Why your ENERGY STAR Professional Matters

Does it really matter who you choose as your Commercial Building ENERGY STAR PE consultant? Isn’t it just a matter of “stamping an application”?

Why your ENERGY STAR Professional Matters

Yes it does matter, and No a qualified ENERGY STAR professional cannot simply “stamp an application”.

To receive an ENERGY STAR Award the building must be assessed and certified by a licensed Professional Engineer “PE” or Registered Architect. “RA”. The licensed professional reviews indoor environmental air quality, thermal conditions, illumination, gas and electric energy consumption and property usage details during the ENERGY STAR process. They also answer questions from the EPA and handle any potential future EPA audits.

Updates to the National ENERGY STAR commercial building database this year have resulted in much lower scores across the board. Many buildings that previously qualified for ENERGY STAR awards are no longer qualifying for this coveted honor.

At Maximum Energy Professionals our engineering team has 20 years of experience with the Commercial Building ENERGY STAR process. We are ranked #4 in the nation for ENERGY STAR awards (past 12 months). More importantly, a whopping 44% of our benchmarked properties qualify for an ENERGY STAR award, putting us at #1 in the nation for benchmark to ENERGY STAR conversion. No one else comes close. Give us a call about your building today! Experience matters.

Posted by Maximum Energy Professionals “MEP”, a mechanical engineering firm located in Torrance, CA. Sustainability Services, ENERGY STAR utility benchmarking and award certification, California AB802 Compliance, City of Los Angeles EBEWE Compliance, Utility Data Management Software dashboard, ASHRAE energy audits, LEED, energy conservation/green Mechanical-Electrical-Plumbing systems and equipment design. Call us at 310-782-1410 or visit our website at www.mep-llc.com..

MEP Services — July 2017 Newsletter

Maximum Energy Professionals “MEP” is pleased to announce the promotion of Daniel Moore to Sustainability Manager. Daniel has been with MEP for over 2 years now, beginning as an intern and then as a Project Associate. During his time with MEP Daniel has expanded his role from running company social media accounts and data entry to completing ENERGY STAR applications and assisting our Principal Engineer Glenn Tanner with Energy Audits and Property Condition Assessment building inspections.

Daniel’s interest in sustainability goes back to his youth, but his expertise began when he attended Chapman University where he earned his B.S. in Environmental Science & Policy. He started at MEP in 2015 and has become an important team member. Daniel has streamlined our ENERGY STAR certification process, freeing up Principal Engineer, Glenn Tanner, to tackle design projects and our Principal Business Development, Lisa Tanner, to focus on client relationships, business strategy, and developing new projects.

Daniel has become an expert at the EPA’s ENERGY STAR tool Portfolio Manager and has completed well over 400 building applications. In May 2016 Daniel attained the designation of LEED Green Associate and will be assisting with any future LEED projects. Daniel also writes monthly blog articles that can be found on the company website at the following link : http://mep-llc.com/blog.html. His articles cover a wide array of sustainability related topics from Net-zero energy buildings to energy benchmarking policy and even the future of our utility infrastructure.

Whether he is in the field inspecting rooftop HVAC equipment or in the office crunching numbers in Microsoft excel for an energy audit, Daniel’s contributions to the company are invaluable and we look forward to seeing him grow in his new position.

This Blog article has been posted by Maximum Energy Professionals “MEP”, a mechanical engineering firm located in Torrance, CA. For information on Sustainability Services including: ENERGY STAR utility benchmarking and award certification, California AB802 Compliance, City of Los Angeles EBEWE Compliance, our Utility Data Management Software dashboard, ASHRAE energy audits, LEED, and energy conservation/green Mechanical-Electrical-Plumbing systems and equipment design, please give us a call at 310-782-1410 or visit our website at www.mep-llc.com. 

ASHRAE Level I & II Expert Energy Audits California

Maximum Energy Professionals “MEP” has assisted in excess of 1,000 commercial, educational and institutional customers with their ASHRAE audits over the past 25 years, which equates to well over 1 Billion square feet of audited real estate performed by our company. We are GSA certified for energy audits (contract # GS-21F-052AA), and are often hired by other sustainability consultants to assist them with their audit needs due to the technical requirements of ASHRAE Level & II audits, which require the superior expertise and knowledge that we can offer due to our many years of audit facility experience.

ASHRAE Level I Audit
The Level 1 audit alternatively is called a “simple audit”, “screening audit” or “walk-through audit” and is the basic starting point for building energy optimization. It involves brief interviews with site operating personnel, a review of the facility’s utility bills and other operating data, and an abbreviated walk-through of the building. The ASHRAE Level-1 audit is geared toward the identification of the potential for energy improvements, understanding the general building configuration, and defining the type and nature of energy systems. The audit should result in a preliminary, high-level, energy-use analysis for the entire facility, and a short report detailing the findings, which may include identifying a variety of recognizable efficiency opportunities. Usually this report does not provide detailed recommendations, except for very visible projects or operational faults.

ASHRAE Level II Audit
An ASHRAE “Level II – Energy Survey and Analysis” includes a more detailed building survey and energy analysis than the cursory Level I. A breakdown of energy use within the building is provided. A Level II energy analysis identifies and provides the savings and cost analysis of all practical measures that meet the owner’s constraints and economic criteria, along with a discussion of any effect on operation and maintenance procedures. It also provides a listing of potential capital-intensive improvements that require more thorough data collections and analysis, along with an initial judgment of potential costs and savings. This level of analysis will be adequate for most buildings and measures but is less comprehensive than Level III, which includes more detailed analysis often with annual hourly load computer modeling.

Visit our website at http://www.mep-llc.com/sustainability-ashrae-level.html

Is Green Building and Design the Right Fit for Your Building?

There remains a wide range of concepts and practices that people define as ‘Green Building’. The term can mean anything from a building project that has a net positive environmental impact to a building project that is simply less environmentally detrimental in comparison to other buildings. The main goal of green building is to execute your construction and design project in such a way that it maximizes efficiency and minimizes disruption of land, water, energy and resources. In some cases green building projects can actually be regenerative for the land on which they are built. The health and well-being of the construct’s occupants is also considered even during the preliminary stages. What follows is a brief overview of what green building and design is and why you should be considering it.

In a green building and design project the most important stage is the beginning. Without proper planning, materials, and coordination the economic feasibility of a green design project can be put in jeopardy even before ground is broken. With deliberate action, concerted vision, and the right team, green design can be an excellent option for contractors and property owners alike. By considering and utilizing the natural setting around a project one can take advantage of variables that would be overlooked in other design projects such as sunrise and sunset, locally available materials, nearby water sources, and other benefits allotted by the site’s surrounding landscape. A green building design project takes a construct’s entire lifespan into consideration. This means many of the positives afforded (and drawbacks avoided) by green building continue well past the construction stage and on through the structure’s entire existence.

There is a pervasive misconception that green building projects cost more than their counterparts. While this may be true in some cases, there are many instances where green design can cost the same or even be cheaper than standard building activities. This is particularly so when one considers long-term costs like future utility expenses, the possibility of remediation projects, and other disbursements incurred by ignoring ecological and environmental factors during the construction and design process.

New laws and regulations like CALGreen make green building and design an even more incentivized option. While green building offers its own benefits, policies like CALGreen reward those already involved in green building and design while simultaneously encouraging more to adopt the practices. The CALGreen building code is abided with ease when green building design is properly implemented. The policies align with the practices of the industry, allowing green building vets to comply with these recent regulations with ease.

At MEP, our team of professionals assists our clients not just in complying with policies like CALGreen and Title XXIV, but finding the right green building design project for you. From our specialized energy conservation consulting services, to feasibility studies, and through design and preparation of construction documents and construction phase services, MEP assists customers in all phases of green building design. Services offered by MEP like LEED certification, LEED commissioning, feasibility studies, ASHRAE Level I and II Audits, Green Property Needs Assessments, and ENERGY STAR Benchmarking and Certification can keep your building’s green improvements increasing after your green design project is complete. Contact MEP today to find the right fit for your project and start reaping all the benefits this burgeoning industry has to offer.