A project has been implemented to investigate building commissioning practice on commercial buildings in southern California and to quantify their associated energy savings. Discusses the approach used to evaluate whether commissioning can be used as an effective energy-saving measure. The project identified commissioning costs, savings, standard practices, and obstacles. The findings are being used to design and implement a program to establish new and retrofit commissioning practices, selection criteria, services, and end-use monitoring protocols. Project results will help utility planners design and implement future building commissioning programs so that customers can be assured that buildings operate as specified and with consistent performance.

KEYWORDS: year 1996, commissioning, calculating, performance, energy conservation, commercial, buildings, USA, costs, economics, computer programs, monitoring