Purpose of this curriculum:
Enhancing the energy efficiency of existing buildings is one of the prime priorities in combating climate change. As part of the Hong Kong, China Government’s Climate Action Plan, the Environment Bureau has launched a 4Ts partnership programme. Promoting retro-commissioning (RCx) to building owners is a key promulgated measure to reduce Hong Kong’s carbon emissions.
In 2017, Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) of Hong Kong, China issued the “Technical Guidelines on Retro-commissioning” (TC on RCx) (https://www.rcxrc.emsd.gov.hk). The TC on RCx frames RCx as a systemic process to periodically check an existing building’s performance to identify operational improvements that can save energy, lower energy bills, and improve the indoor environment. There are four stages in RCx, including Planning, Investigation, Implementation, and Ongoing commissioning. RCx initiates with the collection of operational data of energy consuming equipment/systems, followed by on-site measurement and testing, then through data analysis to propose the effective Energy Saving Opportunities (ESOs). Through the implementation of the prioritised ESOs, the operational performance of building systems improves, which in turn enhances the building energy efficiency and occupant comfort levels.
Active Training –
To endeavor the Government initiatives, the Hong Kong Green Building Council (HKGBC), a private sector professional body and partner to the Government, commenced the “ACT-Shop” Programme in 2016. This enthusiastic training programme aims to encourage building owners to enhance the energy performance of the existing buildings via the adoption of RCx. Existing buildings are the living laboratories throughout this training programme to drive RCx. Building owners could identify and prioritise the energy-saving improvement potentials based on the analysed data. Upon completing the four batches of pilot projects under the training programme, the engaged twenty-four (24) commercial buildings from thirteen (13) leading developers in Hong Kong, China, had saved about 16.4 million kWh. EMSD is leading by examples to widely implement RCx by batches in over 200 prominent government buildings, including government offices, municipal services buildings, markets, recreational facilities etc., since 2019. Up to the end of 2021, over 150 government buildings have implemented RCx. In the process of RCx, large numbers of ESOs were identified. The potential electricity saving is up to 5% of annual electricity consumption of the building.
Following the fruitful result from the training programme, EMSD and HKGBC signed a memorandum of co‐operation (MoC) with five professional institutions and universities in 2018. The MoC aims to promote RCx to enhance energy efficiency by engaging various buildings as pilot cases in the Guangdong‐Hong Kong‐Macao Greater Bay Area, China, to build a RCx best practice and knowledge network and showcase the successful RCx stories.
EMSD and HKGBC continued to extend the pilot projects in different buildings and contributed expertise and experience in RCx to public hospitals in 2019. Through the RCx, practical ESOs were identified for implementation in various public hospitals, which led to substantial energy savings. The project outcomes provide valuable references to the hospital operation teams undergoing the RCx, enhancing system operational efficiency, saving operation cost, and building capacity of operation staff on RCx. The RCx energy-saving project proudly won AEE’s Asia Pacific Rim Region Energy Project of the Year Award for 2019, recognising its outstanding energy and operation efficiency improvements.
In 2019-2020, EMSD and HKGBC organised RCx competition for organisations under the “Energy Saving Championship Scheme”, which attracted around 90 teams to participate, and a campaign “Green Schools 2.0 for RCx”, which included the development of demonstration video and “ACT-Shop” Programme as parts of STEM education, for tertiary education institutions. Throughout the RCx programme, the operators ‘ awareness of energy and operation efficiency in various building sectors was raised by promoting RCx knowledge-based energy management practices and sharing RCx experiences. The building operation culture transforms from operation and maintenance orientated to energy and operation-centric.
With the successful outcome of implementation of RCx pilot projects in private sectors and government premises, the two power companies in HK, also subsidise building owners to carry out energy efficiency improvement works under CLP’s Eco Building Fund and HK Electric’s Smart Power Building Fund. The schemes support the carrying out of retrofitting and retro-commissioning including the implementation of building-based smart technologies to enhance the energy efficiency of a wider range of buildings.
In-class Training –
Even though RCx can achieve savings with a short payback period, RCx is still emerging in other countries. One of the critical challenges is the lack of trained practitioners, professionals and recognised services providers. EMSD and HKGBC revealed that experience and knowledge on RCx are keys to enhance the energy efficiency of the existing buildings. The RCx practitioners, professionals and services providers shall all have an in-depth understanding of the operational characteristics of that individual buildings. Besides, the RCx experts shall be trained professionals with sound theoretical knowledge and data analytical skills instead of just following design guidebooks to tackle the unique characteristics in each buildings. In this connection, HKGBC, with the support of EMSD and seven professional institutions, namely Association of Energy Engineers Hong Kong Chapter, American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers Hong Kong Chapter, Building Services Operation and Maintenance Executives Society, Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers Hong Kong, Energy Institute, Hong Kong Association of Energy Engineers and Hong Kong Institution of Engineers Building Services Division, launched a comprehensive and systematic RCx Training and Registration Scheme. The objective of the Scheme is to furnish the trade with the RCx knowledge and skillsets in sustaining the extensive implementation of RCx in existing buildings. The Scheme’s ultimate goals are to pursue energy-efficient improvement in existing buildings through a knowledge-based management approach and develop training programme for the practitioners, professionals and qualified services providers.
The Scheme elevates the skill levels of RCx professionals and echoes the Government’s policy to promote RCx in enhancing the energy efficiency of existing buildings to attain energy reduction. There are over 1,200 industry practitioners who attended the Scheme, and over 400 trainees were successfully registered as RCx Practitioners and RCx Professionals. Moreover, the Scheme recognises experienced services providers and their RCx registered staff force to register as RCx Services Providers. The Scheme has effectively transformed the industry from experience-based to knowledge-based building energy management while recognising the professionalism of the practitioners and services providers.
Furthermore, HKGBC BEAM Plus Scheme is the Hong Kong’s leading initiative to offer independent assessments of building sustainability performance. The assessment of “BEAM Plus Existing Buildings” also covers retro-commissioning under the Energy Use aspects to recognise RCx as one of the tools for improving energy efficiency and enhancing environmental management practices of existing buildings in Hong Kong, China.
How is the material administered?
Live teacher required
Assessment Methods
Individual candidates shall successfully complete the HKGBC training programme and pass the examination. Candidates who have completed the training programme should be able to conduct RCx in their building. The programme offers opportunities for discussion on the challenges they are facing during the implementation of RCx, carry out the on-site evaluation, and provides technical advice to facilitate RCx implementation at their site.
Upon completing the training programme and passing the examination, the candidates must also fulfil the required academic qualification in the Engineering Discipline and specific years of relevant working experience for registration as RCx Professional, RCx Practitioner (Level 2) and RCx Practitioner (Level 1) accordingly. As a recognition, a list of RCx Professionals and Practitioners is posted on the HKGBC RCx Directory. Upon registration, the RCx Professionals and Practitioners must attend relevant continuing professional development (CPD) training or seminars regularly to keep abreast of their knowledge if they wish to uphold their professional status.
The registration scheme has recognised three types of RCx Services Providers. The first type of services provider is Facility Management Firms responsible for managing and operating building owners’ building services systems and equipment. The second type of services provider is the consultant responsible for planning the RCx, investigating RCx possibilities, and measuring and verifying the energy and cost savings. Contractors are the third type of services provider for implementing RCx and measuring energy savings. The RCx Services Providers shall have RCx experiences and employs registered RCx Practitioners and Professionals. The RCx Services Providers must provide RCx job experience when renewing their registration.
The Government shows appreciation to the Scheme and recognises these registered RCx Services Providers with the qualification in providing RCx services in public buildings. The industry also recognises these RCx Services Providers by engaging them to carry out comprehensive RCx and on-going commissioning in their buildings.
Programs for implementing training
According to engineering requirements and organisational structures, the RCx Training and Registration Scheme provides three levels of training, namely RCx Professional, RCx Practitioner (Level 2), and RCx Practitioner (Level 1) for executives.
RCx Professional Training RCx Professional Training offers 1.5-day in-class training for practitioners responsible for planning and managing building services and building operational performance. This training teaches candidates how to manage the RCx process, measurement and verification RCx outcomes, and develop RCx skills and practices. After training, the practitioners acquire the proficiency to manage RCx works and integrate RCx with energy conservation and innovation projects.
RCx Professional Training focuses on:
1. In-depth understanding on RCx
2. Discussion on the diagnosis of energy issues of building services in building design, modification and operation
3. Overview on use of data, database development, identification of ESOs, measurement & verification processes, and commissioning of building services
4. Roles and responsibilities of RCx Professional for implementing RCx
RCx Practitioner (Level 2) Training offers one-day in-class training for practitioners responsible for designing and commissioning building services and evaluating the operation performance. This training teaches candidates to use data and knowledge to assess operation symptoms and identify ESO. After training, practitioners should acquire the expertise to implement RCx and upgrade building services’ operation performance.
RCx Practitioner (Level 2) Training focuses on:
1. Comprehensive understanding on RCx
2. Discussion on the energy issues related to building services from design, modification and operation perspectives
3. Introduction on use of data, identification of ESOs
4. Roles and responsibilities of RCx Practitioner (Level 2) for implementing RCx
RCx Practitioner (Level 1) Training Offers 6-hour in-class training for practitioners responsible for daily operation and maintenance of building services. The training guides practitioners on how to facilitate RCx works in the building. After the training, they should acquire the skills to implement RCx.
RCx Practitioner (Level 1) Training focuses on:
1. Basic understanding on RCx
2. Discussion on the energy issues related to building services during daily operation and maintenance
3. Introduction on building services’ ESOs
4. Roles and responsibilities of RCx Practitioner (Level 1) for implementing RCx
Upon completing the corresponding training programme and passing the examination, candidates who fulfil pre-qualification requirements are encouraged to register for the Scheme. The candidate who obtained an academic qualification in an engineering discipline with professional qualified full membership and three years of relevant experience shall register as RCx Professional. Candidates with an academically talented degree or above in engineering discipline and one-year relevant experience shall register as RCx Practitioner (Level 2). Candidates with a certificate or above in engineering discipline and one-year relevant experience can register as RCx Practitioner (Level 1).