Building owners, investors, and managers care more than ever about energy use, green building technology, and sustainability. A commercial energy audit is often the best place to start. Criterium-Hanna Engineers offers a range of services to help you meet these goals. Our energy and sustainability services include:
LEED Design and Certification
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a comprehensive approach to designing and operating green buildings. Energy conservation is a key component. However, LEED also considers water use and reuse, transportation, indoor air quality, and related systems. Many of our engineers are LEED Accredited Professionals (LEED AP). As a result, Criterium-Hanna Engineers can guide new and existing buildings through LEED design and certification.
ENERGY STAR Certification
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) runs the ENERGY STAR program to promote energy efficiency in products and buildings. To earn ENERGY STAR certification, a building must score 75 or higher on a 1–100 scale. In other words, it must perform better than at least 75% of similar buildings nationwide. A licensed Professional Engineer or registered architect must then verify the building’s performance.
Energy Tax Incentives
Section 179D of the federal tax code allows a tax deduction for qualifying energy-efficient building improvements. Some state and local programs offer similar incentives. Criterium-Hanna Engineers provides the design and analysis you need to claim these benefits.
Commercial Energy Audits
A commercial energy audit identifies the main sources of energy use in a building. It also develops strategies to reduce that use. We offer a preliminary energy analysis as an add-on to our Property Condition Assessments. Alternatively, we can perform a complete stand-alone energy audit following ASHRAE guidelines.
Blower Door Testing
Our engineers also have the experience to perform other energy efficiency evaluations for homes and buildings. For example, a blower door test with an infrared camera inspection finds where air leaks into your building. These leaks put unnecessary load on your heating and cooling system. As a result, they raise energy costs. They can also cause condensation inside wall cavities, which may lead to water damage and mold.
HVAC Retro-Commissioning
HVAC design depends heavily on a building’s age and how people use it. When owners repurpose a building or modify its HVAC system, efficiency often drops. Retro-commissioning solves this problem. First, we evaluate the building’s current use, equipment locations, and controls. Then we test the heating and cooling system. This confirms that older systems still run at their expected capacity and keep occupants comfortable. Many of the resulting improvements cost very little. Yet they can make a significant difference in operating costs and occupant comfort.
Ready to lower your energy costs? Contact us to schedule a commercial energy audit.