EC plug fan retrofits are one of the most common and impactful ways that I find to reduce data center energy consumption. This article is meant for data center owners and operators of facilities served by CRACs or CRAHs[1] with constant speed fans. Here are...
We recently released an update to our R package, nmecr. This version provides a bug fix and vignettes for the R code. is an open-source set of tools for analyzing commercial building energy consumption using a meter-based, whole-building approach for measurement and verification (M&V) of...
If you reside outside the world of energy efficiency, you might not be familiar with an energy audit. Perhaps you just want to reduce operating expenses by lowering your utility bills? Maybe you need to meet corporate sustainability goals? An energy audit can be the...
Your employees may be on vacation but your computers and office equipment don’t get one, unless you give them one. With sparsely occupied offices over the holidays, it’s the perfect time to think about how your business can save energy and help the planet by...
Commercial building heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems commonly use variable air volume (VAV) systems for their heating and cooling needs. VAV systems can be more energy efficient when properly controlled and operated. We frequently find these systems performing less than optimally and recommend...
Did you know your business could receive incentives or no-cost technical support to investigate and implement energy-saving projects in your building? Utilities offer and procure energy efficiency programs to increase building energy efficiency. The goal of these program is to save energy by resolving inefficient...
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...
Many lighting retrofit designs fail to fully consider egress and emergency lighting systems. These systems are usually required by state code and often superseded by local code or the requirements of the local authority having jurisdiction. Failure to provide adequate egress and emergency lighting controls...
San Francisco was one of the first cities in the U.S. to require mandatory, periodic energy audits for existing building stock. While those of us who perform energy audits, initially saw the requirements as a good opportunity, for a number of reasons mandatory audits have...
The world can finally see the real beauty and value of energy efficiency now that one of the world’s largest cities cast its spell and announced its Green New Deal. Energy efficiency has long been the Cinderella in Earth’s climate change story – overlooked because...