Points out that in most chiller and boiler central plants the energy management and control systems (EMCS) continuously monitor and record key operation parameters and energy production. Describes a method developed to identify potential operations and maintenance (O&M) savings by using the EMCS-recorded data. Reports the method was applied to a central plant that supplied heating and cooling to a university campus with a total building floor area of 3.5 million ft² (325,000 m²). Finds the potential savings from improved O&M were $2,651,000 per year. Improved air handling units operation was fully or partially implemented in a number of buildings. The measured O&M savings of $610,000 per year or 22.5% were consistent with predicted savings.

Units: Dual

KEYWORDS: year 1997, energy management, controls, operations, maintenance, calculating, universities, USA, energy conservation