Turnkey Project Capabilities

At CEG, we offer unparalleled expertise for delivering design-build projects, including audits, engineering, design, construction, performance, financing, and compliance. Our team of experienced professionals is dedicated to delivering top-tier solutions that improve and transform the built environment by reducing facility energy consumption and utility costs, increasing site renewable energy generation and resilience, and addressing deferred maintenance and operational headaches.

Audits

CEG has audited 1,000+ facilities covering 33MM+ square feet. Through this experience,  we have refined best practices for performing comprehensive audits, energy analysis, and ECM design suited to our clients’ unique challenges and goals. The auditing methodology we employ is consistent with the standards of ANSI/ASHRAE/ACCA Standard 211-2018 and ASHRAE Level 3, the most comprehensive approach recommended by ASHRAE.

  • We review available facility data (e.g., previous energy audits, utility data, as-builts, equipment inventories, and maintenance records) to identify existing pain points and potential solutions. We develop targeted site visit plans to reduce the time needed on-site and ensure that we are efficient with our time and our client’s time. We also use this data to provide a detailed audit schedule for client stakeholder review and approval. 

  • We conduct full-building audits to gather a comprehensive inventory of equipment, condition, and operating status and to verify system configurations and equipment settings. Rather than relying on rules of thumb, we will obtain site-specific data by (1) launching local data loggers to understand typical use patterns for a statistically significant sample of sites and (2) spot-measuring parameters that do not need to be logged (e.g., light levels) to inform our analysis. We also typically have conversations with building managers and staff to help uncover existing performance issues, priorities for building occupants, and important details about specific building operations.

Through our in-depth audits and analyses, we often find solutions that go beyond like-for-like replacements and incorporate innovative strategies for saving energy, reducing O&M costs, and streamlining and modernizing building operations.

Engineering

CEG has a highly-technical team that performs the vast majority of our engineering analysis in-house and has identified $31MM+ in annual savings opportunities. Our engineers take a data-driven approach to engineering analysis and leverage existing data from site and data collected during site audits to develop accurate baseline energy use and projected energy savings for proposed energy conservation measures (ECMs).

  • We start by analyzing building energy and water consumption on a top-down (facility-wide) and bottom-up (system-specific) level. The facility-wide data allows us to benchmark utility-specific energy usage, and the system-specific data allows us to understand temperature and time dependencies of lighting, heating, cooling, airside, and other building systems’ baseline energy consumption. We complete our site-wide and ECM-specific baseline energy analysis by normalizing the data for weather, time of day, and building loads.

  • Next, we build calibrated building energy models and/or regression models to identify anomalies in building and system operations, highlight key independent variables that drive energy consumption (such as weather), identify opportunities for deep energy savings as well as additional (typically low-cost) energy efficiency improvements, assess ECM viability, and generate realistic savings projections. We calculate dollar savings using modeled energy savings and utility rates. Lastly, we combine the energy and water cost savings with operations and maintenance savings to determine the simple payback for each ECM.

Once we have determined the simple payback for each identified ECM, we model different potential packages of ECMs and present the overall project economics for each potential retrofit package to the client. We then work with our clients to select the most beneficial and impactful package based on life cycle cost analyses, energy and non-energy factors, and site-specific needs and goals.

Design

For each project, our design team and the project manager collectively manage the design process to ensure adherence to stringent requirements for constructability, code compliance, energy efficiency, emissions, system performance, and system longevity. To ensure quality and achieve intent, our internal engineering team also closely reviews each design before submission to the client for review.

  • Once we have identified potential ECMs, we create high-level design parameters and ECM-specific sequences of operation to identify potential hazards, constructability issues, security considerations, and uptime requirements. We use detailed ~30-50% designs for proposed ECMs to procure accurate, competitive pricing from manufacturers and trade subcontractors. This level of design (1) communicates design intent to subcontractors without overcommitting engineering resources before confirmation of ECM economic feasibility and client approval, and (2) expedites the final design phase following project award, allowing us to order material sooner and mitigate schedule delay risks from supply chain bottlenecks.

  • After contract execution, we transform the preliminary designs into a complete set of construction documents for client review and approval. ECM design submissions vary with the complexity and criticality of each ECM. For more complex measures (e.g., central plant upgrades, data center improvements, solar PV installation), we typically submit 60%, 90%, and 100% drawing and specification submittals, in addition to initial designs submitted earlier in the development process. For simpler upgrades (e.g., lighting), we submit 100% line-by-line designs and material cut sheets. We then use Bluebeam review software and Procore project management software to allow stakeholders to comment and review simultaneously thereby expediting schedule, simplifying handoffs, and improving coordination and transparency.

Construction

Our approach to project implementation prioritizes stringent safety as well as cost, scope, quality, and schedule control. We typically subcontract implementation of approved scope to local subcontractors, but provide full-time, on-site, and in-house construction management at a lower cost and with more control than firms that outsource construction management.

  • A CEG employee is onsite during all construction activities to monitor and evaluate subcontractors’ work and manage job site safety. We work closely with onsite client personnel to inform building occupants of in-progress and upcoming work and to identify any concerns or constraints. We meet with onsite personnel and subcontractors to confirm expectations, discuss the schedule, and resolve potential issues.

  • Besides meeting with the client team onsite when construction activities take place, we also schedule regular construction progress meetings with project stakeholders (at an interval desired by the client) to discuss progress by ECM, schedule updates, potential issues, and other client feedback. Key discussion points and action items are documented and shared among the project team to facilitate a consistent and up-to-date understanding of project progress and objectives among stakeholders.

  • We also employ a rigorous quality control (QC) process to catch and address issues early before they replicate and become expensive and time-consuming. We will utilize a third-party Commissioning Agent (CxA) to perform unbiased reviews and thorough functional performance tests.

Safety

At CEG, safety isn't just a commitment—it's a cornerstone of our operations. CEG has a dedicated in-house Safety Department that collaborates seamlessly with our construction team to craft (1) customized site-specific safety plans, (2) detailed job safety analyses tailored to each task, and (3) comprehensive Environmental Health & Safety plans. At CEG, we take pride in our flawless safety track record, with zero OSHA-recorded incidents over the past decade. Thanks to our unwavering commitment to stringent safety protocols, our safety program holds the prestigious ISO 45001 certification, setting a safety standard that surpasses the norms of the energy service industry.

  • Every project we undertake begins with the meticulous development of site-specific safety plans. No two sites are alike, and we recognize the unique challenges and risks associated with each site. Our Safety Department and our construction team assess every detail, tailoring safety protocols to the specific environment and accounting for every aspect of the project. This tailored approach is the foundation upon which our safety initiatives are built.

  • We recognize that safety isn't a one-size-fits-all concept, especially in the dynamic realm of construction. That's why our team conducts detailed job-safety analyses for each task. From assessing the intricacies of machinery operation to understanding the nuances of on-site logistics, we leave no stone unturned. This rigorous analysis ensures that our workers are equipped with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate their tasks safely and efficiently.

  • Beyond the immediate project scope, we extend our commitment to safety to the broader environment. Our comprehensive Environmental Health & Safety plans encompass not only the safety of our workers but also the preservation of the surrounding ecosystems. We adhere to environmentally responsible practices, reducing our ecological footprint while enhancing safety standards.

  • Over the past decade, CEG has maintained an impeccable safety record with zero OSHA-recorded incidents. This achievement is not a stroke of luck but a result of our unwavering dedication to implementing and upholding the highest safety protocols. Each day, we strive to not only meet but also exceed industry standards.

  • Our commitment to safety excellence has been recognized on a global scale. We hold the prestigious ISO 45001 Certification, a testament to our stringent safety management practices. This certification doesn't just signify our compliance with international safety standards; it demonstrates our proactive approach to setting new benchmarks within the energy service industry. By choosing CEG, you're choosing a partner dedicated to not only meeting but surpassing your safety expectations. Your safety is our priority today, tomorrow, and every day for each project that we undertake.

Performance Period Services

We provide a custom suite of performance period services to verify that savings exceed guaranteed savings for each project. To-date, our total verified savings have surpassed guaranteed savings on all our projects by ~13%.

  • After construction is complete and we receive project acceptance from our client, we conduct annual performance period M&V for the life of the contract. We use FEMP’s M&V for Federal Energy Projects, Version 4.0 (with particular attention to Section 6.0 “Guidance for Specific ECMs”) as the foundation for our ECM M&V plans. Our in-house Professional Engineers and Certified M&V Professionals customize the FEMP methods for each ECM and review the methodology with key project stakeholders. Each year we produce and submit an annual M&V report for review by the client. This report outlines the results of performance period M&V activities and summarizes ECM performance.

  • Additional performance period services include ongoing operations & maintenance (O&M), repair & replacements (R&R), ongoing monitoring, retrocommissioning, extended product warranties, custom alarms and failovers, automated data collection, storage and analysis, a dedicated 24/7 phone line, and electronic maintenance records. Our O&M support ranges from complete O&M to ECM-specific O&M (e.g., solar PV), and always includes hands-on and classroom training for site personnel on upgraded equipment to ensure that equipment maintains its ability to perform. Our ongoing monitoring includes quarterly performance reports of system trend data to flag and proactively resolve potential performance issues before a substantial loss of savings occurs, and retro commissioning ensures that equipment can adapt to changing conditions and drives additional savings over time.

Financing

We have supported financing for more than $300MM projects to date, and obtained incentives for the majority of our projects as well.

  • Typically, our projects are financed upfront by a third-party financier, and paid back by the client over the contract term with annual guaranteed energy and O&M cost savings. We apply our experience in supporting competitively procured third-party financing to reduce costs and the overall project term for each new project. Once we solicit financing bids, we work with our clients to select the best-value financier. We are completely agnostic with regards to capital sources and financing structure and can work with the client to determine the most appropriate financial structure for this project. We then enter a firm-fixed price contract with the client and financier for the contract term.

  • We also look to reduce upfront costs, improve project economic viability, and support additional scope using our proven ability to identify and secure available grants and incentives. We have secured $45MM+ of utility incentives & rebates, state loans & revolving funds, federal tax deductions & credits over the last 10 years and $3.5MM+ of grants in the last 3 years alone. To identify funding sources and their requirements, we leverage (1) our nation-wide experience obtaining incentives for similar technologies to what is in a project’s final scope, and (2) our relationships with local utility representatives/online resources. We use this experience to navigate incentive requirements, secure incentives, and support a comprehensive project for each client.

Compliance

CEG offers guaranteed compliance with local building energy and emissions laws. We manage the entire compliance process including capturing local utility incentives and low-cost energy efficiency financing programs, and help building owners and property managers reduce energy consumption and avoid costly penalties.

  • CEG will recommend the best compliance pathway or option to meet emissions limits given a client’s existing systems, capital improvement plans, available grants/rebates, and utility savings.

  • CEG’s engineers will provide a proposed scope with fixed costs and guaranteed energy savings to execute a compliance pathway or reduce emissions to below limits.

  • CEG’s in-house construction team will perform turnkey, design-build energy system upgrades leveraging our experience working in 24/7 critical facilities in urban areas.

  • CEG will measure the performance of the upgrades and assemble documentation to prove compliance, and will submit documentation and compliance reports.

We strive to comprehend your project objectives and collaborate at every stage. Utilizing our comprehensive expertise throughout the entire lifecycle, we provide integrated solutions that yield optimal value for your project.

Contact CEG to learn more.