their advertising/financial support, and to utilities and other organizations about providing space.

2. Market Research – Phil Welker, PECI

A presentation outlining five research questions was offered to the group for comment. The research questions are:

  1. What are the odds that any new, un-commissioned building will have flaws that financially impact the owner?
  2. What are the effects of those flaws on the building owner and occupants?
  3. What is the value to the owner of reducing the probability of flaws, the costs of commissioning as compared to other risk mitigate strategies and the price point commissioning needs to meet to remain competitive?
  4. Which commissioning processes meet these price points?
  5. What is the probability that these commissioning processes will prevent building flaws and deliver value to the owner?

Members commented that if this research is to be successful in producing data that owners find convincing, it will need to overcome several existing barriers to commissioning, including the fact that owners already believe they deserve a flawless building, and that owners use other means, like indemnification, to guard against risk. The group noted that packaging the information in a language that speaks to owners will be crucial. The significant effect of the recommendations of architects and engineers on the decisions of the building owner was also noted. The suggestion was made to target specific building types, or to create a matrix to identify which building and owner types would be the best target for this information. Attendees indicated that DPIC, Farnsworth Group and PACRAT may have data that would be helpful in this effort.

Overall the group indicated that the project should start by determining the value that reducing the probability of building flaws will have for an owner and the price point that commissioining will have to meet (question #3). The goal will be to gain a comprehensive understanding of the decision-making process around corporate real estate, as it differs by market segment. Who are the decision-makers? What are their goals? Where do they get their information? What kind of information do they value? The group suggested that this effort involve developing and testing some marketing strategies with building owners/operators as a starting point.

Action items:PECI will refine the scope of the research.

3. Acceptance Testing Training – Amanda Potter, PECI

This presentation outlinedthe proposed scope to develop curriculum and hold trainings to support the revised CA Building Standards taking effect on October 1, 2005. The proposal includes holding trainings in three locations and offering a modular schedule to allow participants to attend only those parts that interest them. Organizations that will be asked to help promote the trainings include: utilities, CEC, CCC, BCA, ACCA, USGBC, ASHRAE, IHACI, SMACA, MCAA, MSCA, AABC, AIA CA Council.

CCC members suggested targeting trainings to areas where there is the largest amount of building, like OrangeCounty. Grant Duhon indicated that Savings-by-Design will also be providing trainings in its service territory. Others recommended using a “train the trainers” approach. Patrick Pico volunteered that Cal SMACA could provide venues that would allow for hands-on demonstrations in LA and the Bay Area.

Action Items:PECI will work with Mr. Pico to identify appropriate facilities for the trainings.

4. Qualifications updates to CCC web site – Amanda Potter, PECI

At the previous CCC meeting on August 10, 2004, Phil Welker presented the certification committee’s recommendation to add three new sections to the CCC website to help owners select Cx providers.

Thethreeproposed sections include:

  1. How to select a Cx provider
  2. What to consider when selecting a Cx provider
  3. Recommended provider qualifications
  4. Information on various certifications
  5. Cx provider profiles
  6. Overview of qualifications
  7. Link to provider website
  8. Sample Cx documents
  9. Sample Cx documents
  10. Good examples of scope of work, Cx plan, Cx final report, design intent document, issues log, and systems manual
  11. Sample RfQ and RfP

At this meeting, PECI presented the material developed for Section 1, How to Select a Cx Provider for review by the Board and Advisory Council. It was agreed that the Advisory Council Chair, Don Frey, will solicit feedback from the Advisory Council on the documents presented. The group suggested that CCC consider adding sample contract documents to the site. It was noted that the CCC should differentiate documents for different building types, involving more or less comprehensive Cx processes. It was also recommended that the CCC consult a FEMP document, “Procurement of Architectural and Engineering Services for Sustainable Buildings,” as an example.

Action Items:PECI will work with Don Frey, the Advisory Chair,to incorporate comments from the advisory council and finalize all documents needed for the three new sections of the CCC website.

5. Administration Update – Amanda Potter, PECI

New administrative tasks were described, as well as the administrative budget for 2004/5. New tasks include adding provider qualifications and selection criteria to the CCC web site, managing the on-line library, and writing/distributing on-line newsbriefs/newsletter.

Members suggested creating a CCC listserve to allow for continuous discussion among members. It was noted that the current administrative costs do not include insurance and audits, but that PECI will attempt to incorporate those costs in the existing budget.

6. Antitrust Policy – Phil Welker, PECI

The CCC’s antitrust policy was presented.Members were cautioned about behavior that may constitute antitrust violations and possible consequences. Members were also advised as to preventative actions, both as individuals and for the CCC as an organization.

7. Announcements

a. Dan Burgoyne, DSA, announced that the governor will soon be announcing a major energy-efficiency initiative that will require Cx and LEED on all new projects and require RCx on all existing buildings

b. Phil Welker, PECI, announced that in the future, all handouts for CCC meetings will be posted to the website with a link sent to members in advance, and that hard copy handouts would only be used when necessary.