http://www.scientificconservation.com/ en chris@rtjconsultants.com Copyright 2011 2011-08-29T13:22:47+00:00 http://www.scientificconservation.com/blog/entry/scientific_conservation_inc._sci_completes_acquisition_of_servidyne_inc/ http://www.scientificconservation.com/blog/entry/scientific_conservation_inc._sci_completes_acquisition_of_servidyne_inc/#When:13:22:47Z San Francisco, CA – August 29, 2011 - Scientific Conservation, Inc., (SCI) a leading building energy management company for the $5 billion commercial building market, today announced that it completed its previously announced acquisition of Servidyne, Inc. following approval of the transaction by Servidyne’s shareholders in a special meeting held August 26, 2011. The new combined company, SCIenergy® Inc. formally launches next month. “This announcement marks a significant step forward in bringing together our best-in-class management teams and operations, a combined 160 employees worldwide, and numerous loyal and delighted customers.  We hope to change the customer experience for energy and systems management by using an Intelligent Retro Commissioning™ approach that leverages the SCIenergy Cloud™, said Russ McMeekin, CEO, SCI. “We are pleased by this overwhelming support and approval by our shareholders.  As part of the newly formed SCIenergy Inc. family we are better positioned for Mining The Fifth Fuel™,” said Todd Jarvis, President, Servidyne Inc. SCI also announced it has raised $9.6 million in its third round of venture capital funding led by existing investor, Triangle Peak Partners. Current investors, DFJ, DFJ Growth and Westly Group also participated in the round earmarked to fund strategic growth. About Scientific Conservation, Inc. Scientific Conservation, Inc., (SCI) a leading provider of energy efficiency via Predictive Diagnostics and Analytics solutions for the $5 billion commercial building market.  The company’s suite of energy management solutions uses the industry’s first software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform to help reduce annual energy spending by comparing predicted energy and system efficiencies against real-time operation.  The company’s headquarters are in San Francisco, CA, with its technology center in Atlanta, GA.  For more information, visit http://www.scientificconservation.com. Follow SCI on twitter and on facebook About Servidyne Servidyne, Inc. is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, and operates globally through its wholly–owned subsidiaries. The Company provides comprehensive energy efficiency and demand response solutions, sustainability programs, and other products and services that significantly enhance the operating and financial performance of existing buildings. Servidyne enables its customers to cut energy consumption and realize immediate cost savings across their portfolios, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving the comfort and satisfaction of their buildings’ occupants. The Company serves a broad range of markets in the United States and internationally, including owners and operators of corporate, commercial office, hospitality, gaming, retail, light industrial, distribution, healthcare, government, multi-family and education facilities, as well as energy services companies and public and investor-owned utilities. For more information, please visit http://www.servidyne.com or call 770-933-4200. About SCIenergy Inc. SCIenergy, a merger of Scientific Conservation and Servidyne, is the global leader in providing a cloud-based energy management platform for building owners and operators.  The SCIenergy Cloud™ integrates high-tech solutions with high-touch actionable insights. Headquartered in San Francisco with an Operations & Technology Center in Atlanta, SCIenergy has more than 160 employees worldwide, with flagship customers in the USA, Canada, Europe, Asia and Australia. Industry accolades include, Business Partner in GE’s Ecomagination Challenge 2010, recipient of the 2010 San Francisco Business Times Green Business Award, and nine-time recipient of EPA’s Energy Star® Partner of the Year Award. Media Contact: Tanya Blackburn RTJ Consultants | 702.348.8379 tanya@rtjconsultants.com 2011-08-29T13:22:47+00:00 http://www.scientificconservation.com/blog/entry/the_power_of_confidence/ http://www.scientificconservation.com/blog/entry/the_power_of_confidence/#When:00:06:44Z     It is amazing what confidence does in all aspects of life. A high level of certainty that a specific outcome is achievable allows for good decision-making, and the energy efficiency market is no different.  My recent experience at a climate change conference clarified this fact. During the conference, there was much discussion surrounding individuals involved in the energy efficiency market and the aspects involved in the overall process of bringing in projects. Bankers don’t have confidence that their capital can be deployed with certain returns, project developers have no confidence that they can select projects that sustain levels of performance and improve efficiency and engineers have little confidence to properly size projects versus over sizing to protect themselves from liability.  The conversations changed measurably when I postulated that SCIwatch™ provided the necessary infrastructure to assure users of robust data and project sustainability.  By doing so the bankers agreed that there were few obstacles in their deployment of capital, the project developers agreed that they could quickly and easily identify fundable projects and the engineers have their source data to size and design projects to maximize efficiency. Management and data quality assurances of companies like SCI delivers and provides an environment that acts as a backdrop for the development and sustainability of energy efficiency projects. 2011-05-11T00:06:44+00:00 http://www.scientificconservation.com/blog/entry/david_gottfrieds_regenerative_networks_spring_forum/ http://www.scientificconservation.com/blog/entry/david_gottfrieds_regenerative_networks_spring_forum/#When:05:47:25Z I had the privilege of attending David Gottfried’s 2-day Regenerative Networks Spring Forum in Berkley, CA on April 19th. There were many great moments and below I have outlined the clear themes I felt worthy of pointing out: • Shining a light on the results of projects is critical to the adoption of technologies and as such MUST be rigorous. A failed project sets the adaptation process back significantly. • Like any technology trying to “cross the chasm” from early adopter to mainstream, energy efficiency must stay away from over committing and under delivering. Transparency and the delivery of many case studies further these causes and closes the chasm. • If you are interested in the economics of energy efficiency you should check out the work of Professor Nils Kok. His work on quantifying the benefits of energy efficiency and sustainability in commercial buildings is enlightening. • Professor Emeritus Harrison Fraker of the UCB College of Architecture gave a presentation on net-zero community projects. The 4 projects discussed do not required major shifts in lifestyle but do require a few compromises in lifestyle. A shift from cars to public transport was one of the few.  It is clear that these projects require a communal commitment but the results are a more predictable relationship between the occupants and the energy economy, something all of us would love to have. 2011-04-27T05:47:25+00:00 http://www.scientificconservation.com/blog/entry/effective_communication_for_our_environment/ http://www.scientificconservation.com/blog/entry/effective_communication_for_our_environment/#When:02:34:27Z Over the past 5 years, I’ve learned that in all aspects of life including personal relationships and those with our environment, communication is key. We must communicate our messages correctly so that those receiving them can internalize them and take any necessary action.  As I travel the world I am drawn to recognize inefficiency everywhere.  For example, if you look around you during the day you will likely notice countless needlessly illuminated lights.  We as a society have to work at communicating the energy efficiency message better so that we can internalize it, make change and lead by example.  If you don’t believe this affects you, you might consider the reason for high commodity prices. The balance between supply and demand changes such that demand rises or supply shrinks.  By using more energy than is absolutely necessary we are raising prices unnecessarily… let’s work together to more effectively communicate. Sometimes actions really are louder than words, so start in your own home, then you’re communicating to others and our environment.  The message will be well received. 2011-04-19T02:34:27+00:00 http://www.scientificconservation.com/blog/entry/want_energy_efficiency_in_your_building_consider_predictive_analysis/ http://www.scientificconservation.com/blog/entry/want_energy_efficiency_in_your_building_consider_predictive_analysis/#When:18:29:46Z The ability to identify faults and capture the benefits using predictive analytics brings multiple layers of payback outside of energy and operational savings. The knowledge and understanding of your building’s mechanical and electrical equipment (HVAC), “aka” assets, and how they are actually operating in their respective environments at their specific sites at any given time – particularly at peak intervals, equals “prevention”. Our SCIwatch™ software not only has the ability to predict faults and anomalies in your assets, it can go a step farther and create hourly, weekly, monthly, and annual profiles for them. This has many benefits including: 1. The ability to compare the assets’ performance for repair and or early replacement ~ this allows for more precise economic modeling and ultimately, more confidence in the results. 2. The ability to track the operation of the assets post replacement for comparison of actual vs. predicted. This allows for proper recommissioning of the asset and the early identification and “prevention” of any issues. 3. The accurate understanding of these benefits influences a ‘demand response’ which supports the need for preventative care ultimately best serving building owners, the assets themselves and the environment. 2010-10-28T18:29:46+00:00 http://www.scientificconservation.com/blog/entry/reducing_your_carbon_footprint/ http://www.scientificconservation.com/blog/entry/reducing_your_carbon_footprint/#When:05:50:52Z A recent event at my home reminded me that driving towards LEED accreditation requires more than focusing on energy efficiency.  LEED certification requires focus on water and paper cycles, transportation options, product procurement and overall building management.  Energy system optimization is SCI’s focus but this is just one major part of reducing our overall footprint. Here’s another… As the parent of a newly minted college student, I purchased a crock pot for his use; a requirement for a good college social life.  It showed up yesterday packed in all of the boxes and packaging shown in the attached picture.  I was perplexed.  Why would one need all these exterior boxes when the manufacturer delivers the product in a shipping quality box?  I was told that expectations from customers are such that the product must arrive in a box that is not damaged in any way.  I pointed out that packages arriving directly from the manufacturer (this one came via Amazon) have a mailing sticker stuck to the box.  I also pointed out that Three boxes (a box within a box within a box) to ship one product was resource wasteful. We as individuals need to let our suppliers know that our orders should be filled in such a manner that the product arrive ‘as designed’ with as little packaging as possible.  We the consumers are the ultimate arbitrator of our suppliers.  By telling them we are paying attention these issues helps move the market to minimize this type of unnecessary waste. By David Wolins 2010-09-08T05:50:52+00:00 http://www.scientificconservation.com/blog/entry/installation_of_smart_meters_in_the_residential_space/ http://www.scientificconservation.com/blog/entry/installation_of_smart_meters_in_the_residential_space/#When:17:25:36Z Today I read an article on the issues associated with the installation of smart meters in the residential space. PG&E has received more than 4,000 complaints. It made me question why so many? Is it because of faulty equipment or a faulty implementation process? As a long time energy consultant for both industry and utilities I have found utilities to be exceptionally conservative when it comes to the selection configuration and installation of metering equipment. All meter “shops” are certified and must comply with rigorous standards that are traceable. Yes, there are cases (I have documented some myself) of improper metering of electricity but they are typically few and far between. So what has lead to the plethora of customer complaints? Transitions regardless of their origin or purpose are difficult at best. Whenever we are in a transitional state at minimum we question things surrounding the transition with greater focus than previously. I contend that this is what is happening with the smart meter program. By receiving more data in a new format with more clarity customers are much more sensitive to possible deviation verses their expectations. There are a number of ways to mitigate this issue. The most compelling is to provide graphical bill based information for the period before and after the change-out while overlaying predictions of what the customer should expect in the upcoming period. By doing so the customer can track any deviation from the expected and the utility can be more effective in providing a smooth transition. by David Wolins 2010-09-04T17:25:36+00:00 http://www.scientificconservation.com/blog/entry/definable_benefits_of_automated_continuous_commissioning/ http://www.scientificconservation.com/blog/entry/definable_benefits_of_automated_continuous_commissioning/#When:18:22:12Z Over the last several years, more and more facility owners are embracing the idea of building commissioning/re-commissioning. Indeed any facility with hopes of obtaining any degree of LEED certification must perform re-commissioning at least once every two years. The commissioning/re-commissioning process requires one to: 1. Collect building system data 2. Review existing operational parameters 3. Evaluate actual operations vs. operational requirements 4. Develop specific recommendations for improved operational efficiency 5. Develop a measurement and verification plan 6. Monitor for sustainable savings Automated Continuous Commissioning (ACC) delivers many definable benefits to the commissioning process.  Below are examples of how a commissioning agent and the end-user customer can leverage ACC to improve both the value of the commissioning while improving the sustainability of the operational efficiency. 1. Collecting building system data – SCIWatch acts as a data warehouse for the raw building system information including a list of equipment and key operating characteristics.  As a result, facility operators no longer have to hunt down this information on the job site. The SCIwatch software aggregates all available energy and control information, typically without need for gateways or additional hardware at the site. 2. Review existing operational parameters – In combination with the legwork done by the commissioning agent, SCIwatch provides a deeper “dive” by generating trend logs that run 24/7 vs. the very narrow time slice a commissioning agent sees while at the site. We often describe the difference as looking at a movie rather than a snap shot. The resulting operational information allows SCI to: a. Establish a traceable baseline b. Confirm operational conditions c. Rapidly identify sensor, control and schedule anomalies 3. Evaluate actual vs. required operating parameters – Aggregation and analysis of site data allows SCIwatch to identify the part load efficiency of mechanical equipment on a 24/7 basis.  This allows the commissioning agent and the customer to make sizing and operating decisions based on actual performance vs. rules of thumb. 4. Develop specific recommendations for improved operational efficiency – As an aggregation source for building specific data, SCIwatch lends its database to the commissioning agent as a source of actual building simulation source data.  Using this data, the commissioning agent can accurately assess the true economics of an energy efficiency improvement.  This takes the guesswork out of using assumptions input into building simulation systems by providing actual energy use data for every single system for an entire year along with actual interval weather data that matches the same period. 5. Develop a measurement and verification plan – Monitoring system and facility operations is integrated into the SCIwatch implementation.  The commissioning agent only needs to identify the variables relevant to the specific efficiency improvement to track the performance.  SCIwatch automatically issues alerts if there is degradation of operational efficiency. 6. Monitor for sustaining savings – The SCIwatch platform is designed to identify and predict degradation in operational efficiency.  By doing so the equipment is maintained at maximum energy efficiency while minimizing operational costs. These are a few examples of how the SCIwatch ACC solution helps the commissioning agent deliver an accurate, sustainable, easy to execute commissioning solution for buildings.  2009-08-12T18:22:12+00:00 http://www.scientificconservation.com/blog/entry/when_roi_is_a_bad_thing/ http://www.scientificconservation.com/blog/entry/when_roi_is_a_bad_thing/#When:19:15:45Z Customers often ask what kind of ROI they can expect from Automated Continuous Commissioning (ACC).  The simple answer is, if done properly, there is no ROI. Knowledgeable professionals in the industry often say the most sustainable energy is the energy never used. Similarly, the best ROI is the one that never happened.  Understandably, this can puzzle customers accustomed to traditional ROI metrics when trying to wrap their head around the old adage of “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” The fact is, in the arena of ACC, ROI is a bad thing.  It means that something went wrong and you corrected it too late.  So how does one decide whether ACC is a good investment? Texas A&M’s Energy Systems Lab research points out that for buildings with manual continuous commissioning “the average measured utility savings are about 20 percent, with simple paybacks typically occurring in less than two years.”  This is the most basic, traditional measure of ROI. As such, it doesn’t factor in other critical considerations.  A few examples cited below will shed light on this. That said, the importance of commissioning is without dispute.  For its highly sought after LEED certification, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) thinks so strongly about commissioning that they have made it a requirement for anyone desiring any level of certification (with additional value given for continuous commissioning).  If looked at from that light, one can say that the average risk of not doing continuous commissioning is a 20 percent increase in energy cost.  But that is only a small part of the story. The key question is how often should one re-commission their facility?  LEED says no less than every two years.  Is two years the magic number?  Fact is, something really wrong can happen as soon as the commissioning agent packs up.  This is the case since commissioning agents don’t access data once the logging part of the commissioning process is complete.  Consequently, problems may go unsolved until that agent comes back, someone in the building notices the issue, or worse, never does get resolved.  Take the recent case of a high-end department store.  The house domestic water pumps were on the same schedule as the air conditioning systems.  Since the air conditioning systems came on a few hours before the store opened, the domestic water pumps were put on a separate schedule.  This cancelled the chiller schedule.  While this problem was discovered and the issue was quickly resolved via ACC, it raises the salient question: how long would this have gone un-noticed at a cost of $90.00 per day?  Four months?  Three days?  Who knows?  It’s entirely possible the issue wouldn’t have been addressed until the next time a commissioning agent went to the site two years later. There is another major benefit of continuous commissioning that is not accounted for in traditional energy savings ROI models.  A customer with two 450-ton chillers allowed one of the chillers to run at a very low part load.  This resulted in periodic surging of one of the units that would inevitably have caused the bearings to fail since the centrifugal compressor was operating at a lower part load than what was specified in the system design.  By catching this problem early, a failure costing thousands of dollars along with days of downtime and angry hot customers was avoided.  Proactively avoiding the cost of catastrophic failure and unscheduled downtime is a compelling and intuitive value of continuous monitoring.  But how should ACC’s ability to mitigate risk be included in the economic model?  Like vibration analysis and thermography before it, ACC breaks new barriers in the financial model.  Any major air conditioning manufacturer can give you excellent statistics of the average life of equipment.  Those statistics cannot be aligned to what would have happened if all that equipment was continuously monitored.  One thing is certain: the small cost of ACC pales in comparison to the benefits. This is not to suggest that ROI is unimportant in determining certain energy projects under consideration. However, to avoid some of those ROI’s in the first place, ACC is essential.  It is clear that energy professionals have relied upon traditional ROI metrics to gauge the value of energy efficiency solutions.  If we ignore the value of sustaining energy efficiency while not taking advantage of the benefits from continuous monitoring, we risk not only overvaluing efficiency gains, but continue to miss the opportunity to minimize the true cost of operations of buildings and their systems. 2009-07-13T19:15:45+00:00