Mass Save Existing Building Commissioning (EBCx)

Reduce Operating Costs Without Capital Investment

Most commercial buildings consume more energy than they need — not because of aging equipment, but because of how systems are operated. The Mass Save Existing Building Commissioning (EBCx) offer targets that gap, funding a structured investigation into how your building's HVAC and controls systems are actually performing and identifying low- or no-cost operational improvements with paybacks of 1.5 years or less.

Cx Associates is a qualified service provider (QSP) for the Mass Save EBCx offer, with building commissioning and energy consulting experience in Vermont, New England, and the Northeast dating to 1994. Our work spans new construction commissioning, retro-commissioning, and energy benchmarking — giving us the diagnostic depth and operational knowledge to get the most out of an EBCx investigation. We manage the program process from intake through handoff, coordinate with the program implementor and sponsors on your behalf, and serve as a single point of accountability for the entire project.

We serve commercial customers of Berkshire Gas, Cape Light Compact, Eversource, Liberty Utilities, National Grid, and Unitil.

Mass Save EBCx At a Glance

Who it's for

Commercial and industrial building owners served by a Mass Save participating sponsor

What it funds

Designed to cover the full cost of existing building commissioning (EBCx), from qualification through verification

Eligible systems

HVAC, mechanical systems, and building controls; building must have an existing BMS

Measure focus

Low- and no-cost operational improvements; payback of 1.5 years or less

Incentive rates

$0.17/kWh electric; $1.20/therm gas; $12/MMBtu delivered fuel

Savings approach

Tier 1: 6% deemed savings

Tier 2: measure-level calculations

Program length

Typically 12–24 months from intake through handoff

Participating sponsors

Berkshire Gas, Cape Light Compact, Eversource, Liberty Utilities, National Grid, Unitil

We can help!

If you manage or own a commercial building in Massachusetts and want to know whether your facility qualifies for the Mass Save EBCx program, contact Cx Associates. We'll assess your eligibility, explain the process, and help you determine whether EBCx is the right fit.

What is the Mass Save EBCx Offer?

The Mass Save EBCx offer is a Mass Save-sponsored initiative that funds existing building commissioning services for eligible commercial customers in Massachusetts. The offer covers the cost of investigation, documentation, and verification services — meaning building owners can access professional commissioning expertise with program incentives offsetting the cost.

The focus is on operational and controls-based measures: optimizing setpoints, schedules, and system sequences to better align with how your building is actually used. Capital equipment replacement and major system modifications are outside the program's scope.

Incentives are provided at $0.17/kWh for electric savings and $1.20/therm for gas savings, based on verified project outcomes.

Is my building eligible?

To qualify for the Mass Save EBCx offer, a building generally must:

Be an existing commercial or industrial facility served by a Mass Save participating sponsor

Have a building management system (BMS) in place

Not have received Mass Save commissioning incentives within the last six years

Not be undergoing or planning major renovations within the next two years

Have an owner's representative available to participate in the process

Buildings are evaluated at two tiers based on annual energy consumption. Tier 1 buildings (up to 2.5 million kWh and 150,000 therms annually) use a simplified deemed savings approach. Tier 2 buildings receive measure-level savings calculations.

How the EBCx Process Works

The Mass Save EBCx offer is a phased process spanning roughly 12 to 24 months from intake through post-handoff follow-up. Cx Associates manages every phase on your behalf.

Phase 1

Identification and Intake

We assess your building's eligibility, gather energy consumption data, and complete the program intake form. If the building qualifies, we develop a scope and proposal for the qualification study.

Phase 2

Qualification

We conduct a facility walkthrough and establish your Current Facility Requirements (CFR) — a baseline understanding of how your building systems are designed to operate versus how they're operating today. This phase identifies whether a full investigation is warranted.

Krystina On Site - Colby College Hotel 2

Phase 3

Investigation

The core of the EBCx process. We conduct detailed system testing and analysis, develop a master list of findings and recommendations, and prepare contractor-ready scopes of work for each identified measure. We coordinate any required testing and air/water balancing work.

Phase 4

Implementation

We work alongside your contractors to implement approved measures, conduct pre-functional and functional performance testing, and provide hands-on training for building operations staff.

Phase 5

Verification and Documentation

We finalize all study documentation, verify that implemented measures are performing as expected, and complete the program's Minimum Requirements Documents for sponsor review and incentive payment.

Phase 6

Handoff and Persistence

We present final project outcomes to your team, review the energy savings persistence plan, and identify any measures outside the EBCx scope that could be referred to other Mass Save programs. A six-month follow-up visit confirms that savings are holding.

Frequently asked questions

What does the EBCx offer pay for?

Incentives cover the cost of the qualification and investigation studies — meaning Cx Associates' professional fees for those phases are offset by program funding. Verification phase incentives are based on estimated energy savings at program-set rates and flow to the building owner.
Does my building need specific equipment to participate?

Yes — a building management system (BMS) is required. The program is built around optimizing controls and operational sequences, so BMS access is fundamental to the investigation.
How long does the process take?

The full EBCx process typically takes 12 to 24 months depending on building complexity, contractor availability, and implementation scope.

What kinds of measures does the offer support?

EBCx focuses on operational and controls-based improvements — setpoint and schedule optimization, sequence corrections, system tuning. It does not cover capital equipment replacement, new BMS installation, or measures requiring significant ductwork or piping modifications.
Can the offer work alongside other Mass Save incentives?

Yes. Measures identified during the EBCx process that fall outside the offer's scope — such as equipment upgrades or capital improvements — can be referred to other Mass Save programs.
How do the EBCx offer payments work?

Payments are issued in three stages, and customers can elect to have them sent directly to Cx Associates. The first payment is issued upon completion of the Qualification phase, based on the proposed cost of that phase. The second is issued upon completion of the Investigation phase, covering 75% of its proposed cost (municipal customers in Designated Equity Communities receive 100% at this stage). The final payment, issued after verification, is based on program incentive rates applied to verified savings, minus the prior two payments — up to 100% of total project cost. Because incentives are tied to actual verified savings, full cost recovery isn't guaranteed in every case; most customers have a clear picture of expected costs after the Qualification phase, and a confirmed one after the Investigation phase, once savings calculations are complete.

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