News & Insights
VIDEO: Ongoing commissioning
Why this matters now
Buildings don’t stand still. Sensors drift out of calibration, operators override sequences, occupancy patterns shift, and the precise tuning that once delivered strong commissioning results gradually erodes. Without ongoing attention, energy use rises, comfort complaints increase and building performance declines. Owners increasingly recognize that a high-performing building does not maintain itself after handover—it requires continuous monitoring, optimization, and adjustment. As energy costs climb, sustainability expectations intensify, and occupants demand greater comfort and reliability, ongoing commissioning has become an essential strategy to protect energy savings, sustain building performance, and maximize the long-term value of real estate portfolios.
What leaders are weighing
Facility leaders must determine how to fund and staff ongoing commissioning, even as budgets remain tight. At the same time, they are weighing in-house expertise against external support. They must also decide which buildings require continuous monitoring rather than periodic recommissioning. Meanwhile, teams face tradeoffs involving analytics platforms, alarm fatigue, and resource constraints. As a result, acting on findings without overwhelming operations staff remains a challenge. Capital planners want confidence that retro-commissioning savings will last. Likewise, executives want assurance that sustainability performance will remain on track. Ultimately, the best strategy depends on portfolio age, building complexity, and the level of performance at stake.
How Salas O’Brien is helping clients respond
Our commissioning specialists help owners keep buildings performing the way they were designed. We support ongoing commissioning programs that combine analytics, field work, and clear communication with operations staff. We help clients prioritize buildings, set realistic performance baselines, and turn data into actions that maintenance teams can actually carry out. Hear Steve Carroll, Darren Draper, and Mike Lodge describe how ongoing commissioning protects energy, comfort, and capital.
Steve Carroll, MBA, CxA, LEED AP
As a Commissioning Authority, Steve Carroll identifies potential issues before they become problems and increases value for his clients. He also specializes in cybersecurity for building systems, providing systems monitoring to keep alternate attack vectors secure. As a leader, Steve is focused on mentoring, coaching, and developing his team to achieve continuous improvement. He holds a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Engineering. Steve serves as a Managing Principal at Salas O’Brien. Contact him at [email protected].
Darren Draper, PE, CxA
Darren Draper has served as a lead commissioning agent on a wide range of building projects including university buildings, research laboratories, healthcare facilities, data centers, corporate headquarters, and multiuse facilities. Darren performs commissioning and retro-commissioning for HVAC, DDC controls, electrical, and plumbing systems. He is one of three instructors for the ACG Commissioning Authority Certification preparation workshop and has taught more than 20 workshops. Darren serves as a Principal for Salas O’Brien. Contact him at [email protected]
Mike Lodge
With more than 35 years of experience in the building services industry, Mike Lodge has led commissioning, qualification, validation, project management, and field testing efforts across a wide range of facility types—including pharmaceutical, biotech, higher education, mission critical, healthcare, and industrial projects, both in the U.S. and internationally. He is committed to delivering fully operational facilities with compliant documentation, trained staff, optimized utility performance, and safe, comfortable environments.Mike serves as a Vice President at Salas O’Brien. Contact him at [email protected]