 Architectural
Energy Corporation
Architectural Energy Corporation
(AEC) is a unique engineering firm concerned with energy, buildings, and the
environment. AEC's uniqueness derives from the diversity of its business, and
innovation and expertise of its professional staff. AEC develops and markets
engineering application software and portable data acquisition equipment, and
provides a wide spectrum of professional services, many of which use AEC developed
software and equipment. Founded in 1982 by Michael J. Holtz, A.I.A., and Donald
J. Frey, P.E., the mission of Architectural Energy Corporation is to excel,
nationally and internationally, in energy and environmental problem-solving.
This mission is being achieved by becoming a leading supplier of services and
tools to the energy services industry. The core of AEC's business has been building
energy research, development, and consulting; however, AEC has a growing business
in diagnostics, commissioning, evaluation and home energy rating software, and
portable microcomputer-based data acquisition equipment. AEC is a nationally
and internationally recognized leader in building energy performance evaluation
using innovative instrumentation, monitoring and analysis methods, and detailed
computer simulation programs. AEC maintains an interdisciplinary staff of mechanical,
electrical, and architectural engineers; architects; computer scientists; technicians;
and research support staff to undertake complex and diverse projects, including
technology assessments, load research, software development, hardware development,
and systems/technology integration.
AEC provides a wide spectrum of engineering
consulting services related to energy, buildings, and the environment. Many
of AEC's professional consulting services utilize application software and portable
data acquisition equipment developed by AEC. Clients served include local, state,
and federal government agencies; utilities; energy service companies; corporations;
architecture and engineering firms; and industry, trade, and research institutions.
AEC's professional services derive
from a number of core competencies:
- Computer modeling and analysis
Field monitoring
- Software engineering Electronic hardware development
- Contract engineering Technical writing Customer support/training
- Marketing and sales
The professional services provided
by AEC, described below, comprise a combination of these core competencies.
As a result, AEC is able to offer solutions to customers for a wide range of
engineering problems.
Customer Load Characterization
Electric and gas utilities and energy service companies require detailed
information and data on how and when customers use energy. This information
and data assist in load forecasting, rate design, and customer service program
planning. Information on the characteristics and energy consumption of a facility
is developed from on-site surveys, performance monitoring of selected energy
systems and detailed computer simulation of building energy performance.
AEC has created thousands of building
energy simulation models for residential, commercial, and industrial facilities.
These building models are used to generate whole-building and end-use load shapes
for purposes of assessing energy efficient improvements, innovative pricing
options, on-site power generation, and profitability of various program offerings.
Performance Contracting Assistance
AEC provides a variety of services during the life cycle of an energy performance
contracting project. These services may include baselining existing energy consumption
and costs, identifying cost-effective improvements, diagnosing operation and
maintenance problems during the life of a contract and measuring and verifying
the savings achieved by the installed energy efficiency measures. AEC's MicroDataLogger
data acquisition system and ENFORMA software are used in many of the performance
contracting service applications.
Foodservice R&D
Foodservice research involves the analysis and demonstration of gas and electro-technologies
in foodservice facilities. Research areas include electric and gas cooking equipment,
commercial kitchen ventilation and HVAC and lighting systems. AEC operates the
EPRI CKV laboratory for testing commercial kitchen hoods and cooking equipment
in a research environment.
DSM Program Evaluation
AEC provides technical services to support the evaluation of electric utility
demand-side management (DSM) programs. Program evaluation services are provided
to quantify the actual energy savings resulting from the operation of DSM programs,
which form the basis of utility cost recovery for DSM investments.
Diagnostic and Commissioning
Services
Building diagnostic testing is the application of specialized software and hardware
tools to gather and analyze building performance data in order to improve energy
performance, occupancy comfort and the indoor environmental quality of buildings.
AEC assists building owners and managers to analyze energy use patterns, diagnose
operational and maintenance issues in mechanical and electrical systems, and
commission new building energy systems. These procedures are used to identify
specific building problems resulting from poor design, faulty components, or
improper operations and maintenance that are difficult to detect with traditional
building testing and maintenance procedures. The goal of this service is to
satisfy the needs of building occupants while minimizing energy operating costs.
Energy audits, building energy analysis, occupant interviews, utility rate structure
reviews, and short-term monitoring are some of the evaluation techniques used
to identify and correct building operational problems.
Building Science/Technology Assessments
AEC provides contract R&D services in a variety of building science
research areas, including daylighting systems, energy-efficient mechanical
systems, renewable energy systems and indoor environmental quality. AEC's
staff of building research scientists and engineers respond to requests
for proposals issued by the building research community and submit unsolicited
proposals to undertake building science research and development. Using
advanced engineering analysis and testing methods, AEC has evaluated over
100 energy efficiency technologies, including high efficiency lighting
and HVAC systems, core daylighting systems, foodservice equipment, phase
change storage materials, active and passive solar energy systems, and
photovoltaic pumping and power systems.
Product Development
AEC develops, under contract to various clients, hardware and software products.
These products may be derivative works of an existing product (i.e., Custom
Software Integration) or an entirely new product. These products may involve
energy analysis software, building information exchange systems, portable diagnostic
systems or electronic systems.
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