Design-Build Retrofitting

Iconergy’s design-build service uses an integrated process to deliver turnkey projects to building owners who value cost-effective, timely delivery and one point of accountability for their projects

Stay ahead of the curve while reducing your operational costs

If you’ve been seeing your energy bills skyrocket in recent years, you’re not alone. Energy prices are on the rise, and if your building is more than a few years old, chances are it’s not using that pricey energy efficiently.

Fortunately, there’s a service that can fix energy inefficiencies, and leave you with a cleaner, greener workspace. Design-build retrofitting is a service that allows us to engineer every aspect of your building’s energy systems to your exact needs.

A comprehensive retrofit can significantly reduce energy costs, improve occupant comfort, make your building energy compliant, and even increase the property value. And with innovative, cost-neutral EPC financing, going green with design-build retrofitting is a no-brainer. So, keep reading! We’ll tell you everything you need to know about design-build retrofitting and how you can bring it to your building at little to no cost with EPC financing.

What is Design-Build Retrofitting?

Design-build retrofitting is the process of comprehensively upgrading the systems and equipment in an existing building to improve energy efficiency and reduce energy consumption. In addition, a design-build project is often carried out to attain lower energy costs, enhanced occupant comfort, and more. 

This can include upgrading HVAC systems, lighting, insulation, electrical systems, water inputs, and windows, and installing renewable energy systems, but that’s not all. From the design phase to the final measurement and verification of new energy systems, we’ll work closely with you to ensure our work is truly comprehensive. 

Our team will create energy models to show past, present, and projected energy use after retrofits are complete, install smart meters to monitor post-project efficiency and more. 

By the end of a design-build retrofit project, our goal is to leave you with a building that is leaps and bounds ahead in terms of energy efficiency, energy compliance, and occupant comfort.

EPC Financing Options

If you’re interested in a design-build retrofitting project but you’ve got some cost concerns, energy performance contracting (EPC) can help. 

Energy Performance Contracting (EPC) is an innovative financing model that can help you finance a design-build retrofitting project at no cost. You read that right—EPC can provide you with all the benefits of a design-build retrofitting project on a budget-neutral basis! Here’s how it works… 

EPC financing is a performance-based contract where the cost of system retrofits is paid for through the energy savings generated (and guaranteed) by the retrofit. Typically, these contracts are funded by local or state jurisdictions. 

Under an EPC contract, we guarantee a certain level of energy savings over the term of the contract. If the energy savings are not achieved within a predetermined timeframe, we’ll cover the difference! This makes EPC financing an extremely low-risk option for financing your energy overhaul. 

Energy performance contracts provide an unprecedented avenue to sustainable energy use for our clients—that’s why we specialize in EPC. To learn more about EPC projects with Iconergy, click here!

Our Approach to Design-Build Retrofitting

Our approach to design-build retrofitting starts with understanding your unique energy needs and project objectives. You know your building best, and by working with you and your team from day one, we’ll be able to provide you with optimal energy solutions.

At Iconergy, no two projects are alike. We work around a highly flexible project framework that allows us to customize our work to your exact parameters. Still, we’ll give you an overview of our design-build framework.

Site Analysis

We start by conducting a comprehensive energy audit of the building, which involves analyzing energy bills, conducting on-site inspections, and evaluating existing systems and equipment.

Design & Iteration

Once we crunch the numbers for your facility, our experienced engineers will go to work designing a strategy to suit your needs. We’ll design not only around individual energy systems but the system as a whole to ensure cohesive operations. Additionally, we’ll iterate on our designs given your input and any necessary changes that may arise.

Implementation

Once we’ve finalized our designs, we’ll begin assembling the necessary teams to upgrade existing systems or install new systems. Our team will be on the ground throughout the entire process to ensure work is being completed in accordance with our project timeline.

Measurement & Verification

Experiencing your new and improved energy systems is one thing, but having the statistics to back it up is another. That’s why we’ll measure and verify every retrofitted system to ensure your energy systems are providing accurate, measurable improvements in efficiency.

1. Site Analysis
We start by conducting a comprehensive energy audit of the building, which involves analyzing energy bills, conducting on-site inspections, and evaluating existing systems and equipment.
 
 
 
2. Design & Iteration
Once we crunch the numbers for your facility, our experienced engineers will go to work designing a strategy to suit your needs. We’ll design not only around individual energy systems but the system as a whole to ensure cohesive operations. Additionally, we’ll iterate on our designs given your input and any necessary changes that may arise.

3. Implementation
Once we’ve finalized our designs, we’ll begin assembling the necessary teams to upgrade existing systems or install new systems. Our team will be on the ground throughout the entire process to ensure work is being completed in accordance with our project timeline.
 
 
4. Measurement & Verification
Experiencing your new and improved energy systems is one thing, but having the statistics to back it up is another. That’s why we’ll measure and verify every retrofitted system to ensure your energy systems are providing accurate, measurable improvements in efficiency.
 
 

Why is Design-Build Retrofitting Important?

The truth is, traditional energy sources aren’t getting any cheaper, and energy regulations are only becoming stricter. Design-build retrofitting can help you stay ahead of the curve while reducing your operational costs. And while there are a number of avenues you can take to sustainable energy use, we see design-build retrofitting as a cut above the rest.

Think of it this way—rather than optimizing individual systems incrementally, design-build retrofitting allows us to streamline your energy systems as they function individually and in unison. 

Comprehensive upgrades often equate to long-term success, a system that requires maintenance less frequently, and a system “foundation” that can be easily upgraded in the future. With that said, there are a number of more concrete benefits you can look forward to with a design-build retrofitting project from Iconergy.

Key Benefits of Retrofitting with Iconergy

Our team is in it for the long haul, especially regarding design-build retrofitting. Long after we complete physical upgrades, we’ll typically work with our clients to ensure lower-cost, high-efficiency energy is a mainstay in their facilities.
Improved Comfort

Design-build retrofitting can improve the comfort of your space. By upgrading your HVAC system, insulation, and windows, you can improve the indoor air quality and temperature control of your building. This can create a more comfortable and productive environment for your employees or tenants.

Low Carbon Footprint

Retrofitting can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Buildings are a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions, and retrofitting can help reduce these emissions by improving energy efficiency.

Ordinance Compliance

Design-build retrofitting can help you comply with building codes and regulations. In our home state of Colorado and across the country, authorities have implemented building codes and regulations that require buildings to meet certain energy efficiency standards. Retrofitting can help you comply with these standards and avoid penalties.

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Reimagine Energy Use in Your Workspace with Design-Build Retrofitting Services from Iconergy

A design-build retrofitting project with Iconergy can help you totally reinvent the way you utilize your workspace. Reduced emissions, lower energy bills, and an energy-compliant workspace are just the beginning—we specialize in design/build retrofitting because the results are unparalleled.

With an average of 15+ years of experience for every Iconergy team member, our team is prepared to find solutions for any energy challenge. We’ve worked on countless design/build retrofitting projects for some of Colorado’s most well-known commercial spaces…

And we’d be happy to help you unlock your building’s full potential. Start working toward cleaner, greener, lower-cost energy today with custom design-build retrofitting services with Iconergy.

To learn more about budget-neutral design-build projects, click here to visit our EPC page, or return to our services page to browse other professional energy solutions. Ready to get started today? Click here to contact us!

Iconergy Design-Build Retrofitting Case Studies

Iconergy is composed of experienced energy engineering and design-build experts who have come together through their shared commitment to one principle: How customers are served is just as important as correctly calculating BTU’s and delivering projects on time and on budget.

GEORGETOWN, COLORADO

Clear Creek County Courthouse

Clear Creek County approached Iconergy, who was already engaged at the County on other facility projects, to take on a courtroom remodel project at the County Courthouse that would ideally take place concurrent with other facility retrofits Iconergy was performing. The County had already conducted some design work and Iconergy was able to then assume the remaining design responsibilities and full construction responsibilities. The courtroom remodel was a gut remodel of the County Courthouse and supporting office spaces to meet ADA and modern courtroom standards as well as address new programming requirements for how the courthouse and supporting office areas were to operate (e.g. movement of staff, visitors, etc.).

Services: Design-Build Retrofitting
STRATTON, COLORADO

Stratton School District R-4

Iconergy was selected by the Stratton School District to provide a turnkey efficiency retrofit design-build project to upgrade its HVAC and electrical systems. Our team lead the BEST grant application process and was successful in obtaining a grant to complete infrastructure systems replacements that support a healthy and safe learning environment.

Services: Design-Build Retrofitting, Energy Performance Contracting (EPC)
LAMAR, COLORADO

Prowers Medical Center

Iconergy provided forensic MEP investigation at this regional hospital in rural Colorado as part of a turnkey retro-commissioning study to determine which building systems were and were not working according to healthcare and PMC’s own standards. The engineering study led to both a design-build retrofit project and a retro-commissioning implementation project. Together these implementation efforts yielded improved comfort, building operations, and energy savings. PMC was so pleased with Iconergy’s work that Iconergy has continued to provide building automation controls support and ongoing commissioning services.

Services: Design-Build Retrofitting, Retro-Commissioning (RCx)
DENVER, COLORADO

Empowerment on Lowry

Iconergy’s design-build scope of work included new appliances, low flow water fixtures, boilers retrocommissioning, new programmable thermostats, lighting upgrades, and all new windows.

Services: Design-Build Retrofitting
CLEAR CREEK COUNTY, COLORADO

Clear Creek County, Countywide Retrofits

Iconergy partnered with Clear Creek County to develop and utilize an energy performance contract to optimize the performance of all of the County’s facilities. Total estimated annual savings are roughly 36% of the baseline electric consumption, 16% of the baseline electric demand, and 25% of the baseline natural gas use. The total verified annual savings are over-performing the County’s EPC guarantee, and are approaching $70,000 a year, or more than 20% of the baseline facility utility costs. Solar photovoltaic panels were analyzed at all Clear Creek County facilities. The County selected four smaller sites to receive solar panels. One site was in a historic district and could not be outfitted with solar but the other three sites were, totaling 35kW.

Services: Design-Build Retrofitting

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