Seattle Building Tune-Upsย aim to optimize energy and water performance by identifying low- or no-cost actions related to building operations and maintenance, that generate 10-15% in energy savings, on average. Tune-Ups are required every five years for buildings in the City of Seattle with 50,000 square feet or more of non-residential space (excluding parking). The largest buildings have collectively achieved 97% compliance with the new regulation resulting in nearly 330 completed Tune-Ups.
Compliance takes time, often between 6 and 12 months, and many owners use the grace period to complete implementation and verification of required corrective actions. Initiate conversations with your customers now to ensure there is adequate time to complete the on-site building assessment and follow through on required corrective actions. HVAC operations dominate the most commonly found deficiencies. Many including HVAC set point adjustments and sensor calibration fixes were identified and made in nearly half of all Tune-Ups submitted to date.
Owners of smaller buildings must meet the new Tune-Up mandate, April 1, 2021 for Cohort 3 buildings (70,000 to 99,999 square feet) and October 1, 2021 for Cohort 4 buildings (50,000 to 69,999 square feet). In addition to saving energy and water, conducting a Tune-Up can also help with preparing your building for operation during and/or after the COVID-19 pandemic.
All work associated with a Building Tune-Up must be done by a qualifiedย Tune-Up Specialist, the experienced professionals responsible for conducting the building assessment, identifying required Tune-Up actions, performing those actions, verifying the work is done correctly, and submitting a report to the City.
As a certified Level II Building Operator (BOC), youโre well on your way to qualifying as a Tune-Up Specialist. Tune-Up Specialists must have least seven years of experience, including educational and/or professional experience, with commercial building operations and/or building energy managementย ANDย have one of the following certifications:
- Professional Engineer (PE) in mechanical or architectural engineering
- Building Operator Certification (BOC) Level II
- Certified Energy Manager (CEM)
- Certified Commissioning Professional (CCP)
- Commissioning Authority (CxA)
- Existing Building Commissioning Professional (EBCP)
- Sustainable Building Science Technology Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS)
Theย Northwest Energy Efficiency Council (NEEC) has aย directory of qualified Tune-Ups Specialists. If you meet the qualifications of a Tune-Up Specialist and would like to be a part of this list, please submit a Tune-Up Specialist registration via the Seattle Services Portal.
If youโre a Tune-Up Specialist looking for literature or information to share with your clients about the program and its requirements, feel free to use the Tune-Ups Fact Sheet and Ownerโs Guide.
For inquiries or questions, please email [email protected] or call 206-727-8863 (TUNE). To learn more about Seattle Building Tune-Ups, visitย www.seattle.gov/buildingtuneups.