Expertise

We bring deep expertise in both built-up and packaged central heating, cooling, and ventilation systems, as well as distributed packaged systems in large commercial and industrial buildings. Our approach includes on:

• Chilled water plant and heating hot water plant optimization – Implementing selective equipment upgrades designed to take advantage of ASHRAE Guideline 36 advanced control sequences that we tailor to your asset.
• Electrification of hot water – conversion of your gas-consuming equipment to heat pump or hybrid heat-pump systems that are 300% or more efficient than the gas-fired equipment they replace.  We optimize for the use of thermal storage (hot water batteries) where space allows, and analyze the business case for the addition of solar and batteries to further reduce the cost of power if needed.
• Capturing and reusing waste heat and cooling – Identifying practical opportunities to repurpose waste energy, minimizing the need for new energy inputs while maintaining performance.
• N+1 resilient building systems for critical facilities – Designing systems that deliver HVAC systems redundancy without unnecessary energy waste.
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Our goal is to achieve peak system performance while using the least amount of energy necessary.

• We develop customized ASHRAE Guideline 36 control sequences tailored to your asset’s operational profile.

• • 1. Despite modern control hardware, most buildings still rely on outdated control sequences from the 1970s and 1980s.
    2. Even newer buildings often run on canned sequences that fail to optimize system performance.
• We frequently recommend higher-accuracy sensors and meters to improve monitoring and enable precision performance tuning-reducing energy waste while significantly enhancing occupant comfort.
• We take a strong stance on control system hardware selection and look forward to sharing why the systems we recommend results in ease-of-use improvements, better long-term performance, flexibility, and integration. 
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• IEA designs and assesses photovoltaic (solar) systems to maximize on-site renewable energy generation. While we often design solar and battery systems as a “bolt-on” to existing buildings or campuses, they are also frequently incorporated as a planned phase within a deep energy retrofit strategy.
• Right-sizing solar and battery investments is absolutely critical, yet solar vendors frequently make improper configuration decisions that leave clients with suboptimal systems.
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Why Do Bad Vendor Recommendations Happen?

• • 1. Lack of expertise – Many vendors fail to understand how the entire energy ecosystem works together, leading to misaligned system sizing and configurations.
    2. Profit-driven motives – Some vendors prioritize their sales goals over what’s best for the client, recommending oversized, undersized, or poorly integrated systems that fail to deliver optimal returns.
• Poor system sizing and installation planning can severely limit future energy efficiency measures or block opportunities for solar and battery expansion—leaving money and valuable options on the table.

• Assess existing infrastructure to identify the right mix and phasing of on-site generation, storage, and grid interaction based on your resiliency goals.
• Develop Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR) to guide microgrid development and align with your operational objectives.
• Design phased solutions that integrate existing backup generators (if applicable), temporary generators (if needed), and permanent resources such as solar PV and battery storage for energy resilience during grid power outages.
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• We develop phased EV charging infrastructure plans aligned with your energy master plan to avoid costly electrical upgrades, unnecessary demand charges, and stranded assets
• We do this by focusing intensely on EV charge management and future scalability
• We help clients assess ownership and financing models—from direct ownership to third-party partnerships and revenue-sharing structures
• We evaluate incentive programs, tax credits, and financing structures to offset capital costs and accelerate ROI
• We bring a strong, experience-based perspective on “Do’s and Don’ts” for platform/hardware selection and contract structures
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• Our focus is on reducing fixture quantity while improving lighting quality through smarter design and procurement strategies
• Many owners have have lost significant savings by performing one-for-one LED lighting conversions – an industry practice that dates back to the 1970’s
• For large, repeatable spaces (corridors, open-plan areas, parking, garages), our designs help lighting vendors deliver:
  1. 15%-20% reductions in first cost
  2. 25%+ energy savings
  3. Better light distribution and color quality over time
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• We help large institutional clients with power and gas commodity procurement options and hedging strategies that provide predictable costs while managing risk exposure based on their risk tolerance
• Key considerations in commodity procurement:
  1. The market is rife with shady operators—contracts often contain hidden fine print and terrible terms.
  2. Hedging isn’t right for every client—sometimes, staying with the retail utility provides better risk/reward optimization
• Our team analyzes tariff structures, capacity markets, wholesale transportation, basis and network transport, and contract terms to help optimize energy supply agreements
• Our independent, vendor-neutral approach delivers transparent, data-driven recommendations that align with your operational and financial priorities

• We work with clients to evaluate ownership models—determining whether an outright purchase or various third-party financing options such as PACE, leasing or Power Purchase Agreements is the best fit for their objectives
• Financing should be treated as a competitive trade—we commoditize and bid out financing just as we would for contractors, electricians, or mechanical vendors. By using finance solicitations to obtain competitive bids, we help you determine “market” pricing
• Based on our plaintiff advisory work in the energy space, we have developed a strong perspective on vendor and financing approaches that should be avoided