Detailed Guidance For Specific Tabs

Detailed Guidance For Specific Tabs of the Tune-ups Report Workbook

Instructions is an introductory page that orients the user to the report template. It contains similar information as this guide.

A. General Building Info & B. Tune-up Specialist Info. These tabs are where basic information about the building, the owner, the tune-up specialist, and, if applicable, the building manager or owner’s representative is collected. It does not require a site visit. This information will be used to verify qualifications and assist in any required follows-ups that may occur during the review process.

C. Building Characteristics. A site visit to the building is required to record basic information about major building components in this section, such as primary heating, cooling, ventilation, and domestic hot water systems. The tune-up specialist is also required to characterize the building envelope and whether the building has a building automation system on this page.

Also on this tab, the tune-up specialist must list the 5 most energy intensive space uses for the building using Energy Star Portfolio Manager’s classifications (i.e. office, retail, etc.). Up to 5 uses can be listed and should be ordered from the largest energy use to the smallest use. For example, a 100,000 square foot (sq. ft.) mixed use commercial building that is mostly office but also contains retail space would be characterized as:

• 85,000 sq. ft. Commercial Office

• 15,000 sq. ft. Retail

D. Summary of Tune-Up Findings. This tab is typically completed last, once all portions of the building have been reviewed and all energy saving opportunities in both the ‘required’ and ‘voluntary’ categories have been assessed. The tune-up specialists will identify and note here the five best opportunities that will result in the most savings from both categories.

The tune-up specialist must also summarize their approach to sampling building elements if sampling was used in the Tune-Up process. Sampling may be applied to assessing multiple pieces of repetitive, identical equipment (e.g. fan coils, plumbing fixtures, or lighting sensors on the same schedules). The sample must include at least 15 percent of each identical piece of equipment, but no fewer than ten (10) of each in buildings 50,000 - 99,999 sq. ft. and no fewer than 20 in buildings 100,000 sq. ft. or larger.

As noted above, if sampling is employed, the tune-up specialist must describe the sampling approach. Example responses may include: full census (no sampling); 15% by floor area; 15% by equipment; or response may reference a commonly used industry standard such as the International Performance Measurement & Verification Protocol and its guidance for determining energy and water savings.

E-H. Assessment Tabs for Major Building Components. For each tab, the tune-up specialist must first assess ALL elements in the Assessment Element column (column B). For each Assessment Element, the tune-Up specialist must indicate whether a deficiency was observed or not using the Tune-Up Finding drop-down list (column D). This is required for all Assessment Elements. 

A ‘deficiency’ is when an element does not meet the building owner’s requirements or needs maintenance or repair. 

• An operational adjustment to the schedule, settings, or calibration of an element is required only if they are found to be outside of building owner/manager specifications. An appropriate operational adjustment can be made to existing equipment without purchasing new equipment. 

• This also means that repairs or basic maintenance on equipment must be made if needed. An appropriate maintenance action is one that is commonly considered to be standard or normal maintenance. Implementation of corrective action(s) is required when the Corrective Action field (column C) is highlighted in green, or voluntary when highlighted in yellow. 

Implementation may be completed by the tune-up specialist or someone else qualified, such as in-house staff or another vendor. The tune-up specialist must verify the completion of the work and indicate whether the corrective action was implemented in the Status of Tune-Up Corrections dropdown list (column E). If no deficiency was observed, no response is required in column E. 

When the End Condition/Current Condition field (column H) is not greyed out, the tune-up specialist will describe either the end condition or current condition. If a deficiency was observed and the corrective action(s) has been implemented, this should represent the end condition post implementation. Otherwise, this should represent the current condition. Please make sure to address the topics described in column G. 

The Description of Extenuating Circumstances field (column I) should be filled out when there are reasons preventing the corrective action from being done.

I. Certification Page. When tabs C-H are complete, the tune-up specialist will digitally sign the report by typing their full name and date in the requisite boxes, certifying that they have shared the tune-up findings with the building owner and that all the information and statements in the workbook are correct to the best of their knowledge.

J. Submittal Page. When all other tabs are complete, the property owner or their designee will digitally sign the report by typing their full name and date in the requisite boxes, certifying that they have reviewed the Tune-up Report Workbook and approve its submittal to the City of Madison.