Commissioning

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Commissioning is a systematic process of ensuring that a facility’s energy related systems are installed, calibrated and perform according to the owner’s needs. Commissioned systems typically include HVAC, building controls and renewable energy systems, and can also include domestic hot water and lighting controls.

Commissioning services may include any of the following:

• Review of Design Documents to ensure that Owner’s requirements are satisfied and that systems can be readily commissioned

• Field inspections throughout construction to ensure compliance with plans and specifications

• Verification of factory or field startups of equipment

• Verification and documentation of functional testing of equipment and systems

• Overseeing of contractor-provided training and review of Operations and Maintenance manuals

• Supervision and verification of HVAC Testing, Adjusting and Balancing (TAB)

• Post-occupancy review and trouble shooting of building operations
   

Benefits of commissioning include proper system selection, improved building performance and occupant comfort, improved maintenance. In addition, commissioning is a prerequisite for Owner’s seeking LEED™ certification of their newly construction or renovated facility.

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Energy Assessment

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ECM Solutions Group provides Energy Assessments, energy efficiency consulting and support for commercial, industrial and institutional clients. We work closely with your building and operations management to answer questions, provide information, and recommend solutions to problems involving inefficiencies in existing buildings. We also provide expert design support services to architects, builders and designers to assist with those elements of design affecting energy efficiency and overall building performance.
An energy assessment is a study of both your building’s energy consuming equipment and the thermal aspects of its “shell,” or the design & construction of its roof, walls, and floor.
 

Our commercial energy audits entail the following tasks:

• Analyze a record of your utility use and interview your facility manager(s).

• Inspect building and site lighting, HVAC equipment and system(s), controls, and the plant & operations related equipment such as pneumatic systems and plant water consumption.

• Examine the building envelope for retrofit upgrade opportunities.

• Evaluate switching utility providers with an eye towards negotiating more favorable utility rates.

• Evaluate opportunities for the deployment of renewable energy applications, upgrading of electric motors and drives, and adding heat recovery systems.
   

Following the site visit, our auditor will develop a list of energy conservation measures (ECMs) that could reduce energy usage and costs in your building.

Each audit is unique. Depending on your objectives, a different level of attention can be invested in the various areas of interest. Typically, the auditor will then quantify the utility cost savings potential there is for each of the recommended ECMs and the estimated investment associated with implementing each measure. The report then ranks each ECM by the relative best benefit to cost ratio.
Clients typically find our expertise instrumental in their decision making and often turn to us to implement the solutions. This full service turn-key approach is the most efficient and effective approach to success in achieving the desired savings.

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Project Management

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Successful project management is driven by proactive decision-making during the early stages of planning and design. ECM SOLUTIONS GROUP’s record of success on project management assignments has been built by the dedicated teams that are assembled at the beginning of a project. Our approach keeps this team involved throughout the job, so that there is a deep understanding of the client’s goals and project delivery preferences.

Our project management teams balance the demands of scope, quality, time and cost. They are able to discern changing priorities and act promptly to address them during the evolution of a project. Working side-by-side with the owner and the design team, ECM SOLUTIONS GROUP develops overall, integrated plans for logistics, management of budgets, expenditures, and schedules to coordinate the worksite for the most efficient use of resources.

Our professionals utilize their skills to achieve outstanding results in key project management areas that include:

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Pre-Construction/Design Phase

• Scope definition and management

• Establishment and maintenance of communications procedures

• Budget development

• Master schedule development

• Site selection assistance

• Architect / engineer selection advisory

• Specialty consultant selection advisory

• Development of project-specific websites

• Cost estimating and value analysis

• Identifying phasing alternatives and establishing milestones

• Constructability and bid-ability reviews

• Procedures and logistics assessment

• General conditions and contract requirements advisory

• Assistance with testing/inspection sub-contractors

• Bid phase management

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ECM SOLUTIONS GROUP is known for its innovative implementation of project management techniques and controls that move a project forward on time and within budget. We also understand the importance of keeping all project participants informed with up-to-date progress reports to gauge a project’s status.

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Mechanical Services

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No two buildings are exactly alike, that’s why ECM Solutions Group offers an in-house team of mechanical service professionals. Our customized HVAC and plumbing designs give you freedom to choose from a variety of options engineered specifically for your needs. Before creating a custom design, ECM Solutions Group conducts a professional analysis of your building, considering equipment location , heating/cooling zoning requirements, product life expectancy performance, and your budget availability. We also take time to thoroughly explain our system designs, answer your questions and assist in your decision making process.
 

Whether it’s designing and building a system from inception, or performing retrofit and replacement projects, ECM Solutions Group is your source for optimum design/build solutions.   

Mechanical Services include:

• In-house design team and estimating staff

• Design/Build HVAC Systems (Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning)
  and Plumbing Systems

• HVAC equipment

• System recommendations

• Coordination with controls division
   

Our Mechanical System Advantage

• Ideas and concept sharing between design team and owner
  results in the best possible design within cost and time requirements

• Communication between owner and design team from beginning of
  a project thus permitting quicker start and completion.

• Cost savings since bidding documents are not required, with a
  possible guaranteed maximum price provided if requested by owner.

 

Power Infrastructure

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WIND POWER PLANTS

• Wind power is the conversion of wind energy into a useful form of energy, such as using wind turbines to make electricity or wind mills for mechanical power.

• The world is inventing ways to maximally utilize the potential of wind energy. Applications of wind energy range from small scale, home-based off-grid applications to large scale applications integrated in the national distribution grids in various countries.

• Our flexible service offers you various options for energy use. It can feed the electricity from your wind turbine system into a house grid, a public utility grid or an autonomous Sunny Island grid.

SOLAR POWER PLANTS

• We offer professionally designed, reliable and cost effective solar energy solutions.

• We install solar power systems in all capacities and sizes to domestic costumers, real estate, institutions and industrial plants.

• Solar energy, wind, biomass and geothermal energy is the source of clean, sustainable and affordable energy to drive our economies from 3rd world to 1st world.

HIGH VOLTAGE TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS
Undertaking of power line construction. High-voltage transmission lines are used to transmit electric power over relatively long distances, usually from a central generating station to main substations. They are also used for electric power transmission from one central station to another for load sharing. High voltage (HV) transmission lines are made of high voltage (between 138 and 765 kilovolts) overhead and underground conducting lines of either copper or aluminum.

 

These include:

• Conceptual design of standards, compact and multi-circuit power line configurations.

• Conductor bundle optimization, based on lifecycle cost analysis.

• Line profiling.

• Insulation coordination and electromagnetic compatibility studies.

• System recommendations

• Coordination with controls division

 

SMART GRID & DISTRIBUTION AUTOMATION
The term distribution automation can be applied to many aspects of the electric power delivery system, from the control center to the substation, to the feeders and indeed to the customer revenue meters. The success or failure of an automation program hinges on proper selection of equipment and communications to seamlessly integrate data into the utility control room. The key is to choose equipment that leverages your current assets wherever possible. With the latest in high speed communication technology, there has never been a better time for utilities to extend their automation beyond the substation.

ECM Solution Group has years of experience dealing with systems such as automatic sectionalizing and SCADA controlled switching. Known for our experience with automation projects and power delivery planning, ECM Solution Group understands both the benefits and the technology involved with DA.

Utilities using DA can achieve:

• Significant reduction outage time for customers, with minimal circuit reconfiguration resulting in improved reliability indices. Automatic/semi-automatic feeder tie switches.

• Reduction in travel time to remote locations, reducing fuel and labor costs.

• Reduction in feeder patrol time to isolate faults.

• Information reported back to the office immediately, providing a clearer picture of what is happening in the field.
   

SUB-STATION AUTOMATION
ECM Solution Group does new and retrofit installations. Intelligent Substation Automation provides protection, control, automation, monitoring, and communication capabilities as a part of a comprehensive substation solution.
We give Real-Time software functionalities to substations enabling interfaces with its peers to adapt and respond to dynamically changing system conditions.

Substation automation management system software key features are:

• Automatic supervision of interlocks

• Graphical presentations of safety procedures

• Local & global alarm & warnings

• Detect fault location – useful for distribution systems

• Equipment diagnostics

• Intelligent interlocking system

• Diagnostics of disturbances

• Automation with supervisory & advisory control

• Substation control via operator

• Programmable Logic Editor with online compiling & execution

• Automatic generation of switching sequences

• Enterprise-wide view of system via intelligent one-line diagram

• Automated retrieval of all data from the substation

• Security control with multiple access levels

• Supporting third party SCADA technology

Substation automation management system software key benefits are:

• Minimizes outages

• Reduces operating & maintenance costs

• Enhances information management

• Improves productivity

• Improves asset management

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Design and Building

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With our extensive knowledge of archival standards, we design and create the highest quality casework and display systems. Our in-house design studio and state-of-the-art fabrication facility provides a professional and efficient approach to a full range of projects. From concept to creation, we deliver solutions that are both innovative and practical.

The essence of the design/build concept is the idea that quality, completion dates and costs can be brought under control by assigning total responsibility for all these factors to one single entity: the design/builder. The builder participates in the conception of the project. He has designs, working drawings and specifications prepared and then constructs the facility – all under a “single-point” responsibility contract.
 

As the design/builder learns about the owner’s expectations and requirements with regard to size, function, quality, time and cost, he develops a building program which includes a guaranteed maximum cost (GMAX). This GMAX is established through input from the design/builder and owner as they develop a list of needs that are then documented with drawings and specifications. The design/builder develops a strong line of communication with the owner in order to devise preliminary plans and definitions and set the tone for the working drawings. This process establishes the scope of work which is the basis for the Guaranteed Maximum Costs. The owner must insist on as much detail as he requires for his wishes and needs to be satisfied.
 

We have had the pleasure of working on a wide variety of projects. We have consistently provided effective solutions in design, project management, fabrication, installation, de-installation, transportation and storage for our museum, corporate and retail clients.

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Feasibility and Power Studies

ECM has personnel with extensive experience in Power Systems Planning, looking at expansion of the generation system and the transmission network that connects the power stations to the end user. We conduct Demand and Generation Forecasting as part of feasibility study, including the development of alternative scenarios. Master Planning for utilities can be performed over an extended period of 10-20 years, to ensure the short term projects are optimally scoped for long-term sustainability. We conduct preliminary and detailed Power Station Integration studies to ensure power stations integrate optimally and are not unduly exposed to instability or unavailability of the power system.
The technical study we contact include Load Flow and Voltage Stability Studies, Frequency Domain Simulations, Dynamic Stability Analysis and Transient Stability Simulations. These are required at different stages of the feasibility studies to ensure the appropriate network and equipment is specified for each project.

Furthermore we can assist with Financial / Economic Modeling of projects and plans, the development of Wholesale Pricing Mechanisms and/or Transmission Wheeling Charges and with the setting up Power Stems Agreements such as Power Purchase Agreements and Wheeling Agreements. As part of the feasibility studies, we also provide assistance with Line Rout and Substation Site Selection.

More on Feasibility Studies:

TECHNOLOGY AND SYSTEM FEASIBILITY
The assessment is based on an outline design of system requirements, to determine whether the company has the technical expertise to handle completion of the project. When writing a feasibility report, the following should be taken to consideration:
At this level, the concern is whether the proposal is both technically and legally feasible (assuming moderate cost).

LEGAL FEASIBILITY
Determines whether the proposed system conflicts with legal requirements, e.g. a data processing system must comply with the local Data Protection Acts.

OPERATIONAL FEASIBILITY
Operational feasibility is a measure of how well a proposed system solves the problems, and takes advantage of the opportunities identified during scope definition and how it satisfies the requirements identified in the requirements analysis phase of system development.

ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY
The purpose of the economic feasibility assessment is to determine the positive economic benefits to the organization that the proposed system will provide. It includes quantification and identification of all the benefits expected. This assessment typically involves a cost/ benefits analysis.

TECHNICAL FEASIBILITY
The technical feasibility assessment is focused on gaining an understanding of the present technical resources of the organization and their applicability to the expected needs of the proposed system. It is an evaluation of the hardware and software and how it meets the need of the proposed system.

SCHEDULE FEASIBILITY
A project will fail if it takes too long to be completed before it is useful. Typically this means estimating how long the system will take to develop, and if it can be completed in a given time period using some methods like payback period. Schedule feasibility is a measure of how reasonable the project timetable is. Given our technical expertise, are the project deadlines reasonable? Some projects are initiated with specific deadlines. You need to determine whether the deadlines are mandatory or desirable.
 

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