Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency is the first item
to address when “greening” your business and is a very cost effective means to
reduce your carbon footprint. Energy
conservation through user awareness and efficient technology leads to higher
profitability through reduced operating costs.
ANTARES performs energy assessments or energy audits to assist the building owner or company reduce their energy costs. ANTARES’ staff has conducted over 90 energy audits in industrial facilities, and has provided training on conducting energy audits to utility engineers, university professors, and engineering students. ANTARES is not an Energy Services Company or “ESCO” and works directly for you with no hidden agenda to sell equipment.
The assessment is comprised of three steps:
1. Data collection – Done through a series of on-site visits, ANTARES uses data collection equipment to quantify and describe savings estimates. Detailed interviews are conducted with facility management personnel, production workers, and maintenance staff to verify typical usage patterns and control of equipment. Existing equipment/system performance data records and logs (electronic and manual) for the steam and chiller systems are used to determine and verify year-round equipment operational patterns.
2. Evaluating existing conditions – After compiling the data, ANTARES typically prepares a report with a background on the energy consuming systems at the building/facility; review of data collected and existing energy use and costs; and existing energy management practices at the building/facility. At the end of this report ANTARES prepares a list of potential energy conservation measures (ECMs) to be analyzed at the building/facility.
3. Analyzing potential ECMs - After input from the building/facility is considered, cost/benefit analyses are performed for potential ECMs. These analyses are appended to the existing conditions report and are summarized in a table showing the results of all the analyses in a matrix that provides a roadmap to implement projects based on capital investment and payback period as illustrated in the tabled linked to below.
Project Development Support
In addition to the above energy auditing services, ANTARES provides engineering support directly to the owner verifying levels of savings offered in proposals from Energy Service Contractors or Cogeneration Project Developers. ANTARES independently reviews contracts, proposed energy savings levels, and costs to the owners to provide expert review of these energy savings projects. As with the detailed energy audit services, these project services can be cost shared with NYSERDA through the Flexible Technical Assistance program.