Energy Services.

Here are a few examples that highlight our Energy Services experience.

ASHRAE Level II Energy Audits
As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, The Cuyahoga County Board of Commissioners received a grant through the U.S. Department of Energy for improving energy efficiency and energy conservation of public buildings in Cuyahoga County. This initiative was referred to as the Cuyahoga County Municipal Energy Program (CCMEP). Varo Engineers, Inc. (VE) was contracted to perform energy audits for seven of the municipalities as part of this program. For the complete white paper, click this link.

Lighting Upgrade – Corporate Office Building
Through the marketing efforts of KEMA, a leading authority in energy consulting, and Lighting Unlimited, a local fixture vendor, Varo Engineers (Varo) became aware of the gridSMART energy efficiency program sponsored by AEP-Ohio. The focus of the program is to provide incentives to non-residential customers of AEP-Ohio for implementing qualified energy efficiency projects. The incentives pay for new equipment to reduce energy consumption and installation by a contractor. For the complete white paper, click this link.

Energy and Environmental Initiative for Gas Bypass Elimination
Varo performed an evaluation of two (2) existing combustion air/gas systems to size and locate new combustion air blow offs that would prevent surge damage of large blowers upstream of gas tie-ins. Modifications were provided to locate new rapid response air and gas flow meters critical to this system. The existing system has been modified and successfully operating since November 2009 without natural gas blow off to atmosphere. This concept is currently being scoped for implementation in a second plant in California, for future installation in 2010. Similar installations are anticipated for further customer operations around the U.S.

Measurement and Verification for Energy Flow Meter Installations
Varo was contracted to document the location of existing flow meters and to locate both replacement and new mass flow meters in multiple utility systems. These meters will be used to collect consumption data which will be evaluated for potential energy savings. Energy reduction opportunities found here will be pursued, and successful cost effective reductions will be proposed for other operations throughout other U.S. plants.

Energy Efficiency Initiative Lighting Project, Phase 2
Varo replaced present lighting systems in multiple production and warehouse buildings with energy efficient lighting systems. These systems were selected based on a plant-wide lighting survey and energy analysis. The cost criteria for replacement included a 3 year or less payback. The areas impacted were designed to have equal or increased lighting levels meeting corporate lighting standards for the type of work performed.

Energy Efficiency Initiative Lighting Project, Phase 4
Varo replaced present lighting systems in multiple buildings and production areas with energy efficient lighting systems. These systems were selected based on a plant-wide lighting survey and energy analysis completed at the Newark Plant. The cost portion of the criteria for replacement was a 5 year or less simple payback with a maximum of 20% savings from reduced maintenance costs. The areas impacted had equal or increased lighting levels meeting corporate lighting standards for the type of work performed.

Energy Study and Efficiency Upgrades
Varo performed energy efficiency studies at four (4) nutritional products manufacturing plants. The studies identified a number of large air handlers that were not utilizing economizers, which negatively impacted their energy efficiency. A program was implemented to restore the functionality of the economizers. Additional smaller inefficiencies were identified with the heating and cooling systems, and corrective actions were recommended in Varo's reports.