HomeMy WebLinkAboutRESPONSE - RFP - 7148 ENERGY SERVICES TECHNICAL CONSULTANT (3)Fort Collins Utilities
L:nery Services Technical Assistance Proposal
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brendle"
June 24, 2010
1 City of Fort Collins r
Purchasing Division
1 215 N. Mason Street, 2-a Floor
Fort Collins, CO 80524
Attn: John Phelan
1 Dear John,
Brendle Group is pleased to submit our proposal for the Fort Collins Utilities Energy Services Technical
1 Assistance on -call project. We have not only been working with the City of Fort Collins for over a
decade on various energy, climate, and sustainability projects, we've also developed a close working
relationship with FCU over the past five years through our previous on -call contract. We see this current
project as an opportunity to renew this relationship and bring a fresh approach to FCU, drawing on
Brendle Group's unique skill sets, program ideas, and best practices from our expanding portfolio of
projects and clients nationwide.
1 We understand that you will have many choices in selecting a firm for your upcoming on -call needs. As
you review our proposal and compare it to others, we encourage you to consider the following:
1 A. Brendle Group's Difference
Our Demonstrated Energy Expertise. Brendle Group's core strength lies in the many years we have
been working with local governments, including FCU, on providing cost-effective, results -driven energy
1 assessments that benefit both the city and community at large. Brendle Group has assessed over 26
million square feet of buildings and offers a wealth of knowledge regarding energy savings across a broad
range of opportunities.
1 Our Unique Skills. in Program Development. Brendle Group not only conducts energy assessments,
we have also helped develop leading -edge broader resource efficiency programs for local governments
that integrate water efficiency, transportation, solid waste, and other issues into cohesive and effective
programs.
Our Commitment to Sustainability and the Northern Colorado Community. • Brendle Group has
1 called Fort Collins and Northern Colorado home since its inception, and we are committed as a member
of the local business community to helping the City, local businesses, and the region thrive through
greater energy and resource efficiency. This is exemplified through not only in our commitment to
sustainability in our own operations, but also in our involvement in projects such as Fort ZED and
1 RDSI, and our ongoing support of Platte River Power Authority in developing their energy efficiency
programs.
' B. Our Fresh Perspective
We see this project as an opportunity to build on our past experience, but more importantly to inject into
p l pp ty p p p Y 1
FCU's on -call program new ideas and practices to keep Fort Collins leading edge with innovative yet
1 practical programs. Below are just some ideas we will bring to the project from day one:
• Brainstorming with you new program ideas, drawing on our past and ongoing program development
1 and implementation work throughout Northern Colorado and beyond.
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I "Brendle Groun has worked for several
years with the City of Boulder on its.
energy efficiency, water conservation,
and greenhouse gas reduction efforts.
They've helped many Boulder
businesses and multifamily residences
save money, increase their efficiency,
and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Their technical credibility is strong,
their solutions are innovative, and
their work has a true spirit of
collaboration."
plan addressed sustainability across several topic
areas, from energy use and greenhouse gases to solid
waste, water consumption, and indoor air quality.
Most recently, in 2009 Brendle Group developed an
energy use baseline. for City operations and a forecast
of future energy use based on expected growth in
City operations. Energy best practices were evaluated
for City facilities, City vehicle fleets, and renewable
energy opportunities, quantifying costs, cost savings,
and carbon emission reductions. Brendle Group
then worked with City staff to establish a goal for
reaching energy independence, targeting the most
efficient investments that fit within the City's fiscal
means.
Fort Collins Utilities
lHnergy Services Technical Assistance Proposal
Kevin Afflerbaugh, Energy
Sustainability Coordinator, City of
Boulder
Miscellaneous Residential Design Assistance Projects, Colorado
Brendle Group has provided sustainable design assistance for several residential projects
throughout Colorado. As part of these projects, Brendle Group has provided energy
simulation services for the design process and input on a variety of high performance design
elements, from construction waste and building materials to building envelope, mechanical
systems, lighting, solar design options (daylighting, passive solar design), water efficiency,
and renewable energy. Services have also included evaluation of alternative design elements
and associated costs along with support for rebates, other incentives, and contractor
selection.
StEPP Foundation, Free Resources for Energy Efficiency Plus More (FREE+)
Program
Brendle Group developed and implemented two related energy and water conservation
programs to help small businesses in northeast Denver and Boulder County become more
efficient. Funded by the StEPP Foundation, these programs. provided assessments for small
businesses, as well as implementation support in the form of grants for capital projects and
technical support for their implementation. Brendle Group was solely responsible for
designing the program, implementing the program, recruiting qualified businesses,
conducting assessments, recommending cost-effective efficiency measures, assisting with
contractor identification/management, evaluating project bids, providing financial assistance
for implementing measures, and communicating program success.
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City of Rio Rancho, New Mexico Energy Assessments and Sustainability Plan
Brendle Group is working with the City of Rio Rancho, a city of approximately 50,000 in the
metropolitan Albuquerque area of New Mexico, to prepare an Energy and Sustainability
Plan using federal Energy Efficiency Block Grant (EECBG) funds. Brendle Group is
assessing the City's seven proposed energy efficiency and conservation strategy (SECS)
activities and providing engineering calculations based on industry standards that the City
will use to monitor and verify these activities. The City's buildings are being assessed for
energy efficiency opportunities, water conservation, and renewable energy feasibility. Key
areas in existing and new facility design, retrofitting, remodeling, and use will be evaluated
where changes could be made to improve electricity, natural gas, and water efficiency. The
Energy Sustainability Plan will be developed for City operations, integrating elements such as
energy use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions, LEED building criteria,
employee training, water conservation, and waste reduction.
Fort Collins, Fort ZED-RDSI Project
One of the most ambitious energy sustainability projects
currently under development in the nation is Fort ZED
(Fort Collins Zero Energy District), a three-way initiative of
the Northern Colorado Clean Energy Cluster (NCCEC),
Fort Collins Utilities (FCU), and UniverCity Connections,
an initiative of the Community Foundation of Northern
Colorado. Fort ZED will convert downtown Fort Collins and the main campus of Colorado
State University into a net producer of energy, a district that generates more energy than it
uses on an annual basis. The energy generation will come from renewable energy sources
within a 50-mile radius of Fort ZED, renewable and conventional distributed energy sources
within the district, and energy demand reduction and response within the district, all
integrated with an array of smart grid technologies.
Brendle Group played a leading role in the development of the grant proposal to the U.S.
' Department of Energy, including fundraising and partnership building. Now, Brendle
Group is charged with leading up the demand management components and is responsible
for developing and supporting various demand response activities. Brendle Group is
coordinating outreach for the jump start demonstration project including community and
employee education; a comprehensive study of environmental impacts (e.g., greenhouse gas
emissions, air emissions, etc.); a study of the cost impacts to participants comparing feeder
demand response versus demand reduction measures; and guidance to maximize energy
' efficiency opportunities for participants' facilities.
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City of Greensboro, North Carolina Energy
Efficiency and Conservation Strategy
Brendle Group worked with the City of Greensboro,
North Carolina to develop an Energy Efficiency and
Conservation Strategy (SECS) for the use of the City's
allocated $2.4 million in EECBG funds from the U.S.
Department of Energy. Brendle Group worked with
City staff and a community committee to develop and
evaluate energy efficiency and conservation strategies
for City operations and the community including
building energy retrofits, micro -hydro applications at
the City's water treatment facility, and the potential for
solar PV applications. The completed EECS will result
in an identified three-year energy savings of 445,000
MMBtu equivalent along with a reduction in carbon
Fort Collins Utilities
Energy Services Technical Assistance Proposal
"Brendle Group has supported CSU's
energy, green building, and climate
action planning programs and projects
for many years. We highly value their
innovation, technical expertise,
dedication to high quality work, and
unique understanding of how large
campuses operate. They constantly go
above and'beyond'the call of duty and
are a valued community partner. We
look forward to working with Brendle
Group for years to come."
Carol Dollard, Energy Engineer,
Colorado State University
emissions of 41,000 tons. Annual cost savings to the Greensboro community are estimated
to be $450,000.
City of Lakewood, Colorado Renewable Energy Feasibility Study
Brendle Group is working with the City of Lakewood to evaluate existing City buildings and
infrastructure to determine the feasibility of various renewable energy technologies. The
project builds off previous assessments of Lakewood's buildings conducted under Xcel's
commercial assessment program, demonstrating how this foundational assessment work can
be leveraged into other opportunities. Assessments include a review of building data
supplied by the City, an analysis of utility bills, a review of previous energy assessment
reports, and a walk-through of facilities. Renewable energy technologies reviewed will
include but are not limited to solar PV, solar thermal (passive and hot water), wind,
geothermal, biomass, and biofuels. Estimates will be developed for each facility that include
the amount and type of energy (e.g. natural gas) replaced by renewable energy technologies;
estimated installation and operating costs; useful life of the equipment; other operations and
maintenance considerations; potential environmental benefits (e.g. greenhouse gas emissions
reductions); and other feasibility considerations. A feasibility study will recommend a
strategy to implement renewable energy projects that are consistent with the City's
Comprehensive Plan and other City preferences and priorities. Included in the feasibility
study will be descriptions of overall scope, first costs, life cycle analyses (including cost and
greenhouse gas emissions impacts), financing opportunities, and schedule, along with other
potential benefits to the City such as showcasing renewable energy to the community.
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2.2 Proposed Approach
From our work with FCU over the past five years, Brendle Group is very familiar with your
description of the potential services the consultant may be
asked to perform under the on -call contract. We understand
the full range of technical expertise, field assessment support,
and program development you are seeking, and we can offer
a unique perspective on where such services are working
particularly well, and where there are opportunities to
improve services and provide even greater benefits to FCU's
customers.
If selected, one of the first tasks we propose is a brainstorming session with FCU staff to
flesh out new ideas and discuss how existing programs and practices could be improved in
the spirit of invigorating the program with a fresh perspective. Brendle Group would bring
'
to this exercise our in-depth context from the past five years of what has worked and what
could be improved upon- a value that no other firm can offer to FCU. Specifically, we
propose addressing the following items in this brainstorming session:
'
• The benefits and tradeoffs of streamlining the assessment process and/or providing the
consultant greater autonomy;
• Target capacity and timelines for assessments;
• Standard incentive calculations;
• Integrating other,resources (e.g., transportation, water, solid waste) into the assessment
process;
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• Enhanced management tools (e.g., scheduling, tracking, etc.);
• Balancing data management efforts with a "get something done" mentality to produce
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on -the -ground results; and
• Providing related implementation support to translate more assessments to on -the -
ground implementation.
From a technical expertise and field support standpoint, our many years of performing
assessments on behalf of FCU and the Climate Wise program offer particular insights. For
example, as City budgets become more stressed yet demand for FCU's services remains
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strong, we believe there are opportunities to streamline the assessment process by giving the
on -call consultant greater autonomy over the assessment process, thereby freeing up FCU
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staff time for other priorities. With Brendle Group's broader skills that extend beyond
energy to issues of growing importance such as water efficiency, solid waste, and
transportation, we also believe the City's assessment process can "raise the bar" on how
'
these issues are addressed while keeping focus on energy as a top priority.
From a program development perspective, Brendle Group has been engaged in energy and
'
resource program development on a number of fronts, exploring ideas for both new
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programs, as well as making existing ones more effective. Our work with Longmont Power
& Communications is one example where we are collaborating to increase assessment
implementation rates, an issue of interest to local governments and utilities around the
country. Our work in Boulder highlights another example of how we are pushing energy
programs into new territory, in this case piloting a small building re -commissioning or "tune-
up" program for small businesses to tap into a significant opportunity in energy savings that
can hopefully be replicated elsewhere. We would bring this full effort of creativity and
innovation to FCU, renewing our partnership with you to bring FCU's services and
programs to a new level.
Brendle Group prides itself on its ability to work in a cooperative manner with all parties for
the greater good of a project. As such, Brendle Group is more than willing to accommodate
any specific situations where a subconsultant is deemed necessary for additional expertise.
Of the specialized processes, end -use and technology applications requested, Brendle Group
would particularly consider the use of subconsultants to boost its capabilities in the area of
refrigeration systems, commissioning, and monitoring/verification.
ENERGY SERVICES TECHNICAL
EXPERTISE
Brendle Group has built extensive experience and
technical expertise from completing hundreds of
assessments, including manufacturing/industrial
facilities, commercial buildings, educational
buildings, retail, and government institutions. In
total, Brendle Group has assessed over 26 million
square feet of building space to date in Fort Collins,
across Colorado, and nationwide. In addition, Brendle Group offers broad expertise with a
number of building energy systems and technologies, as opposed to being limited to one or a
few targeted specialties.
The following text expands on Brendle Group's experience by providing example strategies
for the requested specialized processes, end -use, and technology applications listed in the
RFP.
Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems and controls: Indirect and
direct evaporative cooling, radiant heating, high -efficiency HVAC equipment, HVAC system
test and balancing, constant to variable volume system conversions, equipment tune-ups,
destratification fans, combustion preheat and waste recovery systems, electric to natural gas
system conversions, insulation improvement, economizer installation and control,
temperature reset/setback/setup, occupancy/ demand controlled ventilation, DDC systems
installation/upgrades, combustion air/fuel ratio adjustments.
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Commercial and/or industrial refrigeration systems: Replace self-contained
' refrigeration units with ENERGY STAR models, insulate refrigeration lines, water
conservation related measures.
Motor and drive systems: Premium efficiency motors, variable speed drive applications,
' two -speed motors, right -sizing.
Compressed air equipment and systems: Optimize operating pressures, outdoor air
' intake, repair air leaks, install smaller compressors, recover waste heat.
Lighting equipment and controls: T8 fluorescent/electronic ballasts upgrades, HID to
fluorescent upgrades, de-lamping, LED exit signs, occupancy/motion sensor controls,
photocell controls.
Power quality/power factor correction: Install capacitors.
' Industrial processes — equipment controls and systems: Insulate applicable process
equipment and distribution lines, electric to natural gas conversions, steam traps, heat
recovery, optimize pumping systems.
Installation and maintenance of monitoring and metering equipment:
Temperature/power data logger installation and data acquisition, temperature/power
' instrumentation measurements, boiler combustion analysis.
Development and review of computer energy models: Use of Trane Trace, Energy-10,
and EQuest building simulation software.
Peak demand reduction and load shifting strategies: Staggered equipment start-ups,
equipment timers, thermal energy storage, shifting non -critical processes to off-peak hours,
' Coordination with City's Peak Load Demand Management Program , photovoltaic
installations.
Brendle Group has also provided FCU technical expertise in data management and the
1 development of M&V tools. Specifically, Brendle Group developed a tool for an FCU
customer to make a correlation between the site's historical energy use and historical weather
data to use that correlation to adjust the energy usage baseline, given actual weather data.
This tool will be useful in verifying the effectiveness of energy conservation measures that
are not easily quantified via direct metering, and it can be customized to other FCU
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customers using the following inputs:
• Hourly electricity (kWh or kW) meter data
• Meter data on building by building basis
• Normal building schedules (from week to week)
• Hourly weather data
Finally, Brendle Group has developed and implemented initial tracking systems and technical
worksheets for the Climate Wise program on-line annual reporting tool for partners,
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demonstrating how our ongoing technical expertise, field experience, and program support
for this program can be translated into additional benefits for Climate Wise partners.
ENERGY SERVICES FIELD SUPPORT
Among other projects, for over decade Brendle Group has been working with the City of
Fort Collins as an on -call consultant to FCU,, and as support for the City's Climate Wise
program. We have performed over 200 energy and water assessments for commercial
customers in Fort Collins under these programs and provided customers with valuable
information about rebates and other incentives. This unique working history and familiarity
with local rebates and incentives allows us to provide you more cost effective and efficient
energy field services support than our competitors.
The services offered by Brendle Group under our previous FCU on -call contract and our
current Xcel on -call contract are virtually identical in nature to the services requested in the
RFP. Our Xcel project in particular is another example of Brendle Group's field services
experience and high quality work. We have a strong and positive working relationship with
Xcel Energy and have delivered outstanding services for their commercial demand side
management Program since 2008. The scope of this work aligns well with your RFP and
includes:
• Assess and evaluate efficiency potential of commercial buildings and industrial facilities,
including all electrical and mechanical systems and controls;
• Provide support for lighting retrofit projects to address interior or exterior lighting
qualitative and quantitative issues;
• Develop and/or evaluate project costs and energy savings for site -.specific Energy
Efficiency Measures (EEMs);
• Complete reports documenting efficiency potential of assessments for commercial
buildings and industrial facilities; and
• Support efficiency projects by identifying EEMs and analyzing and documenting savings
and utility incentive potential.
Brendle Group has quantified more energy efficiency opportunities, delivered our
assessments and reports on time, and executed our services very cost effectively compared
to other firms working with Xcel in Colorado. Our reports have been noted for their high
quality, and our efforts have been noted for the value they are providing to Xcel customers.
Through our demonstrated approach to the assessment, reporting, and customer support
process we have also demonstrated our ability to deliver a comprehensive set of technical,
reporting, and customer relations services that would translate well to your project.
As noted in the Technical Expertise section above, we have also provided examples of data
management and M&V tools that Brendle Group has developed and could be applied to
future FCU projects.
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Brendle Group also offers unique field skills in our experience supporting customers with
project implementation, including contractor evaluation and selection. As example of
Brendle Group's unique abilities to tie our field services to actual implementation support,
we partnered with Boulder County's PACE for over two years to deliver the "PACE
EnergySmart FREE+" program to small businesses in Lyons and unincorporated Boulder
County. The program, supported by funds from the StEPP Foundation, provided
assessments and implementation support for small businesses. We are currently working with
Longmont Power and Communications to deliver a similar program to commercial
customers in downtown Longmont. The matrix below highlights the full breadth of Brendle
Group's capabilities beyond the assessment process, from program development and
support (discussed in Section 3.3, below) to project implementation and evaluation.
Examples of Brendle Group's Breadth of Technical Support, Field Services, and
Program Support Experience
Project
Program
Outreach
Assessment
Project
Performance
Implementation
Development
Support
Specifications
Support
StEPP Northeast
Denver
X
X
X
X
X
StEPP Boulder
County/Lyons
X
X
X
X
X
Longmont
Power &
X
X
Communications
City of Boulder
Multi -family
X
X
X
X
Program
City of Boulder
Re
X
X
n/a
X
X
commissioning
Pilot
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ENERGY SERVICES PROGRAM
SUPPORT
As discussed above and exemplified in our
'
project experience, Brendle Group has extensive
program support experience with a number of
entities in Northern Colorado and beyond.
Brendle Group has supported several utility and
municipal government programs, both in the
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energy efficiency arena and other resource efficiency programs. As early as 2005, Brendle
Group completed an effort to support the City of Fort Collins in its exploration of energy
management program elements for the City's own operations.
As an example of our ability to help plan and implement new programs, Brendle Group is
working with the City of Boulder on a small commercial building re -commissioning
program, which is currently in a pilot stage. This particular project example embodies many
of the support elements listed in the RFP, including:
• Analytical support: Brendle Group developed the initial program idea, analyzed
potential energy and greenhouse gas savings from implementation, evaluated
opportunities and barriers to participation, and developed the pilot program
structure.
• Assist in Implementation Planning and Support: Brendle Group is co -leading
the pilot implementation program with the City, helping to write the request for
proposal and select contractors to deliver the pilot.
• Develop Technical Procedures: Brendle Group has assisted the City in identifying
measures and equipment to target in re -commissioning efforts and in developing
technical procedures for contractors carrying out the pilot projects.
• Evaluate New Technologies and Evaluate Program Impacts: The pilot
program is the first of its kind in the nation, and its development is based on a
review of literature; expansion to a full program will be based on verification of
performance in the pilot phase and savings calculations.
Brendle Group has also helped develop several local government programs that leverage
Xcel's commercial demand side management program. As one example, the firm worked
with the City of Boulder conducting Xcel assessments for multi -family customers, after
which, with the help of Brendle Group staff, the City provided additional resources to
leverage implementation of identified opportunities. The firm's support included an 1-
person meeting with the customer to discuss results as well as support to prioritize
opportunities, assistance with soliciting and reviewing bids, and other implementation
support tasks to help ensure projects actually get completed. We largely replicated this
approach in developing similar programs for the StEPP Foundation and Longmont Power
& Communications, as described in Section 3.1, and have developed a proposal for a similar
program for Platte River.
Finally, Brendle Group has led and supported several high-performance building design
initiatives. In addition to our ongoing work on the Fort Collins Green Building Program, we
have also worked ory several LEED certification projects (e.g., Otterbox Headquarters,
Colorado State Fire Services Building) and developed leading -edge design guidelines, such as
those for the Poudre School District.
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3.0 Staff Qualifications and Experience
Brendle Group's team offers FCU a unique combination of energy technical expertise,
seasoned field experience, and innovative program support and development work. As
shown in the table below, this allows us to offer FCU both depth in our pool of experience
(from senior technical and program support to cost-effective field services), as well as
breadth across the three requested service areas. Descriptions of key individuals are
provided following the summary table.
Staff Name Project Role Qualifications
Technical
Field
Program
Support
Services
_ D.euelopment
PE, LEED-AP, Certified
Executive Project
Judy Dorsey
Management Energy Manager, 18
X
years experience
PE, LEED-AP, 16 years
Julie Sieving
Senior Engineering
experience in energy and
X
X
Support
water efficiency, project
management
Steve
Senior Engineering
21 years experience in
Brunner
Support
building systems, energy
X
X
management
EIT, energy efficiency,
Seth Jansen
Engineering Support
greenhouse gas
X
X
X
calculations.
John Butler
Assessment Support
Energy assessments and
X
X
reporting.
Involved in several
Susan Blythe
Assessment and
energy program
X
X
Program Support
development,
implementation efforts.
Energy and water
Becky Fedak
Assessment Support
assessments and
X
X
reporting.
JUDY DORSEY P.E., C.E.M., LEED-AP
President, Principal Engineer
Project Role: QA/QC, Executive project management
Judy is the founding President and Principal Engineer at Brendle
Group. Her 18-year career has included developing a unique
expertise in engineering centered on demonstrating the business
case benefits of energy and resource efficiency. Judy is a registered
Professional Engineer and a Certified Energy Manager. Judy
serves as the Executive Director of the Northern Colorado Clean
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• Helping build web content that can be integrated with assessment reports to streamline the reporting
process and provide added value to FCU customers.
• Raising the bar on water, transportation, and recycling opportunities in assessments and reporting.
• Building our capacity to support.FCU in all three areas of technical assistance, field support, and
program support.
• Leveraging our involvement in programs throughout the region — such as Platte River's proposed
energy efficiency program, RDSI, Xcel Energy, City and County of Boulder, and City of Longmont —
into applications for FCU, such as streamlining the assessment process, putting greater emphasis on
implementation and getting projects done on the ground, and supporting trade ally development.
We have greatly appreciated working with FCU over the past several years and share your like-minded
views on the importance of energy efficiency and sustainability, for the Fort Collins community. Thank
you for your consideration — we look forward to discussing our qualifications with you in more detail.
Sincerely,
/ M/11�1 �
Judy Dorsey, P.E., LEED-AP, CEM
President
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Energy Cluster and is one of the thought leaders behind Fort ZED, an initiative to
transform an area covering downtown Fort Collins, Colorado and the campus of Colorado
State University (CSU) into a zero energy district, the largest of its kind in the world. The
initiative is focusing on energy conservation, renewable energy, grid optimization, other
cutting edge energy technologies, and education.
JULIE SIEVING P.E., LEED-AP
Senior Engineer
Project Role: Senior engineering technical and program support
As a Senior Engineer with Brendle Group, Julie puts her 16 years of
engineering experience to work for clients in a variety of ways. She
leads the company's energy and water efficiency projects and is
responsible for energy efficiency surveys and assessments,
engineering calculations, calculation of associated GHG emissions,
utility data analysis, cost estimating, and project implementation. She
has overseen Brendle Group's on -call contract with FCU for the last
five years and would serve in a valuable senior oversight role on the project. Julie's specific
expertise is informed by hands-on experience facilitating and designing integrated green
building guidelines, as well as operational and systematic sustainability strategies. Julie's skills
enable her to help a wide range of clients, including local governments, to evaluate current
practices and develop comprehensive and systematic plans for improvements that can be
tracked and measured to ensure results.
STEVE BRUNNER
Senior Energy Engineer
Project Role: Senior engineer technical and field services support
As a Senior Energy Engineer with Brendle Group, Steve has
orchestrated teams responsible for designing mechanical, electrical,
renewable energy, and structural systems for award -winning, energy
responsive commercial and municipal buildings. Steve has
implemented large energy and water efficiency projects and designed
multi -million dollar renewable energy projects as part of efforts to
reduce carbon emissions. As part of his design experience, Steve has
developed numerous process flow diagrams, heat and mass balances
and process and instrumentation diagrams to inform decision -making. Steve's technical
experience also includes performing thermodynamic, electrical and mechanical engineering
calculations for commercial and industrial equipment sizing; performing detailed industrial
and commercial energy audits using various tools, including data -logging, sub -metering, and
computer simulation; and understanding process integration, including heat, water, and mass
pinch. In addition to Steve's broad technical skills, he is a seasoned project manager who
has been responsible for implementing numerous energy efficiency projects, designing and
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permitting of several anaerobic digestion efforts, and overseeing the development of control
systems.
SETHJANSEN
Associate Engineer
Project role: Field services and program support
Seth contributes invaluably to a variety of projects in a range of
roles at Brendle Group. Seth is skilled at developing carbon
accounting and baseline data for GHG inventories and climate
action plans, including energy, water, solid waste, and
transportation activities. He has worked closely on the city's
Climate Wise program and is intimately familiar with a wide range
of GHG inventory protocols including the City of Fort Collins
GHG inventory protocol, The Climate Registry, California Climate
Registry, ISO 14064, and others. He also conducts assessments and technical analysis for
energy and water conservation measures, conducts building energy modeling, researches
carbon markets for solid waste diversion projects, develops water use benchmarks for select
water use sectors, and develops databases and websites to provide customers information
technology support.
JOHN BUTLER
Energy Engineer
Project Role: Technical and field services support
As an Engineer with Brendle Group, John brings his expertise in
energy efficiency, renewable energy, and engineering design to our
growing team of engineers. John manages a wide range of energy
assessment projects and since early 2009 has been Brendle Group's
Project Manager for our Xcel Energy Demand Side Management Program. He analyzes
utility data, conducts energy efficiency assessments, identifies efficiency opportunities, and
develops cost savings and payback estimates for a wide range of commercial clients. He also
brings to our team skills in energy modeling, renewable energy, research and development,
and development of prototype projects. John holds an M.S. in both mechanical engineering
and business administration, as well as a B.S. in Chemical Engineering, all from Brigham
Young University.
BECKY FEDAK
Engineer
Project role: Technical and field services support
Becky Fedak joins our talented team with her extensive experience
as a water resources engineer. She is well versed in water
operations modeling and large scale water resources planning and
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Fort Collins Utilities
Fnergy Services Technical Assistance Proposal
design. Additionally, Becky is supporting Brendle Group's Xcel on -call project by providing
energy assessments for commercial customers throughout Colorado. Becky also has a
comprehensive set of business skills including project management, triple bottom line
analysis, and business plan development. With an undergraduate degree in civil and
environmental engineering, Becky continued her education with a Master of Science degree
in Business Administration focusing on global, social and sustainable enterprise. Her
combination of engineering and business knowledge plays a major role in supporting many
of Brendle Group's engineering and sustainability projects.
SUSAN BLYTHE
Project Coordinator
Project role: Field services and program support
As a project coordinator and communication specialist for Brendle
Group, Susan is involved in providing our clients quality products
related to their respective projects, such as sustainability management
planning documents, annual reports, assessment reports, outreach
programs, and presentations that showcase customer successes. Susan
has also provided program development and field services support for
Brendle Group's energy assessment and implementation projects with
FCU, the City of Longmont, and the StEPP Foundation. She also supports our staff and
partners through proposal and grant writing, marketing, and community education and
acknowledgment pieces. Susan's skills are grounded in 15 years of experience in the
environmental arena. During this time, she has considered the environment and
sustainability from a variety of perspectives: private, public, commercial, and non-profit,
giving her a unique perspective that is beneficial to each individual client. Susan launched
her career with an MA in Technical Communications earned with honors from New Mexico
State University and a BA also earned with honors from Texas Tech University.
4.0 References
We encourage FCU to contact our references to learn about our team's quality work and
commitment to our clients.
Xcel Energy
Contact: Christmas Ramirez, Commercial Lighting and Energy Analysis Marketing Assistant
303.294.2432
Christmas.R.Ramirez@XcelEnergy.com
City of Longmont, Colorado
Contact: Mike Frailey, Energy Services Specialist
303.774.4767
Michael.Frailey@ci.longmont.co.us
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1 Port Collins Utilities
Energy Sen�ices Technical Assistance Proposal
brendle" /-�
1<:
Platte River Power Authority
1 Contact: Adam Perry, Energy Services Specialist
970.229.5356
perrya@prpa.org
1 5.0. Pricing Information
1
Brendle Group offers competitive billing rates and a diverse team comprised of senior,
middle, and junior level staff to meet the diverse needs of the on -call project. Brendle
Group's 2010 hourly billing rates are as follows:
• Principal: $ 150
• Senior Engineer: I $125
• Senior Engineer:ll $125
• Associate Engineer: $81
• Program Manager: $81
• Engineer: $70
• Administrative Coordinator H: $55
*Hourly rates may be adjusted annually, notice will be provided on the first invoice following the adjustment.
It is Brendle Group's policy to bill all reimbursable costs to the client without markups.
6.0 General Liability Insurance Coverage
Brendle Group meets all insurance requirements. A General Liability Insurance Coverage
certificate of insurance can be provided upon request.
7.0 Sustainability
Brendle Group has been promoting
sustainable practices for our clients
and the Northern Colorado
community since our operations
began in 1996. Our company vision
commits us to embody these same
principles in our own operations.
To exercise its own corporate
commitment to the environment
and sustainability, Brendle Group
developed an award -winning
Sustainability Management System
(SMS) in 2005. The goals in developing Brendle Group's Sustainability Management System
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Fort Collins Utilities 1
j - -- l4nergp Services Technical Assistance Proposal
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1
(SMS) were to systematically and comprehensively evaluate the magnitude of company
impacts, determine priorities, set targets, implement strategies, and measure results. Our SMS
is streamlined to suit a small professional services office.
As part of the SMS, the company was the first carbon neutral organization in Colorado, is
100 percent wind powered, and has reached its target to become a zero waste organization..
We also give preference to businesses that employ sustainability in their operations, support
sustainability informed capital equipment and professional service purchases, and are
committed to sharing our progress with the community through annual sustainability
reports.
To further exercise its commitment to sustainability and to showcase what's possible for a
small commercial business in Fort Collins, we are also in the process of designing and
creating what will be our new home at 212 West Mulberry in Fort Collins. With a focus on
energy performance, the project will support the vision and goals of Fort ZED to transform
downtown Fort Collins and Colorado State University into the largest net zero energy
district in the world, while providing yet another example of clean energy innovation for
Northern Colorado. The remodel will extend into all other aspects of green building
through the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
(LEED) certification.
While the basic objective of the project is to secure the long-term home for the company, it
aligns well with Brendle Group's mission and core values to create a lasting and inspiring
showcase for sustainability for the community and for those looking to Fort Collins as a
leader in this area.
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Fort Collies Utilities
brendl'e"' Energy Services Technical Assistance Proposal
Table of Contents
1.0
Company Description.............................................................................................................4
2.0
Company Experience with Scope of Work.........................................................................
6
2.1
Relevant Experience..................................................................:.............................................
6
3.0
Staff Qualifications and Experience...................................................................................19
4.0
References...............................................................................................................................22
5.0
Pricing Information ...........................
23
6.0
General Liability Insurance Coverage.................................................................................23
7.0
Sustainability ...........................................................................................................................23
All contents printed on recycled paper
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brendl'e"'
1.0 Company Description
Brendle Group, Inc. is an engineering consulting firm
specializing in energy, climate protection, strategic
sustainability planning, water conservation, and
sustainable design. Founded in 1996, Brendle Group was
a pioneer in the now flourishing field of energy and
sustainability, offering its clients over 14 years of
experience in the field. Brendle Group often partners
with other engineering and environmental consultants
and is known for its ability to develop innovative
solutions and build interdisciplinary teams to tackle
projects of any size. Located in Fort Collins, Brendle
Group serves clients nationwide.
Fort Collins Utilities
Energy Services Technical Assistance Proposal
Brendle Group's senior staff of engineers and strategic
sustainability consultants offers its clients a unique
combination of energy services technical expertise, field support, and program support. This
mix allows the firm to help clients develop energy, climate, and sustainability solutions with
technical expertise as well as innovative yet pragmatic approaches. The firm always strives to
understand the unique needs of each client and to provide the mix of services that will best
meet their needs.
Brendle Group also supports clients in developing strategies for reducing greenhouse gas
emissions and designing and implementing climate action plans. Our engineers target cost-
effective opportunities for reducing overall energy consumption and associated greenhouse
gas emissions. We also identify other areas for carbon emissions reductions, including
transportation, solid waste, and water.
In an era of increasing attention to energy consumption, Brendle Group's broad expertise in
energy technologies and efficiency measures can address all energy management needs.
Working closely with clients, Brendle Group develops optimal energy solutions to maximize
efficiency, cut costs, and adopt leading -edge technologies.
Brendle Group can evaluate a wide variety of energy efficiency opportunities and
technologies. The company is not limited to specialties, such as lighting or mechanical
systems, and has experience with a range of measures that can be tailored to accommodate
specific needs. Brendle Group can also address energy efficiency opportunities in a range of
sectors including government buildings, manufacturing/industrial facilities, commercial
buildings, educational buildings, and retail operations. Brendle Group distinguishes itself
with projects that have included implementation support and helping clients obtain utility
rebate dollars. The company is an ENERGY STAR Services and Products Partner (SPP),
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brendl'e"'
with experience recommending
' ENERGY STAR products and using
Portfolio Manager to assist customers
with building certification.
' Energy Assessments
Brendle Group conducts preliminary
to investment -grade energy
assessments of a broad range of
institutional, commercial, and
industrial facilities. The company is
not limited to one type of specialty,
such as mechanical systems, offering
Fort Collins Utilities
Enemy Services Technical Assistance Proposal
innovative efficiency strategies for many types of systems and equipment:
' ✓ Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems and controls
✓ Lighting equipment and controls
✓ Motor and drive systems
' ✓ Industrial processes, such as compressed air equipment controls and systems
✓ Operational systems, including computer power management systems
u
As shown in the above figure, Brendle Group is unique in that the company has experience
developing and delivering all phases of an assessment program, from initial outreach and
recruitment to opportunity development and implementation support. This versatility means
we can offer FCU a significantly broader range of support than many other firms.
Energy Efficiency, Energy Management, and Smart Grid
Brendle Group also helps clients reduce energy use, implement smart grid technologies,
benefit from cost savings, and take advantage of rebates and incentives by:
✓ Developing and evaluating energy efficiency measures
✓ Evaluating peak demand and load shifting strategies
✓ Conducting energy modeling
✓ Evaluating the feasibility of renewable energy and smart grid applications
✓ Calculating and document energy savings and implementation costs
✓ Identifying rebates and incentives
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Fort Collins Utilities
jEneqgy Services Technical Assistance Proposal
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Strategic Energy Management Programming and Planning
Brendle Group helps clients strategically plan and evaluate high-level energy programs and
initiatives, from comprehensive energy plans to goal setting and funding for local and
regional energy initiatives:
✓ Feasibility analyses
✓ Organizational energy management structures
✓ Regional clean energy initiatives
✓ Energy sustainability plans
✓ Energy use benchmarking
✓ Comprehensive funding strategies
As previously mentioned, Brendle Group is unique in that the company has been integrally
involved in all phases of program design. In addition, Brendle Group has played a key role in
implementation of projects — from supporting customers to bid evaluation and contractor
selection- to ensure that projects identified during assessments actuaUyget done on the
ground.
2.0 Company Experience with Scope of Work
As you will read in the following sections, Brendle Group offers extensive, hands-on energy
technical support, field assessment, and program development experience, including broad
experience with local governments and utilities. This experience is not only reflected in our
relevant experience with Fort Collins, FCU, and other similar clients, it is also reflected in
our approach to the three service areas that comprise the scope of work.
2.1 Relevant Experience
City of Fort Collins, Energy and Resource
Conservation Planning
For the past 10 years, Brendle Group has worked in
close collaboration on a number of energy and resource
conservation projects with the City of Fort Collins and
FCU, essentially serving as a technical extension of the
City's staff in an energy planning and management
capacity. This collaboration has resulted in significant
and ongoing energy and resource savings, along with tangible financial benefits.
In 2001, Brendle Group conducted energy assessments of 10 City municipal buildings
including City hall, two community centers, fleet services, police services, office buildings, a
performing arts center, library, museum, and indoor swimming pool.
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brend[e""
In 2003 and 2004, Brendle Group facilitated a cross -
'
departmental team of City of Fort Collins staff in
developing the City's Sustainability Action Plan. As part
'
of the project, Brendle Group developed an inventory of
past successes and future opportunities in sustainability,
energy, and resource conservation, as well as a process to
prioritize actions. Brendle Group also worked with City
'
staff working groups to develop goals and targets around
the top 9 City priorities and compiled results into the
City's Action Plan for
'
Sustainability. The project also included organization and
delivery of training workshops introducing City
employees to energy and resource conservation
'
principles.
Brendle Group also provided technical expertise to
support the City of Fort Collins 2007 Climate Task
Force in updating its 1999 Local Action Plan to Reduce
Greenhouse Gases. Specifically, tasks included
consultin on ro'ect sco e timeline and ublic
Fort Collins Utilities
Energy Services Technical Assistance Proposal
'It's:not often that�you hire a company
for, p pro/ectand you: end up, feeling
hk'eyouwgotmore than you paid "
for. r from the first days when they
outlined the plan of dttack and
deta led t'heitiinehnb�bad the' >
milestones to develoPmg a clear and
concise one page su'Tnmary of our
results Brendle Group made,us:feeh '
like'We we'retheir only client.''
In niyy twenty,someth}ng years of
hiringrconsulting co*rripan�es, I have
never„before had theLexperience
where the consultant actually'ra�sed •'
my.expectatons during the project
and.'then�sig"n�ficantly exceeded
.;
them
Y :
%Diane IFoster;,ParkCity
Municipal Corporation
fi
i
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outreach processes; reviewing assumptions and data on energy, solid waste, and
transportation in historical emissions inventories and forecasting; reviewing climate status
reports; developing cost -benefit analyses of priority measures; and helping develop future
climate goals moving beyond 2010.
Brendle Group is currently providing on -call' services to FCU for its commercial and
industrial customers as one of two firms selected from a pool of over 30 applicants to
provide the following services:
• Energy Management Technical Expertise: Analyze and recommend specialized
processes and end -use or technology applications for commercial and/or industrial
customers.
• Energy Management Field Services: Develop and evaluate costs and savings for
energy efficiency measures; write performance specifications, evaluate proposals and
assess utility incentives; assess and quantify demand response potential and develop peak
demand reduction and load shifting strategies; and deliver demand side management
services.
• Energy Management Program Support: Assist with implementation planning for
energy services targeting commercial and industrial customers; and assist in developing
and maintaining program and service delivery tools.
Brendle Group is also currently assisting FCU with development of a green building
program and code for the residential and commercial sectors, has helped develop a
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Fort Collins Utilities
Energy Services Technical Assistance Proposal
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performance verification tool for use with FCU customers, and is participating as part of a
team in the update of Plan Fort Collins.
Climate Wise Program, City of Fort Collins
Since its inception in 1999, Brendle Group has helped develop and support
the City of Fort Collins Climate Wise program, now a nationally recognized
program for reducing energy use and community greenhouse gas emissions
through business outreach and technical support. Brendle Group is
responsible for providing on -site technical assistance in the form of energy
and water assessments, developing recommendations to reduce emissions,
and monitoring program outcomes to track reduction results. In addition, Brendle Group
developed the Climate Wise greenhouse gas baseline tool and supports businesses' use of the
tool.
Participating businesses, now over 200 strong, represent a range of industrial and
commercial sectors, including breweries, manufacturing, schools, and retail. In addition,
Brendle Group is supported the City's participation in its own program by compiling City
opportunities to reduce emissions in its own operations.
City of Longmont, Colorado Energy Assessment Program
Working closely with the City of Longmont, Boulder County's Partners for a Clean
Environment (PACE), and Minnesota -based Xcel Energy, Brendle Group is providing
energy efficiency assessments for commercial businesses in downtown Longmont, Colorado.
In addition to energy assessments, Brendle Group is providing additional support including
enhanced reporting that outlines efficiency opportunities; energy savings; implementation
costs; and applicable rebates from Xcel Energy, Platte River Power Authority, the City of
Longmont, and the Colorado Governor's Energy Office. Brendle Group is also guiding
customers toward implementation of improvements through on -site followup meetings to
assist with contractor selection and provide general support.
Colorado Statewide Xcel Energy Assessments
Brendle Group is one of only three companies selected to assist the national energy
company Xcel Energy with a program to provide Xcel commercial and industrial customers
throughout Colorado, including local governments, with assessments of energy conservation
opportunities. The goal of the program is to identify and quantify energy efficiency
opportunities in lighting and controls, motor and drive systems, HVAC systems and
controls, industrial processes, peak demand reduction and load shifting strategies, and
applicable Xcel rebates. The assessment results and recommendations enable customers to
implement realistic conservation projects for greater efficiency in their operations and
savings to their bottom lines. To date, Brendle Group has conducted nearly 200
assessments under the program.
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City of Boulder, Colorado Pilot Re -commissioning
Program/Energy and Resource Conservation
Planning
Brendle Group is working with the City of Boulder on
Fort Collins Utilities
Energy Services Technical Assistance Proposal
an innovative pilot re -commissioning program for
small businesses. The goal of the program to help small and medium-sized businesses (less
than 50,000 square feet) reduce their energy costs and associated greenhouse gas emissions.
The program will entail conducting re -commissioning efforts to help participating businesses
implement cost-effective individual measures or bundles of measures to increase the
operating and energy/resource efficiency of buildings. Lessons learned from the pilot
program, which is ongoing, will be used to make program refinements for a future full-scale
program.
Brendle Group has also worked closely for several "years with the City of Boulder on a
' number of other energy and resource efficiency related initiatives. In 2002, the City selected
Brendle Group to develop a decision -making framework and consulting support for the
City's greenhouse gas action plans. Brendle Group worked with Boulder staff to quantify
existing and proposed greenhouse gas mitigation strategies for City government as well as
for residential, commercial, and industrial sectors. Mitigation strategies focused on energy
efficiency, pollution prevention, and water conservation initiatives.
'
In 2004, the City selected Brendle Group to provide water conservation assessments of
industrial and commercial accounts on behalf of the City of Boulder Water Conservation
Office. This initial work included recruiting businesses; conducting water assessments
'
including utility data analysis; determining cost-effective measures to reduce water use; and
calculating related payback periods associated with implementing these measures. The
project also included follow-up participant surveys, as well as reporting overall program
'
success to the City. In 2005, the project scope expanded to include energy -related efficiency
improvements on behalf of the City's Office of Environmental Affairs and extended to
businesses that are members of the PACE program. Multi -family housing complexes became
'
the project focus in 2006 and 2007, when implementation support was also added as a
follow-up to assessments (e.g., prioritizing opportunities, specifying performance, screening
vendors/soliciting contractors, and evaluating project bids on as -needed basis).
'
In 2008, Brendle Group developed an organizational sustainability strategy for Boulder
Housing Partners (BHP) to conserve energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve
sustainability practices across all of its existing neighborhood affordable housing properties.
The goal in this effort was to help BHP identify global goals, strategies, and approaches that
could be applied to all properties and that lead to an integrated plan to gain the greatest
return on investment while reducing overall resource consumption. The project included
'
review of existing documentation to inform the plan development, including the strategic
plan drafted to date, as well as physical needs assessment reports completed for BHP
'
properties. An online survey was used to gain key points of input from BHP staff. The final