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Lead time, which applies to equipment delivery and transportation, as well as earth-moving-equipment availability, often is overlooked during documentation. This information should be included in the final presentation.

Documentation also should address various areas of concern, such as safety, ease of use, and code compliance. This is especially important when a cost-savings initiative is not easily quantifiable. Some clients may address these areas up front. If not, it is good practice to ask a client if such items should be included in the final report. The engineer also should be aware of items that the client does not want to see in the report.

Delivering the presentation

A final presentation should include results of the energy analysis, system options, and cost comparisons. These elements should provide the client with an overall picture of potential energy and cost savings.

Regardless of whether it is given in person or by correspondence, a presentation at least should include:

• A narrative that includes a project overview, assumptions, summary/recommendations, cost-savings initiatives and procedures, and areas of concern.

• Energy-analysis results.

• Payback-analysis results.

• Graphics, such as charts, tables, photographs, and/or schematics used to clarify, illustrate, and/or support the material in the narrative.

The narrative should be supported by all of the other documentation. It should contain easy-to-understand language presented in a format useful to the client. Often, energy-analysis and payback results and graphics are included as appendices. Equipment-catalog cuts may be included in the supporting material as well.

The energy-analysis portion of a presentation should include complete lists of energy sources and energy-utilizing equipment, as well as minor items, such as heat for domestic hot water and other incidentals. Baseline and projected reductions in energy usage should be provided on the basis of monthly, quarterly, annual, seasonal, and zoned use for ease of review and comparison. To clarify potential energy savings, a table with comparative values for each use may be prepared, giving the client an “at-a-glance” view of energy savings.

Providing system options allows clients to tailor the subsequent HVAC, electrical, and other energy-utilizing systems to their specific needs. A client may have some alternatives in mind already; however, the engineer needs to be aware of the capabilities and limitations of each option. It is the engineer's responsibility to be familiar with the types of systems that are available for specific applications and to work closely with vendors and product representatives who know the capabilities and limitations of their equipment. An analysis of system options should include existing or baseline system data and requirements, as well as data and requirements, benefits and drawbacks, and required maintenance and expected equipment life for each proposed system.

The engineer also must be prepared to give details concerning any customized systems or approaches. Figure 2 is an illustration of a custom heat-recovery system designed to reclaim heated waste water for use in a hot-water pre-heating application.

Cost comparisons are critical to a presentation's successful delivery. A good cost comparison should include installed costs, financing data, simple payback on investment based on projected energy savings, life-cycle and maintenance costs, and depreciation. Also, it should provide “breakout” costs to match the energy analysis. In this manner, the client can see the energy and cost savings in each area. Not only will this assist the client in understanding areas of potential savings, it will provide the engineer with a tool that illustrates where significant energy savings are being realized through planning and/or remediation. These items then can be highlighted in the narrative.

Follow-up

Preparing a follow-up plan is a courtesy that will go a long way in maintaining a good client relationship. To assemble additional documentation that can be utilized for a follow-up plan:

• Develop a comprehensive plan that promotes good energy-usage practices.

• Offer some modifications to existing equipment-usage schedules.

• Review building occupancy schedules and provide a comparison to system and equipment schedules.

• Suggest the use of a standard format, such as LEED for New Construction criteria for enhanced commissioning, to ensure that all disciplines are working together from the outset of the project.

• Use a standard format to measure and verify temperature, humidity, and comfort control, ensuring proper equipment performance and occupant satisfaction.

• Be prepared to provide value engineering during the project's design phase.

• Be prepared to provide construction-administration services during the project's construction phase.

Summary

As with all engineering endeavors, good planning lays the foundation for a successful energy-savings presentation. A thorough study of the project and available energy data provides accurate material for documentation. Being mindful of the presentation throughout the process makes it that much more useful and impressive to the client. When the engineer is successful and the client saves money, both come out winners.

Did you find this article useful? Send comments and suggestions to Associate Editor Megan White at megan.white@penton.com.

A senior mechanical designer for Century Engineering Inc., Jack Burton, LEED AP, has been employed in the engineering and construction fields since 1984, having worked in the civil-, electrical-, structural-, and mechanical-engineering disciplines. He holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Warren National University.