Engineering Services

Engineering Support for Utility Companies

ESI has a long history of providing engineering support (energy analysis and design) to New England utility companies. Following is a list of utility companies that ESI has performed services for:

Electric:

Gas:

  • Boston Edison
  • Commonwealth Electric
  • Northeast Utilities
  • New England Electric Services
  • Bay State
  • Boston Gas
  • Commonwealth Gas

ESI is a design team member for Boston Edison's Energy Efficiency Partnership Demand Side Management Program. Demand Side Management (DSM) Programs allow facilities to receive funding assistance for viable projects resulting in improved energy efficiency. ESI has performed Energy Audits at various facilities, both existing and new. ESI has also performed Energy Audits for the New England Electric Services Design 2000 and Energy Initiative DSM Programs. ESI's role in conducting an energy audit involve the following:

  • Inventory of the facility's mechanical systems
  • Analyze the facility's current energy consumption, with an end-use breakdown
  • Identify potential Energy Conservation Opportunities (ECOs)
  • Assess the potential ECOs for utility rebate qualification
  • Design the approved ECOs for implementation
  • Commission of implemented ECOs
  • Verify savings of implemented ECOs

Typical ECOs that ESI has identified relate to equipment efficiency (e.g. lighting, motors, chillers, pumps, and fans). In addition to these equipment improvements, operational strategies (e.g. EMS, night setback, daylighting sensors, VSDs, optimization of plant operation, and thermal storage) are often identified as potential ECOs. ESI has also conducted many audits targeting facilities' chiller plants. ESI performed three of the six Boston Edison Chiller Pilot Project Energy Audits/Design Projects. Strategies that have been reviewed for improved plant performance include plant downsizing, refrigerant conversions, installation of different chiller technology, and installation of variable frequency drives.

Recently, ESI became a member of the Design Team providing design services to Advanced Energy Systems, a district CHW service company that serves downtown Boston. ESI designed a facility's interconnect station (typically consisting of heat exchanger, pumps, and controls) allowing the facility to use district CHW in lieu of generating in-house chilled water.