The commissioning industry can and needs to support the success of building decarbonization via better OPRs. Building decarbonization needs OPRs with quantifiable, defensible content and pass/fail criteria - these are, after all, requirements. OPRs of this caliber are created in four steps. First, by identifying parts of multiple standards and best practices that are best suited for the project. Second, by assisting owners in blending those requirements clearly in the OPR - with mandatory performance checkpoints at each stage of the project (design, construction, occupancy). Third, by including language that leverages energy modeling and the commissioning process to validate performance at specific checkpoints. Finally, make the OPR front and center throughout the project; nail it to the door, attach it to every email, and recite a chapter at every OAC meeting. This presentation will share methods for developing an OPR with rigor, making it enforceable, and seeing the OPR requirements realized.

Learning Objectives:

1. Recognize the Owner's Project Requirements (OPR) real purpose, the design direction's importance, and how to make it a living document for decarbonized projects.
2. Write an OPR and make it relevant through the first year of building occupancy.
3. Assist Owners in identifying what is important to their project, setting performance goals, and establishing communication points for the project design team to meet those goals.
4. Integrate decarbonization into the OPR documents so important project goals, including energy performance targets, renewable energy features, and outcome-based performance measurement expectations, are met.