Wednesday August 5 2026

Recommissioning in Condominium Buildings: Optimize Before You Replace

In many condominium communities, energy costs represent a significant portion of the operating budget. Heating, ventilation, air conditioning, pumps, control systems, and common area lighting often operate for years with numerous adjustments and settings changed over time without an overall strategy. The result is a building that consumes more energy than necessary, provides inconsistent comfort, and costs more to maintain.

In this context, recommissioning—also known as building systems recommissioning or mechanical systems optimization—has become a strategic tool for condominium corporations and boards of directors.

Optimize Before Replacing Equipment

Recommissioning is not primarily about replacing equipment. Instead, its objective is to evaluate how existing systems are actually performing, compare that performance with the building’s current needs, and implement the necessary corrections.

In a condominium, this may involve reviewing ventilation schedules, recalibrating sensors, adjusting control sequences, optimizing boiler operations, correcting air or water flow rates, and verifying the interaction between pumps, valves, heat exchangers, and building automation systems.

Although these interventions are often less visible than replacing major equipment, they can produce substantial energy savings and operational improvements.

Regaining Control of Existing Systems

Over time, every building gradually drifts away from optimal performance. Occupant needs evolve, spaces are renovated, comfort complaints lead to isolated adjustments, contractors modify individual components, and technical documentation is not always kept up to date.

After several years, a building may no longer operate according to its original design—or even according to its actual operational requirements.

Recommissioning restores control through a systematic, data-driven approach based on on-site inspections, system testing, and an evaluation of the building’s overall performance.

Tangible Benefits for Condominium Boards

For a condominium board of directors, the benefits are numerous.

The first is financial. By eliminating unnecessary energy consumption, the condominium can reduce utility costs while improving the predictability of its annual operating budget.

Resident comfort also improves through more consistent indoor temperatures, better-balanced ventilation, and mechanical systems that respond more effectively to actual building demands.

There are maintenance benefits as well. Poorly adjusted systems may operate longer than necessary, cycle excessively, overheat, or even work against other equipment. Over time, this accelerates wear and tear, increases maintenance costs, and raises the risk of equipment failure.

A Strategic Step Before Major Capital Projects

Recommissioning is also an excellent starting point before investing in major equipment replacements.

Too often, a condominium considers replacing equipment simply because it appears to be underperforming, when the actual problem may be an improperly configured control system, a faulty sensor, poor system balancing, or an incorrect control sequence.

A recommissioning study helps distinguish between equipment that genuinely needs replacement and systems that simply require adjustment or repair. This enables the condominium corporation to prioritize capital investments and make more informed decisions regarding its reserve fund.

Ensuring Long-Term Performance

A comprehensive recommissioning project typically includes several phases: planning, detailed investigation, implementation of selected corrective measures, knowledge transfer to building staff or the property manager, and ongoing performance monitoring.

The final step is particularly important. Energy savings must be sustained over time. If no one understands the updated control strategies or if settings are modified a few months later without proper oversight, much of the expected benefit can quickly disappear.

Financial Incentive Programs Can Support Projects

In Quebec, several financial assistance programs can improve the economic viability of recommissioning projects.

The ÉcoPerformance program includes funding specifically for the recommissioning of building mechanical systems. Subject to eligibility requirements, the program may cover a portion of the eligible costs associated with system investigations, knowledge transfer, and ongoing performance monitoring.

For this reason, it is important to verify available grants at the beginning of the project—before issuing purchase orders—to ensure compliance with program requirements.

Dual-Energy Heating: An Option Worth Considering

For buildings currently heated with natural gas, the discussion may also include the dual-energy heating program offered by Énergir in partnership with Hydro-Québec and the Government of Quebec.

Dual-energy systems use electricity as the primary heating source while retaining natural gas as a backup during periods of extreme cold.

For some multi-residential condominium buildings, this approach can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, optimize operating costs, and qualify for financial incentives when project requirements are met.

A Sustainable Asset Management Strategy

Recommissioning should not be viewed as an additional expense, but rather as a long-term asset management strategy.

It enables condominium corporations to better understand how their buildings operate, reduce energy waste, improve system documentation, enhance occupant comfort, and make more informed decisions about future investments.

As energy costs continue to rise and maintenance obligations become increasingly important, recommissioning mechanical systems offers a practical and cost-effective way to manage residential buildings more efficiently, responsibly, and sustainably.

Sébastien St-Pierre,
Directeur du département technique
514 935-6999
[email protected]