Market Realities:

Today's economic climate places a great deal of pressure on architects, engineers and mechanical contractors to design and deliver Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning (HVAC) and Lighting Systems based predominately on "first costs".

While this might help make a building less expensive to build, it places an enormous burden on those that must make the resultant facility turn a profit because these HVAC and Lighting Systems are generally very inefficient and expensive to operate.

To make matters worse, in an effort to help improve the "bottom line", management has often resorted to "deferred maintenance" instead of "preventive maintenance". This practice only provides a short-term benefit. The inefficient HVAC and Lighting equipment is short lived and not only costs more to run but has to be replaced much sooner than necessary.

As can be seen, it actually costs much more money to do projects this way.

Energy Conservation Measures

Our Job is to Provide System Solutions Financed by Savings

Our strength as an Energy Performance Contractor comes from our holistic engineering approach to energy conservation. We examine the customer's facility energy issues as a whole. Whenever possible, Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs) with quick paybacks (e.g. energy efficient lighting retrofits, variable frequency drives, etc.) should help fund those solid ECMs with longer paybacks (e.g. energy efficient chiller and boiler replacements, thermal storage, micro-turbines, etc.). Our customer thereby achieves maximum benefit.

However, no two projects are alike and therefore, every energy conservation project is approached strictly on its own merits.

Each client has their own simple payback criteria and therefore ECMs are selected that achieve their goals. For example, many of our private industry clients have us implement ECMs that fall into the following two (2) categories:

Energy Conservation Projects not requiring major capital improvements are "typically" selected for study and subsequent implementation if they have a Simple Payback (with or without applicable rebates) of less than three (3) years.

ECMs may include:

Real Time Metering and Sub Metering to establish load profiles or confirm accuracy of existing utility company meters
Duct/Coil Cleaning (Indoor Air Quality improvements made in the process)
Testing & Balancing of Air and Water Systems
High efficiency blower motors and pumps
Variable Frequency Drives
Ductwork redesign
Piping redesign (steam, water and glycol piping)
Lighting retrofits

Energy Conservation Projects requiring major capital improvements are "typically" selected for study and subsequent implementation if they have a Simple Payback (with or without applicable rebates) of less than five (5) years.

ECMs may include:

Cogeneration (reciprocating, gas fired micro-turbine, gas fired turbine, steam turbines and fuel cells)
Building Automation Systems
Energy Management Systems
High efficiency chillers (gas absorption, electric centrifugal, high pressure steam absorption, etc.)
High efficiency air handling units
Desiccant Cooling Systems
Thermal Storage
Solar Energy
High efficiency boilers
High efficiency domestic hot water heaters
Energy Recovery Systems (air, steam, etc.)
Water Source Heat Pumps
Ground Source Heat Pumps (Geothermal)
In floor radiant heating Systems
Infrared Radiant Heating Systems

It should be noted that, as a rule, government clients "typically" have programs that permit for extended Simple Paybacks up to ten (10) years.

Once an energy conservation project is completed, CED ensures its continued success by instituting a "preventive maintenance" program supplemented by a centralized computerized building automation system and on-going technical support.

We welcome the opportunity to provide energy conservation services for your company. Please contact us to arrange for an appointment.

Consolidated Energy Design

Energy Conservation Measures