NEWS
Happy National Intern Day!
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Here at Envinity, we normally work with 1-3 interns per summer and throughout the year (if they'll have us) on meaningful rotations through our various departments with a focus on Mechanical Engineering. This year we are blessed with the talents of Sarah Halstead and Molly Sizemore from Penn State University's school of Architectural Engineering. One of the most important experiences to help them build their professional skill set is client site time.
Sarah Halstead ,“What I learned on site”
On Friday July 10, I went on my first site visit to Geisinger Jersey Shore Hospital. While there I learned the fundamentals of engineering and some best practices to ensure a successful project.
The facilities staff were our most valuable resource on site. They knew the building inside and out and could lead us to any room in the entire hospital. They could tell us whether the room had positive, negative or balanced pressurization and share other useful insider nuances on how or when it is used.
At school, my classes are taught in mostly residential systems for their size and simplicity; but on site I was able to open cabinets on semi-trailer sized AHUs and take measurements to compare to the building automation system (BAS). I realized that the opportunity to observe and work on a hospital system was valuable because if I could understand a hospital with its pressurization requirements and massive scale, very few systems will feel as difficult in the future.
Results are rarely what you expect. Every change we made to a setpoint needed to be tested and often adjusted. Engineering is all about having the knowledge to calculate expected results, then having the problem-solving outlook to adjust to the desired outcome.
On site I learned you need to know more than drawings and calculations; you need to listen to the people, understand the building, and be prepared to adjust your expectations.
We're Hiring...
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Are you looking to make a difference?
Apply to join the Envinity Building Energy Solutions team.
We’re looking to hire a Mechanical Design Engineer and a Senior Commissioning Engineer to continue our success and growth in education and healthcare markets.
Envinity Welcomes Intern Olivia Poluch
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Envinity is excited to welcome Olivia Poluch as our Commercial Team intern this summer. Olivia is helping our HVAC Engineering, Data Analytics and Commissioning teams with their workloads, including revamping our process for developing, analyzing and correcting room ventilation calculations and schedules. Olivia will be starting her 3rd year as an Architectural Engineering Major at Penn State, and is a third degree black belt in Tae Kwon do. Welcome, Olivia!
Robert Packer Hospital is "Cashing In" On Energy Efficiency
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Congratulations to Guthrie's Robert Packer Hospital for making the leap and making Energy Efficiency a priority. Through 11 projects saving 17,000 Mwh of energy (enough to power 19,000 average U.S. homes per year), they qualified for nearly $500,000 in rebates from FirstEnergy Corp.
We're especially proud our Commissioning (Cx) Team ensured the CHP system was running at top efficiency to achieve the best rebate possible.
With the other projects below Envinity has spearheaded, their total rebate amount will hit $900k!
- Chiller plant optimization
- Waterside free cooling
- VAV conversions
- Air handler controls modernization
- Energy recovery unit
- Demand control ventilation
- Enhanced scheduling / unoccupied reductions
Learn More About how we can help your facility HERE
We'll See You In Arizona: PDC Summit 2019
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The PDC Summit brings together senior leaders working in all disciplines of health care planning, design, and construction to learn, network, and discover ways to create value for the health care built environment.
We're excited to be a part of the action this week and are thrilled to announce our very own Kevin Gombotz has been joined the American Society for Health Care Engineering (ASHE) as a faculty member for Energy Star Treasure Hunt Programs.
Kevin Gombotz, PE, brings a unique skill set to the Energy Treasure Hunt team with a background in retro-commissioning, fault detection analytics, and commissioning-informed design, he works to sustain energy performance without compromising clinical operating requirements. Gombotz’s team has provided coaching and advisory services for energy efficiency work in more than 40 hospitals and 12 ASHE Energy to Care awards to date. He is excited to apply these principles to help healthcare owners reduce energy consumption, and "maintain the gain" so they can focus time and money on creating a more healthy and sustainable environment for their staff and patients.
Check out an Energy to Care Success Story to understand what an Energy Star Treasure Hunt Uncovers today HERE
KEEA FLASH SALE
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Join healthcare industry leaders, architects, engineers, and energy professionals at the premiere event for energy efficiency and healthcare! The Healthcare Industry Forum on Energy Efficiency is slated for March 5 and 6 at the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center in State College. This two-day event boasts incredible choice and value to attendees, offering multiple keynote addresses, a three-track breakout schedule, and an all-day exhibitors’ hall with big names like Trane, PPL Electric, SageGlass, and more. Enjoy rich networking opportunities like our VIP Dinner the night of the 5th, and earn credits from AIA, BPI, and AEE at our informative sessions and workshops. On the website you’ll find the full agenda, links to register and sponsor, and information about the sessions and speakers. What’s more, healthcare employees receive a special discount – simply email our staff for details. Register today!
USE CODE FLASHSALE and save 30%!!!
Envinity's Team is Growing
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We're excited to welcome Katie Blansett, Ph.D., P.E. to the Envinity Team!
Katie has a diverse background that includes design engineering, project management, organization management, outreach education, and undergraduate teaching. Katie is a licensed engineer in Pennsylvania and a LEED Green Associate. As the new Director of Operations of Envinity’s Building Energy Solutions group, Katie is responsible for overseeing quality, schedule, and personnel advancement by working closely with all employee levels to develop and maintain processes, standards, and alignment with strategic group goals.
"I'm really excited to join the Envinity team. The company has established themselves as industry experts in energy consulting and HVAC design. They don't just save their clients money in their energy bills; they are a forward-looking company that makes little steps in each project and the ways that they conduct business to implement big changes in energy conservation and sustainability. I'm proud to support this growing team of energetic professionals!" - Katie.
Connect with Katie on LinkedIn: HERE
Pennsylvania C-PACE Program Guidelines Are Up for Review Until 1/18/19
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Let's Review Some FAQ...
C-PACE stands for Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy and is a financial tool to rival a PPA or other funding opportunities to get commercial solar on your business. It ultimately attaches the financing tool to the property tax assessment to repay the costs of the upgrades over the life of the system.
What are some advantages?
1. Positive Cash Flows : CPACE covers 100% of the project cost and spreads the lower annual payments over the life of the installed equipment freeing up operating costs for other energy projects like Retro- Commissioning to get overall consumption down.
2. Favorable Terms for Investors: This financing is repaid on the property tax bill so it's a very secure financial product for investors and therefore leads to better interest rates for the owner.
3. Clean Title: CPACE assessments are linked to the property and will automatically transfer in a sale without issue.
4. Flexible Balance Sheet : It can be on or off balance sheet depending on your financial strategy (be sure to contact your CPA)
5. Beneficial for both Landlord and Tenant: Tax assessment and cost-savings from the project can be shared under your lease to make for a more attractive leasing space.
Learn more from our In-House Solar Experts: HERE
Review the Guideline and Comment: HERE
Congratulations to Dr. Joe Firrantello, P.E.
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We're so proud Dr. Joe was invited to speak at the 2019 ASHRAE Winter Conference in Atlanta in a presentation session with three other speakers. The session is one of several dedicated to presenting research published in Science and Technology for the Built Environment (STBE), ASHRAE's archival research journal.
The presentation is titled:
If you're headed to Atlanta January 12-16th, be sure to reach out to Dr. Joe!
Energy Efficiency Investment Act
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Exciting things were announced for Facility Managers on December 10th. Similar to SB 1236, would dramatically expand energy efficiency in Pennsylvania. According to KEEA (Keystone Energy Efficiency Alliance), this Bill will encourage energy efficiency investment and create a reform of PA's antiquated "Cost-effectiveness test" which would enable firms like Envinity to design more comprehensive energy efficiency programs.
"In the first seven years of implementation of Pennsylvania’s flagship energy efficiency law, Act 129, energy efficiency programs have delivered $6.4 billion in economic benefits to all Pennsylvanians, at a benefit-to-cost ratio of nearly 2-to-1. By keeping energy use down, energy efficiency investments have helped Pennsylvania industries remain globally competitive, meet their corporate sustainability goals, and create good-paying local jobs. In fact, a 2017 US Department of Energy report found that energy efficiency accounts for over 62,000 Pennsylvania jobs." - Senator Thomas H. Killion
Examples where programs like this have been successful include PA's neighbor New Jersey. PSE&G proposed a similar investment plan that would increase energy efficiency investment 700% by 2024 and save customers an estimated $5.4 billion.
Mission Accomplished: PSU Capstone Project Fall Semester 2018
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This Fall semester, Envinity sponsored a Penn State College of Engineering Capstone Project. The task was to design and build a device that could be used to test and calibrate freeze stats in commercial air handling units.
A freeze stat is a temperature sensing device for HVAC that monitors a heat exchanger to prevent its coils from freezing. Rooftop units with water coils should always have freezestats, even if using a water/glycol mixture.
Congrats to PSU Students: Vincent Cintron, Tyler Johnson, Yuyang Fan, Dean Hanson, Nurfarahim Jesni
AND
Envinity team members: John Deffenbaugh and Thomas Hanna
The goal was for the device to be able to cool down a 12 inch section of a freeze stat’s capillary tube to a temperature that would trip the freeze stat and verify that it functions correctly.
The team successfully produced a functional prototype that works in a lab setting, with further development a fully functional freeze stat tester is not far off.
The New Jersey Clean Energy Playbook: Envinity + P4P
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2.5 Years + 15% minimum annual energy savings + 3 Major Incentive rebates = 1 Turnkey, Painless Program
It sounds like a long project, but when you consider the ROI, it's a no-brainer for healthcare facilities in New Jersey!
Check out our Pay for Performance Playbook HERE and get all your FAQ answered
We're Hiring!
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Envinity's Building Energy Solutions group is seeking a highly motivated Director of Operations to support our group's continued success and growth.
Envinity's Commercial Group Welcomes a New Energy Analyst!
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Envinity's Commercial team is very excited to welcome a new talented members to the group!
Noah Pietraszewski recently graduated from Syracuse University with a degree in mechanical engineering while minoring in thermo-mechanical energy systems. We are happy to bring Noah on this year full-time as an Energy Analyst with our Engineering Team, particularly on the fault detection analytics projects. He will also be helping to develop a custom BAS fault detection package through SkySpark. Congrats, Noah!
Learn more about our team here!
Energy Success Story: Envinity and Robert Packer Hospital
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It all started when Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre Borough, Bradford County, engaged Envinity to perform a comprehensive Level II Energy Audit to help them with their rising operation costs. This comprehensive energy management plan outlined recommendations for energy conservation projects and led to the PEDA Grant that contributed $500,000 to help them save $5.9M over 20 years. This audit led them to install a CHP (combined heat and power) system to generate onsite electricity in conjunction with a 3-year plan to reduce energy usage at the facility.
In the words of Kevin Gombotz, “The projects at Robert Packer Hospital highlight a significant opportunity for the healthcare industry in Pennsylvania. Who can argue with a 20% cost reduction, a reduction in air emissions, and improved plant quality and reliability to ultimately help patients heal better – it's a win-win-win.”
The PEDA Case Study can be found here.
Fun Facts!
Environmental Equivalencies of RPH's Energy Savings:
*673 Cars Removed from the Road
*3187 tons CO2 Emissions Reduced Annually
4 Envinity Client Healthcare Facilities Are 2018 Energy to Care Award Winners
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We are excited to announce that 4 of our client healthcare facilities have received ASHE’s prestigious 2018 Energy to Care Award!
To earn this award, facilities must reduce energy usage over the previous year by more than 10% if they are first time participants, or more than 5% if they are previous award winners.
The following facilities exceeded the energy reduction goals set forth by ASHE:
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Excela Health Latrobe Hospital (Previous Award Winner)
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University of Florida Health Shands Hospital (Previous Award Winner)
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University of Florida Health Renal Dialysis Center (First Time Winner)
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University of Florida Health Rocky Point Medical Lab (First Time Winner)
We would also like to recognize the Indiana Regional Medical Center, a member of the Pennsylvania Society for Health Facility Engineering (PSHFE), for winning a 2018 Energy to Care Award (their second win)!
Achieving energy savings at this level requires coordination between multiple facility stakeholders, including upper level management, facility managers, vendors, facility staff and the energy planning engineering consultant. Engagement from all levels is crucial for the success of an energy program.
Congratulations to these amazing facilities teams for their impressive commitment to saving energy!
You can find the full list of 2018 ASHE Energy to Care award winners here.
Envinity's Commercial Group Welcomes 3 New Members!
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Envinity's Commercial team is very excited to welcome three talented members to the group this summer 2018!
Tom Hanna was our intern last summer, and earned the title of "Trane Wizard" while working on a challenging project in the Trane TRACE program. Tom graduated from Penn State's Mechanical Engineering program in May. We are happy to bring Tom on this year full-time as a Mechanical Designer with our Engineering Team. Congrats, Tom!
Emily Blessner is entering her 5th year as an Architectural Engineering Major at Penn State, and is with us this summer as a Design Team Intern. Emily has been doing a great job deciphering photo-copied line diagrams from the 80's, and supporting our team with her work in AutoCAD, Excel, and GSuite. Welcome, Emily!
Ryan Sayre will be starting his 4th year as an Architectural Engineering Major at Penn State, and is helping our Data Analytics team with his Excel and GSuite skills. He is also hard at work developing an Electronic Systems Manual using a new program format, which is a great help. Welcome, Ryan!
If you're interested in learning more about our Commercial Team, visit our "About" section, or check out our company video!
Rodney K. Lynch, Jr. Earns Healthcare Facility Design Professional Certification
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Rodney K. Lynch, Jr., PE & LEED BD+C, passed ASHRAE’s HFDP Exam, earning his Healthcare Facility Design Professional (HFDP) Certification. The HFDP Certification is awarded through ASHRAE, and was developed with the participation of the American Society for Health Facility Engineering (ASHE).
The HFDP Certification “validates the competency to incorporate standards, guidelines and regulatory codes as well as unique healthcare facility requirements and design principles in HVAC System Design.”
Congratulations on this achievement, Rodney!
For more information on the HFDP Exam, click here.
Understanding Phase III of ACT 129- The Commercial and Industrial Energy Efficiency Program
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If you are a commercial or industrial facility director, you may have heard of ACT 129’s Commercial and Industrial (C&I) Energy Efficiency Program. If you are already participating, that’s excellent. If you are not participating, the time to take advantage of these incentives is NOW!
What is ACT 129?
Act 129 is a law that requires electric utilities in Pennsylvania to reduce electricity consumption and peak demand energy requirements. We are now in Phase III of the program, which builds upon the previous two successful phases. Phase I began in November 2009 and ended in May 2013; Phase II Began in June 2013 and ended in May 2016; and Phase III began in June 2016 and will end in May 2021.
How do electric utilities meet the requirements of ACT 129?
Electric utilities meet these requirements by providing energy efficiency rebates and incentives to commercial and industrial customers in the state of Pennsylvania. These incentives are available to both residential and non-residential customers of FirstEnergy (Met-Ed, Penelec, Penn Power, and West Penn Power).
How do commercial and industrial customers take advantage of these incentives?
For-profit commercial and industrial companies can take advantage of these incentives and recoup up to half of their project costs in rebates (there is a cap of 50% of total eligible project costs). Companies can work with a C&I Energy Efficiency Program “Ally” to apply for these energy rebates (Envinity is an ally, and can be found in the program’s online directory).
What are examples of eligible measures?
There are a variety of measures that qualify for C&I Energy efficiency programs. Some examples include:
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ASHRAE Level 2 third-party energy audits-Capped at $10,000/ audit
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HVAC Replacements-When replacing old outdated equipment with energy-efficient products
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Lighting retrofits and controls- Includes replacing metal halide and other inefficient bulbs with LEDs, as well as the installation of photocells, sensors, etc.
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Motors and VFDs-Applies to installation of premium efficiency motors and optimization of functioning based on space demands and load size
What kinds of savings are associated with ACT 129?
The amount of savings earned from these rebates is dependent on the size of the project as well as the number and type of project(s). Generally, our clients have seen about $0.05/kWh saved. One of Envinity’s large healthcare clients reduced electricity consumption by 3.9 million kWh, and received a rebate amount of over $370,000!
During Phase II of ACT 129, Envinity helped clients save a cumulative total of 31.3 million kWh of electricity, and procured over $2 million in rebates. We intend to increase both of those numbers in Phase III.
If you are interested in learning more about how Envinity can help you take advantage of the C&I Energy Efficiency Program, contact us at inquiry@buildingenergy.solutions, or give us a call at 814.231.3927.
Envinity Employee Rodney Lynch, Jr. Now A Licensed PE in 5 States
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Rodney Lynch, Jr. , a Senior Engineer at Envinity, has recently earned his Professional Engineering License for the states of New Jersey and Florida! Rodney already has PE licenses for Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia, bringing his total number of licenses to 5.
“A Professional Engineering License allows us to provide engineering services that our clients can trust to be held to the highest ethical standards, and it also allows us to seal engineering documents for official submission to local, state and federal permitting agencies ”, Rodney says.
Asked about how many PE licenses he will seek, Rodney replies “I will do whatever is necessary to ensure future growth, and to provide quality services to the geographical areas we serve.”
Congratulations, Rodney!
Envinity Is An Approved Pay for Performance Existing Buildings Program Partner!
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Envinity has been approved as a Pay for Performance (P4P) Existing Buildings Program Partner with New Jersey’s Clean Energy Program (NJCEP)!
The P4P Program is designed to incentivize improved efficiency and performance for commercial and industrial buildings with a peak demand greater than 200 kW. Approved partners like Envinity help facilities achieve energy reduction objectives of 15% or greater with whole-building energy efficiency solutions. More information about the P4P Program can be found here.
We at Envinity look forward to helping our New Jersey clients save energy and money through our participation in this fantastic program!
Two of Envinity's Clients won 2016 ASHE Energy to Care Awards!
Dan Robison accepts the ASHE Energy to Care Award on behalf of Excela Westmoreland Hospital in Greensburg, PA.
Al Neuner and Stacy Haddix accept the ASHE Energy to Care Award for Geisinger Community Medical Center in Scranton, PA.
Two of Envinity's Clients won 2016 ASHE Energy to Care Awards!
Two Envinity Clients win 2016 ASHE Energy to Care Awards
July 19, 2016
Two of Envinity’s Commercial Energy Services (CES) Clients are being acknowledged for their reduced energy consumption. The American Society of Healthcare Engineering (ASHE) recognizes outstanding leadership in Energy Efficiency with “Energy to Care Awards”. Excela Westmoreland Regional Hospital and Geisinger Community Medical Center both reduced their year-to-year energy consumption by over 5% and 10%, respectively. The press release from the American Hospital Association can be found here.
Between December 2014 and December 2015, Excela Westmoreland Regional Hospital in Greensburg, PA reduced energy consumption by over 5%, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 4.5%. In total, the hospital saved nearly 880,000 kWh of electricity!
During the same time period, Geisinger Community Medical Center in Scranton, PA reduced energy consumption by over 10%, and lowered GHG emissions by 10.1%. In total, the hospital saved nearly 1.5 million kWh of electricity!
Combined, these two hospitals saved 2.38 million kWh, enough to power 216 single-family homes for 1 year*! They also reduced their GHG emissions by 1,780 tonnes CO2 equivalent!
Congratulations to both of our clients on this outstanding energy achievement!
*Based on EIA’s figure of nearly 11,000 kWh/year used by the average American home (2014 data)
ASHRAE Awards Commissioning Certification to Envinity’s Matt Rooke
February 29, 2016
Envinity professional engineer Matt Rooke has earned the Commissioning Process Management Professional (CPMP) certification from ASHRAE!
Because the term “commissioning” is still relatively new to the general building industry, it tends to mean many things to many people. This has often resulted in owners having difficulty truly knowing what they are getting when they receive proposals for commissioning services. The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) has recently established several guidelines culminating in ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 202-2013 to formalize the process and set the professional benchmark for new and existing building commissioning. The CPMP certification is a way to recognize professionals who have proven their expertise in executing the commissioning process that includes documentation of experience in commissioning and a written examination.
CPMP certification assures the owner that they are hiring a knowledgeable and capable professional to manage the commissioning of their building to the industry standard. When asked about what this certification means for him professionally, Matt said “Obtaining the CPMP certification provided me the opportunity to better understand commissioning best practices, specifically the methodology and documentation standardized by ASHRAE. In applying this commissioning process we are able to offer the client a consistent, industry-leading service.”
Congratulations, Matt!
Never a Chiller Interview: Matt Rooke Talks System Optimization
February 22, 2016
For your current chiller plant optimization project, what was an issue you noticed right away with the chiller’s existing operating system?
Two 1000 ton chillers had been added to an existing plant several years before we became involved with the client, and the plant had not operated well since then. The controls had never been commissioned, so everything was being operated manually, often in an inefficient mode. In addition to the energy implications, this negatively impacted the lifespan of the equipment at the facility, because the machinery was operating harder and for more hours than necessary.
What steps did you take to resolve the issues associated with the chiller plant?
Our tactic was to first spend time talking with the operators themselves. We found out their issues with the system’s operation, and the multiple complexities of the plant due to the layers of upgrades and projects that had been conducted over the years. It took a bit of sleuthing and some hands-on testing and data collection to determine why they were unable to operate certain chillers in certain configurations, or utilize their water-side free heat exchangers because of flow issues.
After the evaluation period we worked with the mechanical contractor and control vendors to develop a solution for optimizing the plant’s operation. This involved incorporating a third-party system optimization software into a new system sequence of operation, and coordinating among all different actors involved. Envinity brought everyone to the table to develop and implement a plan that now has produced significant energy savings. We are also commissioning the plant, to ensure that it operates smoothly under all conditions.
What is the benefit of having Envinity work on this system versus another engineering firm?
One of our benefits is that we are “system agnostic”; we only want what’s best for the clients in terms of operational reliability and energy savings. Originally, we were planning on implementing our optimized plant sequences through a standard control specification. However, the control vendor actually came back recommending a partner company that they thought could provide the level of optimization we were hoping to achieve. We helped the owner determine if that software would be the best option.
What are the non-energy related benefits of chiller plant optimization?
An optimized plant is far less labor intensive for the operator and easier on the equipment. The point at which the plant is operating at its most efficient is also easier on the equipment; noise is reduced when pumps, fans, and chillers are run at their most efficient operating points.
One of the greatest benefits is the added safety of automation and, critically, functional testing of all safety sequences. For example, before the project if a chiller went down on the weekend or when the operator wasn’t around, the off-hours staff had to deal with the failure. Now we have automated the backup chillers to be able to be brought online in the event of a failure. In many areas of a healthcare setting, but particularly operating rooms, having reliable and redundant chilled water is a critical health and safety issue.
Do you continue to monitor a project after you’ve implemented changes?
We stay involved after we have implemented a plan to ensure that it operates as intended. Our commissioning process continues for a year after the changes have been completed, to make sure that a system is performing as we expected through all the seasons and modes. In our experience, if that’s not done, then the chances of a system operating well over the long term is very low. We’ve seen systems of all types not work right because they were designed, built, and then walked away from. We are involved with our clients through our ongoing measurement and verification program after the project is complete.
What do you see as a general trend in the commercial building industry?
The industry is becoming more aware that even if you design the most efficient building, it isn’t going to perform correctly if it isn’t properly commissioned, and that performance is going to degrade unless it is monitored and maintained. Buildings systems are getting more complex which can result in better comfort and energy performance but these complex systems need to be periodically re-tuned and maintained.
Finally, what is your favorite part of your job?
One of the things I like about working at Envinity is that I’ve had the flexibility to do a lot of different things. It’s pretty unique that I was able to write the control sequence for the chiller optimization, help with the design documents, and was part of the construction administration on this project. This allowed me to be involved in every step of the process, and to really understand the system. I love the problem-solving aspect of my job, and the process of understanding complex systems. When we save energy, improve environmental quality, and allow the operator to do his job better, it’s really rewarding.
A Boilerside Chat with Chris Conrad
January 06, 2016
In your opinion, what is the greatest challenge facility managers face?
Facility Managers are pulled in a lot of different directions because they represent the management side of things, but they also respond to the request and maintenance concerns of the occupants. The big challenge can be to find a balance between these. When they respond to a maintenance call, it's an instantaneous need, and they have to manage both present issues and long-term goals. When we’re on a project, we realize that these are issues, and we don’t want to create more problems.
What are the most common issues you see across facilities, and how do you deal with them?
Well, we like to consider them opportunities for improvement. That’s the attitude we have. One thing we realize is that facility managers have a tough job; they have a lot going on at once, and often they don’t know where to start. One of the main services we offer is long-term energy master planning, which identifies which projects should happen and when. So we take some of that confusion out of the mix. We listen to the needs of our clients, and respond accordingly.
What might a typical engineer overlook in a building system?
Hospitals have to meet a lot of code requirements for air movement. Unlike other engineers, we consider the system to be dynamic. We have found so many opportunities for improvement when we critically consider different factors: can we alter what the system does over time? Can we dial it back at night? Can we cut back on ventilation when we don’t need as much? Are we considering the pressurization of the space? Is there any opportunity to run the fans less? In every hospital, there are opportunities like that on the table because of the nature of design, and because it’s the way things have always been done.
How do you account for human/ machine interaction?
Control vendors’ programming and control systems are very important to us, because this is where a lot of our work is concentrated. This includes programming changes, software changes, replacing outdated controllers, or upgrading color graphics. We look at the way the technician interfaces with the building automation system. We coordinate efforts among all of these folks. Envinity wants to make sure that each building is commissioned properly and is operating the way it is intended to. We make sure that when we say “You’re going to save $X," we end up saving them $X+.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
Hearing about how we made somebody’s life simpler. Any time a client really understands why we are doing what we’re doing, what motivates us, and that money is not what is important to us--we feel like we’re changing the world here a little bit. So when we are appreciated for that, and for doing what other people don’t, it’s the most rewarding thing. That and when we hear “Our bills are so much less!” or “Our bills are 20% under where they were last year!”. To be thanked and appreciated is really rewarding.
What sets Envinity apart from its competitors?
We are concerned about making it work. It’s a coordinated effort from us to consider the interests of the owners, facility managers, technicians, upper management, CFOs, contractors, subcontractors, and controls vendors. I feel like we are rewriting the book a little, or paving a new road, for how consulting services are being provided. We are helping people to see that energy savings is an investment--something that you can put money into and see a much higher rate of return than other types of investments. There is some level of risk, but I feel that it’s mitigated by our experience, and knowledge of what improvements are really going to lower bills.