What is a Building Tune Up?

Just as your car requires regular tune-ups to run smoothly and efficiently, buildings need tune-ups too. Over time, buildings become less efficient, using more energy to satisfy use more energy than they should to satisfy occupant comfort, heating, and lighting requirements.

A building tune up, also known as Continuous Optimization, applies simple, yet effective, strategies to tweak existing building systems to shave off as much electrical and thermal energy as possible, while maintaining or even improving comfort and then sustaining this new ‘optimized’ state through real-time performance monitoring, targeting and reporting.

Why is UBC implementing a Building Tune Up Program?

Energy use in buildings accounts for over 95% of UBC's greenhouse gas emissions. This program is a key part of UBC’s Climate Action Plan target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 33 per cent below 2007 levels by 2015.  The initiative—along with improved behaviour program—is targeting a 10% reduction in campus energy consumption and GHG emissions by 2015.

What kind of changes will happen in my building?

Most of the work takes place behind-the-scenes, such as re-setting building controls and re-programming systems to manage heating, cooling and ventilation more intelligently. Where needed, we will make physical upgrades, such as installing energy-efficient fluorescent light bulbs.

To learn more, you can read about what happened in Buchanan Tower and Neville Scarfe during the pilot.

How will we measure success? How can you monitor progress?

Separate targets will be set in each building to measure any reductions in electricity and steam. These targets are based on the results of recent energy audits.

Each building’s performance against these targets will be monitored using real-time energy management software provided by Pulse Energy. Monthly and annual progress reports will track whether the buildings are on course to achieve the targets. The Operations Centre will be alerted to overconsumption of energy, in real time, and will investigate the cause and return the building to its ‘optimized’ state.

Ultimately, the program’s success lies in achieving an overall 12% reduction in energy use in the participating buildings.

What can I do personally to save energy?

What you plug in to outlets can have a large impact on your building’s electricity use, including computers, printers and office equipment. In a typical building, these “plug loads” account for 10-30% of electricity use while lighting can be as high as 30-45%. Plus, the waste heat given off by equipment can also trigger the air conditioning in certain buildings—placing even more demand on our electricity supply.

Computers and monitors present the biggest opportunity for you to help save energy on campus.  Did you know that screen savers actually do very little to reduce power consumption? Instead, set your computer's power-saving option to turn off your monitor and computer when they are not in use.

What You Can Do

• Switch off the lights when you leave a room. If you don’t need all the lights in your office, consider turning a couple off to save energy.
• Plug your computer, monitor, printer and peripherals into one power bar. At the end of each day, turn off your power bar to stop all the equipment from drawing power.
• On bright summer days, turn out the lights to keep your room cool and close your blinds and curtains to reduce the need for air conditioning.
• During winter, open your blinds to help heat the room with sunlight; close your windows, blinds and curtains at night to retain heat.
• Most buildings at UBC are programmed to turn down the temperature at night—bring a sweater if you will be working after hours.

How can I help with the program in my building?

We want your feedback--if you are uncomfortable, please contact Trouble Calls at 604-822-2173 or submit a request online so we can address the root of the problem and find a permanent solution.

Please be patient while we ‘tune up’ your building – optimization is an iterative process. But we are committed to minimizing the impact on you.

How will I be affected?

The changes will be particular to each building and should occur behind-the-scenes to minimize disruption. Typical energy conservation measures include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Turning down the heat at night
• Shutting off pumps that circulate hot water to sinks at night
• Scheduling fans to run only during occupied hours
• Demand-controlled ventilation
• Chiller optimization

Why did you choose my building?

All UBC academic and administrative buildings that have energy meters and met floor space and energy consumption criteria were selected.

How long will this take?

From 2010 to 2014, a new group of UBC buildings will begin the process every year. In total, we will be tuning up 72 buildings across campus.

For each building, the complete process takes three years to complete:

• Year 1: Consultants complete an audit, recommend energy efficiency measures and identify the expected savings in energy use.
• Year 2: UBC Building Operations staff and contractors make programming changes to the building management system and conduct physical retrofits, such as replacing lighting.
• Year 3: Building Operations staff monitor building performance and continue adjusting the system to maintain any improvements. . 

Who will be doing the work?

First, engineering consultants will conduct a building audit. Afterwards, you will see a combination of Building Operations staff and contractors in your building, implementing system changes behind-the-scenes or making any necessary retrofits.

Will this disrupt my workday or office space?

Generally, most of the changes will occur behind-the-scenes so you shouldn’t be disrupted.

Keep in mind that Continuous Optimization takes three years from start to finish in any building. During the first year, you might see consultants walking around while they conduct the initial audit of your building. Later during the second year, you may come across a tradesperson who needs to enter your office to change the light bulb or make a physical upgrade to the building. But most changes will be made through the computerized Building Management System (BMS) during the implementation phase and we’ll be monitoring building performance using a real-time energy management software provided by Pulse Energy.

What’s a Building Management System (BMS)?

A Building Management System (BMS) is a computerized system to control and monitor a building’s mechanical and electrical equipment, including ventilation, heating, cooling and lighting systems.

At UBC, over 100 buildings are linked to the central Building Management System, which is monitored by Building Operations staff from their desks. By making changes to the BMS configuration, we can reduce building energy use by up to 30%! This is the focus of the Continuous Optimization Program.

Can you fix my building’s problems?

Through Continuous Optimization, we will help buildings operate as efficiently as their age and condition will allow. We hope that your level of comfort will stay the same or even improve. But only low-cost changes that contribute to lowering energy use in your building are in scope – the program can’t change the way your building was designed.

It’s too hot/too cold/drafty/stuffy – what should I do?

Please call Trouble Calls at 604-822-2173 or submit a request online.

How can I find out more?

Read an article about the pilot that was completed in two buildings.

If you gather a group of 12 or more colleagues from your building, we can arrange a lunch ’n' learn presentation about the specific changes in your building. Contact Lillian Zaremba, Climate and Energy Engineer, to arrange.