Energy Audit Solutions

Many facilities, campuses and communities rely on outdated, energy inefficient technologies and environmental systems. Whether your facility is a commercial, industrial, institutional or other type of structure, implementing efficient and modern technologies can significantly reduce lifetime cost, while reducing pollution and global warming emissions.

The highly skilled Strategic Energy Systems (SES) engineering team specializes in assessing the needs and benefits of various technology options for either new or existing construction. SES designs systems to obtain any level of LEED certification or efficiency desired through the application of detailed energy audits. SES has decades of collaborative experience developing projects using clean, sustainable and renewable energy production technologies for commercial, industrial and residential applications. These comprehensive audits are comprised of several elements.

Site Inspection

We conduct a thorough inspection of the building envelope, walls, ceilings, windows and doorways to assess the thermal, ventilation and moisture characteristics of the structure. We can inspect building systems, mechanical components, electrical devices, and plumbing for efficiency, wear and performance.

Our detailed facilities inspection can include infrared surveying of exterior surfaces (heat loss), vacuum tests on doors and windows to measure infiltration, utilization of DOE-II/eQUEST modeling and human usage studies.

Current Usage

SES assesses the performance of systems by inspection and engineering judgment, measuring system loads, analyzing historical data and observing patterns of usage by occupants and owners. Setback procedures, time of day optimizations and equipment usage are all studied to ensure appropriate energy efficient policies are in place.

Human Factors

SES reviews policies, procedures and behaviors of the building owners, occupants and administrators. In many instances, this solves or resolves complaints and problems. In many instances, adjusting behavior provides significant savings without sacrificing comfort or performance.

Green Technologies

We assess your site for the potential of introducing renewable energy producing technologies such as solar, wind or geothermal energy.

At the conclusion of an audit, SES can provide a presentation, a meeting for discussion, and/or a detailed report containing an analysis of current energy usage identifying the key areas of opportunity or concern, an extrapolation of energy costs into the future, an analysis of relevant building components and systems for energy improvements, and the processing of rebates and incentives. This includes specific recommendations for reducing waste, increasing system efficiency and achieving LEED and Green Building goals. SES provides you with a plan to achieve significant financial savings, dramatic energy reduction and a healthier environment within your facility or community.

Renewable Energy Services

Deriving energy from non-fossil fuel sources is an important step towards increasing price stability, lowering energy cost and reducing greenhouse emissions. Whether your project is large or small, the highly skilled SES team will provide winning results. SES has an extensive range of knowledge in energy production and conservation and can provide exceptional consultation and management throughout all project life cycle stages.

Wind Power

The installation of wind turbines to generate electricity is a clean, renewable and highly efficient investment. It can also be complex and challenging. Using the talents of a highly skilled engineering team, SES specializes in assessing the needs and benefits of various options and advancing the project to success. There are many facets of a project where SES will help you succeed.

• Site Analysis: The physical site inspection and survey, installation of a Meteorological Tower, collection and analysis of data, and financial and physical feasibility study
• Project Support: Assistance in educating and garnering community support, obtaining the necessary permitting, and interacting with local, state and in some cases federal government to ensure all requirements have been achieved
• Financial Services: Liaison between investors, project developers and stakeholders
• Project Management: Management of projects through all project stages from planning through construction and eventually with operations and maintenance (O&M)

In the case of small wind power installations (<10 kW), SES can help assess and implement micro-turbines that can be unobtrusive and visually homogenous to a campus or building layout while reaping the benefits of a zero-carbon energy source. Ways in which this can be achieved are to utilize the roof top, mount turbines in the parking lot or on streetlamp poles, or to make the turbine an artistic focal point in landscape.

Solar Energy

There are many ways in which to harness solar energy and most roof tops provide a wealth of untapped solar potential. SES analyzes the solar energy available at a site to provide an accurate assessment of the financial and environmental benefits and tradeoffs of implementing one or more solar technologies.

• Photovoltaic (PV): SES designs and lays out the installation of the PV arrays as well as works with independent vendors to provide the highest return on client investment.
• How Water: Using radiation from the sun to heat water is one of the most efficient renewable technologies available. SES can design and lay out the installation of solar water collectors as well as work with independent vendors to install these systems.
• Passive Solar Design: A structure that uses extremely little energy for heating and ventilation can be produced utilizing architectural design elements and materials available in a typical building supply center. Many of these design elements are aesthetically pleasing and no more expensive than more traditional designs. SES can provide the architectural and engineering design services to implement these techniques into a home or commercial structure.

Geothermal Heating and Cooling

There is a substantial amount of low-grade heat available below the surface of the ground to be tapped for heating and cooling of a building. The use of this energy is called geothermal heating and cooling. There are many considerations to take into account when installing a geothermal system since there are many different types of systems, the characteristics of the ground are important, and there are various systems. SES analyzes the trade-offs of these options and works with contractors to successfully and efficiently install the best system for the site.

Cogeneration

Cogeneration is the production of more than one useful form of energy from a single fuel source. Urban electric companies do this will coal-fired power plants that also produce high pressure steam that is piped to commercial users in nearby structures. The most typical form of local cogeneration is the production of both heat and electricity from a fuel source such as natural gas or oil. The benefit of implementing a system like this is that more efficiency and benefit is achieved from the same level of fuel use. SES has a broad based knowledge in this area.

Municipal Wastewater/Water Treatment:

SES has decades of experience designing and optimizing waste water and fresh water treatment systems. A considerable percentage of a town’s energy consumption can be the result of operating waste water treatment systems. SES significantly reduces energy usage through implementation of energy-saving treatment improvements, optimized scheduling and efficient treatment processes. In a similar manner, public drinking water treatment facilities are optimized to reduce energy use.

Financial and Economic Factors:

With the current global emphasis on greener energy technologies, there is a variety of economic incentives available. SES can aid in the assessment, application and pursuit of the myriad of government and utility incentives, rebates and credits. These economic factors are a critical consideration in any energy related project. These incentives can make the difference in having an economically viable project.

Other Services:

SES has extensive knowledge on technologies including (but not limited to) distributed power generation, fuel cell power, biodiesel processing, green roof integration, building automation and a constantly evolving array of new technologies.

Streamlining Community-Scale Wind Development

Wind energy is the fastest growing energy source in the world with a growth rate of 30-50% over the past few years. Between 1998 and 2002 installed capacity in the United States grew from 1848 MW to 4685 MW, a compound growth rate of 26 percent, and by 2008 the US capacity had more than quadrupled to 20,000 MW. The trend in the market is towards increased turbine capacity with 1+ MW per turbine the current standard and larger turbines already available and used in planning for new development. The increase in scale and advancements in technology has decreased cost per kW capacity. Wind power is truly becoming competitive with other electrical generation methods.

The SES Wind Co-op Concept

SES assists municipalities and private entities develop distributed wind power ranging from small individual turbines to multiple utility scale systems. By locating wind turbines near facilities with significant electrical demand, SES can capture the retail value of electricity used on site and greatly improve the economic attractiveness of the installation. By simultaneously developing multiple yet independent distributed wind projects, SES will act as an aggregator and achieve economies of scale while providing each community or business with the flexibility to install systems that fit its needs.

Some communities are interested in installing wind on a scale that would sell directly to the grid. These projects can be economically feasible as well. SES would work with such a community to provide different options, and develop such a project inline with community goals.

For communities or private entities that are interested in wind, yet unable or unwilling to invest in projects, SES will create and manage a separate entity to develop each specific project. One of the partners of that entity can be a cooperative or similar structure that will enable local citizens and businesses to invest in the wind system and have an active role in project development and legitimate community ownership. SES will act as the managing partner, provide a range of development services and take the lead in raising any additional funding needed for the project to succeed.

Examples of Community-Scale Wind Development