Growing the Commissioning Industry in California: A Collaborative Effort

Grant Duhon, Pacific Gas & Electric Company
Phil Welker, Amanda Potter, and Emily Moore, Portland Energy Conservation, Inc.

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Abstract

Brought together by a shared interest in advancing building commissioning practices in California, a diverse group of industry professionals joined together in 2000 and formed the California Commissioning Collaborative (CCC). Since its inception, the CCC has worked to transform the commissioning market in California by promoting commissioning education, training, and standards. The CCC is guided by a Board of Directors and Advisory Council comprised of government, utility and building services professionals, all committed to improving building performance and commissioning practices in California. This diverse group has afforded valuable support and direction to the CCC, resulting in many important projects, including:

Commissioning Case Study Database – The CCC developed an on-line database of commissioning projects, which will be used to conduct cost-benefit analyses on selected projects;
Commissioning Outreach – The CCC hosts a website for disseminating commissioning information, and now manages an on-line library, news briefs, and quarterly Enewsletter; and
Training Strategy – The CCC is researching training needs of building owners, commissioning providers and contractors, and will develop a commissioning training strategy for California.

Indeed, in its first few years, the CCC has made great progress and earned a reputation as an important player in the California commissioning industry. Now, to further its goals and better facilitate its administration and funding contracts, the organization is gaining 501(c)(3) status. This paper highlights the CCC’s role in developing California’s commissioning industry, shares tactics the CCC has developed to transform the commissioning market, and provides an overview of current and future projects.