There are many tools of the trade in the world of building energy efficiency. Knowing the difference between approaches, like the difference between a commercial building energy audit and retro-commissioning, can help you take the next best step to lower your energy bills, while meeting...
(Title Image Source: CA ISO) Time could be running out for American businesses and homeowners to receive the full amount of the federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) for installing solar (photovoltaic or PV) systems, and it couldn’t be worse timing for California. Beginning January 1, 2020, the...
While California has often been at the top of the nation’s leaders in energy efficiency, its recently stalled in its progress to regain the number one status. I believe that, until we solve our current issues with energy savings attribution for energy efficiency programs following...
We received a call from a client seeking “commissioning.” Their project was already in construction, and they thought commissioning meant “functional testing.” We explained why functional testing without design review is a waste of money. During testing, we might be able to find issues, but by...
Time-of-use (TOU) rates are available to all large California utility residential customers. Knowing how these rates work and how to maximize their Super Off-Peak usage rates is key to minimizing electricity bills. Here are some tips to navigate a TOU schedule. What is the difference in...
Improvements to cooling systems are one of the most effective ways to increase your bottom line and meet sustainability goals, especially if your building requires a lot of cooling. Schools, data centers, offices, clinics, warehouse/distribution centers and others can make great candidates for capturing the...
We often speak of new construction commissioning as a quality assurance process for new buildings, beginning from conception and design and continuing through construction and into initial occupancy. Some see it merely as a necessity for obtaining LEED points and complying with energy code. Others...
A client recently asked my opinion on power over ethernet (POE) and DC microgrids for their next building upgrade project. They received a hard sales pitch on POE lighting and controls and wanted some rational counterpoints. Here’s my two cents, after talking to a folks...
As an energy efficiency consultant, my primary job is to recommend energy projects to my clients. More often than not, they base their decision to implement the project on its cost-effectiveness. For energy retrofit projects, establishing payback is fairly easy – the project costs $X,...
In heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, airflow reported at the variable air volume (VAV) box is actually a measure of total pressure. It gets converted into an airflow by a multiplier that is generated during testing, adjusting and balancing (TAB). This multiplier is...