We have extensive experience in the investigation of energy-related technologies used in buildings, the assessment of related markets, and the execution of technology-specific surveys. Government departments, utilities, associations and industry have used the results of these studies for planning programs and future business development, developing technology transfer documents, and as inputs to regulatory activities. We have examined some of these technologies many times, either for different clients or because the technology and its challenges have changed over time.

The technologies we’ve investigated include:

Refrigeration

  • Engine-driven ice rink chillers
  • Natural gas refrigeration in the food and beverage industry sector
  • Commercial ice makers
  • Walk-in coolers and freezers
  • Commercial refrigerators/freezers
  • Vending machines
  • Ice Kube integrated refrigeration and heating system in ice hockey arenas
  • Refrigeration compressors

HVAC

  • Portable air conditioners (PACs)
  • Room air conditioners
  • Split-system air conditioners
  • Central air conditioners and heat pumps
  • Vertical air conditioners  and heat pumps
  • Large air conditioners and heat pumps
  • PTAC/PTHPs
  • Ambient compensation controls for make-up air units
  • Advanced rooftop controllers (ARCs)
  • Commercial chillers
  • Variable speed cooling towers
  • Gas cooling
  • Residential boilers
  • Commercial boilers
  • Linkageless boiler control
  • Commercial hot water heaters
  • Hot water on-demand controls
  • High efficiency water heaters
  • Hot water recirculation
  • Domestic hot water desuperheaters
  • Electric storage tank water heaters
  • Water heater de-stratification
  • Condensing rooftop furnaces
  • Mobile home furnaces
  • Commercial gas furnaces
  • Oil furnaces
  • Ultra-high efficiency furnaces
  • ENERGY STAR furnaces
  • ECM fan motor retrofits
  • Envelope and HVAC measures  in multi-unit residential and commercial buildings
  • Heat exchangers
  • Drain water heat recovery
  • Desiccant dehumidifiers in ice rink applications
  • Desiccant dehumidifiers in supermarket applications
  • Indoor swimming pool dehumidification
  • Solar desiccant cooling

Heat Pumps

  • Water-loop heat pumps
  • Cold-climate heat pumps
  • Ground-source heat pumps
  • Gas-absorption heat pumps
  • Steam heat pumps
  • Ground heat exchanger piping failure
  • Commercial-size heat pump water heaters
  • Air-source heat pumps
  • Retrofitting ground-source heat pumps in a multi-unit residential building

Distributed Generation

  • Micro-turbines, fuel cells and packaged co-generation
  • Analysis of microturbine data from an office building site

Other Technologies

  • Gas fireplaces
  • Pool heaters
  • Solar pool heaters
  • Water coolers
  • Commercial kitchen equipment
  • Air curtains
  • UPS/battery chargers/electroplating power supplies
  • Motors