Energy Audits and Surveys

Compressed Air Energy Efficiency Facility Benchmarking Home Energy Rating System Operations and Maintenance Peak demand / Load Response Power Quality Productivity / Waste Management

RLW's suite of engineering audit services is designed to meet the efficiency needs of various facility types, markets, and technologies. All offerings may be tailored and combined to meet the precise needs of the client, from a simple energy audit to a comprehensive industrial assessment including compressed air improvements, a productivity assessment, operations and maintenance reforms, peak load management, and a power quality technical survey.

Compressed Air

Compressed air is one of the largest energy-consuming end uses in the industrial facility. In an industrial plant, compressed air systems often account for a well over one-quarter of electrical expenditures. Unfortunately, compressed air is often a significant source of wasted energy because many customers view it as a free resource and a low-maintenance system. Leakage totaling 10% of total compressed air capacity is not uncommon, and leakage rates upwards of 40% have been observed. Even though energy savings from repairing compressed air leaks can be substantial, regular maintenance procedures are often not in place for compressed air systems.

RLW can help energy managers educate plant personnel on the significant energy impacts of regular compressed air system maintenance. With the assistance of national programs like the Compressed Air Challenge, many facilities are finally realizing significant energy impacts from energy-efficient compressor systems and regular maintenance procedures. RLW has a Qualified AIRMaster+ Specialist on staff that fully understands compressor systems and can identify ways to save significant amounts of energy on both the supply side and the demand side, frequently with little or no cost to the customer.One of the biggest barriers to efficiency in compressed air systems is the perception that plant pressure needs to be set high to sustain surges in air usage and avoid equipment and production malfunctions due to momentary pressure drops. Yet each 2 psi of excessive air pressure represents 1% of potential energy savings. Some plant personnel can be highly unreceptive to the idea of changing compressed air systems, exhibiting an "if it works, don't fix it" mindset. RLW's compressed air and industrial productivity experts can help energy managers shift this paradigm and attain substantial cost savings on your next electric bill via implementation of simple compressed air audit recommendations.

Energy Efficiency

The traditional energy audit is the foundation of most energy efficiency services. Simply put, an energy audit involves a facility tour by a seasoned efficiency expert to identify areas of opportunity for conservation improvements. The energy auditor compiles findings and cost/benefit estimates into a report that is delivered to those concerned with the energy efficiency of the facility. Such audits are completely scalable to meet the needs of the client; a simple residential audit can take less than hour, while a comprehensive audit of a large commercial or industrial facility may require days or weeks to perform and deliver. Efficiency audits encompass all significant energy utilization equipment for all fuels of concern. A comprehensive residential audit focuses on weatherization, insulation, heating/cooling, hot water, lighting and appliances. While similar in system composition, commercial audits are indeed distinct with a strong emphasis on HVAC, lighting, and sometimes refrigeration improvements. In many ways, industrial energy audits are the most challenging market segment as complex manufacturing or process equipment comprises a significant amount of the energy usage.

RLW has engineering and audit staff with many years of experience performing energy assessments of all types of facilities, from the largest industrials to the smallest retail store to the home. Our engineering staff will work with you to develop an audit product tailored to meet your precise needs. A typical audit report contains a facility overview, energy consumption and cost summary, an equipment end-use breakdown, and a listing of efficiency recommendations with cost and savings estimates. Unlike some other firms, RLW auditors are pure consultants; we do not sell or install efficiency products. Our objective is to apply our expertise to educate our clients so that they can make informed efficiency decisions that result in energy and cost savings.

Facility Benchmarking

Energy benchmarking studies targeted specifically towards building performance and energy issues can be used for the corporate organizations or for utilities managing specific market segments. These studies need to be grounded in solid engineering and must provide the detail necessary to target performance improvements or power purchase decisions in the new de-regulated marketplace. RLW has developed a set of energy benchmarking tools specifically targeted towards the corporate facilities managers and energy services programs. This benchmarking tool-set can be used for practitioners assessing the relative performance of multiple corporate facilities, or the space-types within those facilities with comparisons to corporate, local utility, regional and national statistics. The methods employ both statistical approaches and solid engineering methods for establishing actual building and space-type performance measures. The method can also be used to address "best practices" issues and comparisons with national, regional, utility, or organizational norms. The basic concept of a performance measurement or benchmarking tool is based on comparing actual site utility bills, whole premise metered data, and modeled estimates of building performance with known industry information. The benchmark or comparison to typical building performance can then be used to track and inspire performance improvements.

Home Energy Rating System

A home energy rating is a standard measurement of a home's energy efficiency that serves to benefit numerous parties. An energy rating by RLW allows a homebuyer to easily compare the energy costs for the homes being considered. A homeowner who wants to upgrade the home's energy efficiency can use the energy rating to evaluate and pinpoint specific, cost-effective improvements. Homebuilders can use the HERS ratings as ways to document energy efficiency and lower utility bills. The ratings can be used in marketing efforts to certify energy savings qualities and may qualify a larger pool of potential buyers with the use of an energy efficient mortgage. Home energy ratings involve an on-site inspection of a home by one of RLW's residential energy efficiency professionals. Home energy raters are trained and certified by the operating home energy rating system. The home energy rater thoroughly inspects the home and measures its energy characteristics, such as insulation levels, window efficiency, wall-to-window ratios, the heating and cooling system efficiency, the solar orientation of the home, and the water heating system. Diagnostic testing, such as blower door testing for air leakage and duct leakage testing, is also part of the rating process. The data gathered by the home energy rater is input into a computer program and translated into a point score depending on its relative efficiency. Along with the rating sheet, a homeowner receives a report listing cost-effective options for improving the home's energy rating. One of the major differences between a HERS rating and an energy audit or weatherization assessment is that the rating is a recognized tool in the mortgage process. Home energy ratings are valuable to the housing industry and can be utilized in a variety of ways, including energy efficient mortgages that allow a buyer of an energy efficient home to qualify for a larger mortgage.

Operations and Maintenance

RLW has considerable experience researching efficient operations and maintenance (O&M) procedures. In 1999, RLW conducted a market assessment of O&M practices focused on Office, Health Care and Manufacturing facilities in the Northeastern United States. The overall goal of this project was to identify the market sub-segments with the greatest opportunities for O&M savings and the means to overcoming barriers to adopting O&M practices in these segments. Of critical importance to these challenges was a strong awareness and technical understanding of which O&M practices are most effective for the technologies and end-uses predominate in the target segments. O&M measures differ from traditional energy conservation measures insofar as they are often defined as energy savings measures that are free or inexpensive to implement, typically with a simple payback of less than six months. Studies have concluded that chillers, boilers, unitary/packaged HVAC, compressed air, and lighting are all key systems that can benefit greatly from low-cost O&M improvements. Awareness and available funding for O&M tend to be extremely limited. RLW can perform facility-specific O&M audits very quickly and cost-effectively that culminate in the delivery of a report of recommendations, estimated implementation costs, and projected cost savings.

Peak Demand / Load Response

Load management requires more active energy management of commercial and industrial facilities and involves the minimizing and controlling of electrical demand peaks. The first step of any peak load assessment is to help customers gain an understanding of their energy usage and associated costs via Loadshape and Rate Analysis. This analysis is designed to help customers determine the best rate for not just the facility's existing energy profile, but also for a modified profile that is achievable via focused energy and demand management. Peak Demand Management audits strive to inform customers where, when and why demand spikes occur and suggest measures to reduce them with minimal impact on facility operations. By identifying equipment that contributes to peak demand, we can develop techniques to help flatten out the load shape and potentially avoid costly demand charges. Finally, Load Response Assessments show customers how they can take advantage of financial incentives by responding to load curtailment requests initiated by Utilities or other related parties. Our load management experts perform focused audits to identify load shed opportunities and provide clients with itemized lists of discretionary equipment loads that can be eliminated or reduced for short durations without critically affecting building operations.

Power Quality

Customers often cite power quality and reliability as a very important factor in choosing an electrical provider. Indeed, without clean, uniform power, your facility is more prone to premature equipment failures or outages. Yet, many power quality problems stem not from the electrical grid but simply from improper wiring and/or grounding. Some of the symptoms of power quality problems include unexpected failures of electronics, equipment overheating, excessive electrical "hum", or sporadic telecommunications problems. Power quality problems may include voltage spikes or sags, low power factor, excess harmonics and wave distortion, phase shift, or unbalanced loads. These issues can result in productivity downtime and expensive equipment replacement. RLW's Certified Power Quality (CPQ) professional can help identify the source of the disturbance and make cost-effective recommendations on how to correct and protect your facility from power quality problems.

Productivity / Waste Management

Often overlooked, facility managers can realize electrical as well as non-electrical cost savings by increasing productivity, reducing waste, or instituting a recycling program. RLW has numerous industrial engineering and efficiency experts on staff with the knowledge to analyze a manufacturing process to suggest ways of improving it. Significant cost-of-production improvements can be gained via something as simple as moving machines closer together in a "cell" and reducing transport distance between operations. Process automation and control systems can be highly effective means of improving throughput, production flow, and quality control. Finally, all facilities produce waste of one kind or another. One reduces waste by findings ways to produce less of it, compacting it, or possibly recycling it into the process as material or as a fuel. Each of these actions can ultimately lower facility costs. RLW can work with you to develop a custom plan for examining productivity and waste management solutions to help you optimize operations and lower costs.

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