VS Energy along with our subject matter expert guest Nick introduce the Energy podcast series. We start off with some personal and business introductions and then dive into discussing the importance of energy conservation, benefits of hiring energy professionals, and some common ways we have found to conserve energy in industrial facilities. We also provide our professional opinions on renewable energy and how/where it is best implemented. A great takeaway of this series and episode is that facilities must get skinny before implementing renewable energy sources. Stay tuned to find out more about this!

In this episode Clay, Mark, and Nick discuss the initial site walkthrough in the energy audit process. This walkthrough is a critical step in an energy audit and allows for building owners and the energy auditor to get a full understanding of where the facility stands as a baseline prior to proceeding with further energy studies or higher level audits. Our industry experts Nick and Mark discuss the information needed before a walkthrough, the tools required to have on a walkthrough, and the individuals that should be present on a walkthrough. We also discuss some personal experiences and give our professional opinions on the best practices for the initial walkthrough. Stay tuned and enjoy the podcast!

In this episode Mark, Clay, and Nick discuss the energy audit process. We cover the different ASHRAE levels of energy audits (Level 1, 2, and 3) and the steps required to make each audit successful. Industry experts mark and Nick dive into past projects and give their professional opinions on who should be a part of the audit, what data collection should occur, and some financial analyses required for each audit. The lines between energy auditor and energy engineer are often blurred and in many cases the auditor is also the engineer, we cover why this is and the importance of being able to wear different hats in each role to allow for a successful audit/project.

Mark, Clay, and Nick discuss the calculation of financial metrics in an energy based project. Our team of industry experts covers the most simple financial calculation (Straight Line Payback) to more of the complicated measures such as Net Present Value with depreciation and everything in-between. We discuss when each is appropriate and how to apply these financial calculations to a project. Tune in for a behind the scenes look in to the financials of energy based projects!

In this episode Mark, Nick, and Clay discuss key aspects of the design process in energy based projects and outline some of the critical decisions and considerations that must be made to ensure a successful project. Our industry experts Mark and Nick give their professional opinions on what to do and what not to do along with discussing some outcomes (good and bad) from decisions made during the design process. Tune in for a great conversation on this topic!

In this episode mark, Nick, and Clay dive into the M&V (Measurement and Verification) process. We use this episode to give a broad brush overview of the M&V process including what M&V is, how it is done, and why M&V is critical. We discuss the four different IPMVP (International Performance Measurement and Verification) options (A,B,C,D) for M&V and have our subject matter experts Nick and Mark give their professional opinions on the M&V process as a whole. Tune in for a very interesting conversation and to learn about Measurement and Verification!For more information on VS Energy or Applied Facility Science be sure to check out our webpages https://www.vsenergy.us/ or https://www.appliedfacilityscience.com/.

"If I wait for the energy bills to come in to make adjustments, its like driving a battleship by its wake." In this podcast episode we dive into this quote and its relevance to energy dashboarding. The energy dashboard can be a very valuable tool but requires proper design, implementation, and training to stay relevant and functional. Mark, Clay, and Nick discuss all aspects of the energy dashboard and give professional insight and opinions in the design, implementation, and uses of energy dashboards in facilities. Tune in for a great discussion! For more information on VS Energy or Applied Facility Science check out our websites https://www.vsenergy.us/ and https://www.appliedfacilityscience.com/.

In this episode Mark, Nick, and Clay take a dive into the world of data logging. We keep the discussion related to data logging for energy audits and cover the different applications, programming, sorting of the data, and so much more. Our experts Mark and Nick also discuss some of the do's and dont's in data logging and give insight into a few mistakes they have made themselves over the years. Tune in for a fun and interesting conversation about one of the most important tools in our toolkit!For more information on our companies check out our websites https://www.vsenergy.us/ and https://www.appliedfacilityscience.com/.

In this episode Mark, Nick, and Clay take a dive into the world of Cogeneration. Cogeneration is essentially the generation of electricity and other energy jointly. That other energy is often heat, which can be used for a multitude of purposes. Throughout the episode we discuss what cogeneration is, where and when it is applied, cover some successes and failures of cogen, and much much more. Also, stay tuned for a little fun tangential conversation regarding energy at the end of the podcast! (The opinions discussed in our tangential discussion do not necessarily reflect that of VS Energy). Buckle up and get ready for a fun and engaging conversation on cogeneration! After the podcast check out or webpages https://www.vsenergy.us/ or https://www.appliedfacilityscience.com/ for more information!

In this episode the crew brings on another member Jim to help discuss the broad field of heat recovery. We use our experience and expertise to break down different sources of heat to recover, different grades of heat (low, medium, and high), and different applications of heat recovery. It is safe to say there are a lot of opportunities when it comes to heat recovery. We discuss this spectrum from the most simple applications to some very complex applications that we are still catching up on sleep from. No matter your level of experience, you can tune in for a great discussion on heat recovery!For more information on us be sure to check out our websites https://www.vsenergy.us/, https://www.appliedfacilityscience.com/, or https://dipasquale-eng.com/.

In this episode Nick, Jim, Clay, and Mark discuss the basics of free cooling. We break down the discussion to air side and water side free cooling in HVAC and industrial applications. Our team of experts outline what free cooling is, cover some sources of free cooling, common free cooling methods, and give insight and opinions on free cooling along the way. We even discuss some of the most interesting free cooling projects we have seen or done over the years! This is a very broad subject and we do our bet to cover as much as possible through the episode. Tune in for a great discussion on free cooling!

In this episode Clay, Jim, Nick, and Mark discuss the training required to become a successful energy auditor. We cover the importance of site visits, safety, practice problems, and much more! It is safe to say our team of experts can agree time onsite is one of the most important steps in becoming a successful energy auditor, but you cant just rely on field experience for success. Tune into the podcast to learn why, and hear some real life examples from our experts!