Spectrum Energy

The cost-effectiveness of energy sustainability has been in question for a long time, compelling stakeholders to re-examine the need for the same in their establishments. For instance, building owners often argue that changing components in an already built establishment may prove excessive for the benefits it may potentially bring.

Spectrum Energy, an energy consulting services company, would argue otherwise.

Every building has the potential to be more energy efficient. Spectrum identifies these opportunities and recommends systems to drive energy efficiencies for existing or under-design establishments, helping to reduce the total cost of building ownership.

Using industry-standard energy simulation software, it predicts energy savings by modifying various aspects of a building. The modeling simulations estimate the savings on annual utility bills. To verify them, utility bills are checked after the building is constructed or after the changes are incorporated, against the model and the estimated amount. The amount calculated by Spectrum usually has a buffer of 10 percent, above or below, compared to the amount consumed by the building.

Another form of savings the energy model tests for is utility incentives. If a building does not qualify for it, Spectrum advises clients on incrementing efficiency to enable claims for utility incentives.

Besides the energy consulting department, Spectrum’s portfolio comprises of its TAB (testing, adjusting, and balancing) and commissioning divisions, which uphold the consulting department.

In the testing, adjusting, and balancing (TAB) sector, Spectrum conducts tests on an existing building’s HVAC performance and envelope integrity, suggests modifications for higher energy efficiency and better envelope performance, and conducts the same tests to verify equipment and envelope function after implementation. The company is certified to build HVAC systems and is experienced with numerous building assets, including public and private buildings, military bases, residential buildings, office buildings, laboratories, and campus projects, large and small.

The commissioning sector advises the owner on performance requirements for a building, ensuring the design is based on their needs, and the construction delivers the required performance. During the construction phase, Spectrum ensures accurate application, installation, and functioning of the equipment. Depending on the building custodian, commissioning can be conducted for the building as a whole, on individual systems, or on a system’s individual components. Spectrum’s commissioning agents are nationally and internationally certified to deliver high-performance commissioning on building systems in different markets, including public and private office buildings, industrial and residential buildings, laboratories, and data centers

All three divisions of the company operate in harmony to ensure the sustainability of a building and economic benefits for the owner. They aid in reducing operation and maintenance costs and annual utility bills and check qualifications for incentives, grants, tax reductions, and loans.

Complementing these departments of Spectrum is its energy auditing service. The company asses the building’s energy use based on ASHRE3 levels of standards, which provide a road map to energy efficiency and in future compliance rules established by BEPS (Building Energy Performance Standards). In addition, it assists clients in obtaining PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) loans to finance highly efficient upgrades, resulting in lower energy costs and improved ROI.

“The team at Spectrum is always looking to do better and improve the way we serve clients, along with embodying environmental responsibility,” says Chet Knaup, president of Spectrum Energy.

For one of its clients acquiring upgrades for a 410 multi-family unit building, Spectrum helped them go LEED Gold. By finding over $4 million of programs through property tax abatements, gas and electric incentives, combined heat and power incentives, appliances incentives, and grants, they saved the building owner 2 1/2 % of their total building costs. In terms of energy, the project is estimated to save around one million kilowatt hours per year.

Overall, the services offered by Spectrum, complemented by its passionate team, leave its clients ecstatic. The organization is focused on making the planet a sustainable and clean place to live at nobody’s cost. With its strong foundation and mission as its cornerstone, Spectrum Energy will continue to better the environment and save costs for building owners for the foreseeable future.