Energy Efficiency Consulting

A WORLDWIDE NEED FOR CHANGE

In order for a country to achieve energy security and manage climate change, the multi-residential, commercial and industrial building sector must radically cut energy consumption – starting now.

These significant cuts are achievable. Significant building energy is wasted due to poor design, insufficient technology and inappropriate behaviors. Residences and businesses need to apply expertise and finance to develop and promote new approaches to energy efficiency, but transformation will not be achieved through the market alone.

Unless people are aware of the energy consumption of the services they use in buildings they cannot make energy-related choices and cannot measure progress.

Both new and existing buildings can be made more energy-efficient using a combination of passive and active measures in design and operation. Incorporating the best design and technical solutions in new and existing buildings can cut energy use by about two-thirds, without considering improving the performance of small appliances and equipment used in the building. Low-energy buildings must become the norm rather than the exception.

THE IES APPROACH

Energy audits include diagnosing the building, its envelope as well as its heating and sanitary hot-water systems. Therefore, our assessments rest upon:

a consumption analysis (bill-based);
a diagnosis of the heating installation;
an analysis of the building envelope.

Internat Energy Solutions is an active proponent of the “Negawatt” approach, first introduced by the Rocky Mountain Institute, according to which the way to energy efficiency is to go through the following stages, and in the following order:

Energy conservation: more reasonable consumption, less energy waste.
Energy Efficiency: reducing energy needs through insulation works, replacement of outdated and ineffient equipments.
Renewable energies integration.

According to this view, renewable energies should not be considered a panacea to energy efficiency problems, and only be used after the two preceding stages have been thoroughly implemented. It should be noticed that Stage 1 of this methodology allows for very easily reaped financial savings, which can finance in part Stage 2, and diminish the investment necessary for Stage 3.

However, in order to make the most appropriate decisions, and monitor the various actions implemented during this process, there is a crucial need for “Stage 0”: that of a comprehensive assessment of the initial situation.

Internat Energy Solutions has the capacities and experience to provide you with the help and advice you need throughout your energy efficiency projects.

Multi-Residential / Industrial Comprehensive Energy Audit

Internat Energy Solutions has developed an energy diagnostic tool that will provide the necessary information to establish energy consumption performance, highlight energy efficiency improvements and provide a benchmarking tool for existing buildings within portfolios.

The comprehensive report can also cover the following aspects:

Detailed inventory of energy-consuming and water-consuming devices on site;
Analysis of operating schedules currently in use;
Historical review of utility consumption through billing data taken from the gas, electricity and water invoices;
Weather-corrected analysis of energy and water use to provide a performance baseline against which efficiency improvements can be monitored;
List of realistic opportunities for sustainable cost reduction with financial analysis to support a business case;
List of behavioral and organizational changes that will reduce consumption; and
All proposed reduction actions are divided into three main categories:
- Immediate action
- Medium-term actions
- Long-term actions

The comprehensive and readable energy report will serve as the gateway to available incentive programs for the analysis and implementation of energy efficiency projects.

IESC’s engineering staff can provide and support all incentive program applications and provide project management for implementation of subsequent energy efficiency projects.

Some past projects

• Harbourfront Centre Environmental Strategy (Toronto, Canada) - Art studios, live performing theatres, entertainment complexes. Energy audit and consumption analysis; energy optimization and thermal envelope analysis; ventilation, heating, cooling and electrical financial analysis; renewable energy action plan.

• Urban Energy Audit (Saint-Laurent du Var, France) - 30.000 inhabitants municipality. Analysis of current energy consumption; energy and greenhouse gas balance; energy production and distribution; evaluation of the potential for energy efficiency and renewable energy production; design of a long-term energy consumption reduction action plan.

• Public Buildings (Montpellier France) - Prototype buildings for future 'positive energy' government buildings. Energy modeling of buildings; renewable energy potential evaluation; regulatory study on thermal regulation; communication strategy.