• Verify that outside air (OSA) dampers are closed during unoccupied hours, including morning warm-up periods. Fresh air is critical, but heating OSA when it is not needed increases energy costs. Typically 15 cubic feet per minute (CFM) of OSA per person is standard.
• Confirm that the amount of outside air matches occupant load. An inexpensive improvement is CO2 or VOC sensors to match expensive outside air to occupant load.
• Be sure damper motors are operating properly.
• Confirm that the OSA economizer is functioning properly and using free cooling when the OSA temperature is below about 65°F.
• Check that exhaust fans are running only during occupied times. Check that dampers close when the fan is not operating and adjust fan belt tension.
• Inspect control schedules to heat only sections of the building as needed. For electric space heating, stagger start times to help reduce demand charges.
• Monitor stack temperatures on fossil fuel boilers. If the stack temperature is more than 400°F above the boiler room temperature, schedule the boiler for a tune-up.
• Turn off circulation pumps during unoccupied times if no freeze conditions exist, and check hot water insulation levels.
• Install controls to automatically reset hot and cold deck temperatures based on the space demand.
• Check multiple parallel chillers for light load operation. Check chillers for cycling and use the smallest chiller.
• Verify that the building control system is going into night setback during unoccupied hours.
• Check valves in your HVAC system to make sure that simultaneous heating and cooling does not occur.
• Confirm your adjustable speed drives (ASDs) are not running constantly at 100 percent speed. Most ASDs have an output monitor to report percentage of operation. Decreasing motor speed to 50 percent only uses 1/8 of the energy of a motor running at 100 percent.
• Change out 50-watt incandescent exit lights with 3-7 watt LED exit lights, which last 25 years.
• Upgrade to energy efficient fixtures.
• Install electronic timers on parking lot lighting to turn off at a selected time rather than burning all night long. Allow sufficient lighting for safety and security.

Source: Washington State Department of General Administration, Facilities Engineering Services