Category: Services

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Commission and Tune

Just as music instruments such as a violins or pianos require regular tuning to sound good and perform as required, the same principle applies to buildings.

Failure to correctly complete the commissioning of engineering systems frequently results in poor performing facilities, both in terms of their operational and energy performance. For this reason, it is essential that the commissioning process is well managed and that all testing is verified. DeltaQ members have several years’ experience in managing the commissioning process for optimum outcomes.

While commissioning is essential to ensure the equipment and systems are working correctly, tuning is the process where we optimise the operation of the equipment to achieve the best “fit” of thermal comfort for occupants and minimise energy use. Tuning goes well beyond managing defects during the DLP and we have the experience and technical knowledge to coordinate the construction and building management teams to achieve the desired performance levels.

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Research, Training and Policy Development

Training Delivery

DeltaQ members have extensive experience delivering training, including development of training materials. We can develop customised training materials for all energy management and sustainability related issues for your organisation, including but not limited to:

  • Section J 2019 requirements and applications
  • NABERS, CBD programs and its implications on your organisation

Research, Policy & Program Development

The founders of DeltaQ have a long track record of bringing our world-leading energy efficiency knowledge and insight to bear on research, policy and program development projects. 

Some key projects are shown below. 

NABERS development

We were the original authors of the Australian Building Greenhouse Rating Scheme in 1999 and subsequently have led the development of all the NABERS Energy and Water rating systems, covering apartments, offices, shopping centres, hotels and data centres.

NCC Section J 2019

DeltaQ team members led this project to re-write the 2019 National Construction Code Section J. The re-writing of Section J involved in excess of 1200 building simulation models to test and verify improvements in building fabric and equipment including glazing, insulation, roof and wall materials, fans, pumps and many more building elements.

This work was also used in the technical analyses behind the Built to Perform report released by the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC). 

Emissions Reduction Fund

We were heavily involved in the development and review of emissions reduction calculation methodologies in support of this foundation policy in the current government’s climate change response.

EEC Certification Scheme

We provided significant input into the development of the scheme administered by the Energy Efficiency Council (EEC) by authoring the accreditation requirements and evidence guide. We maintain our involvement in the scheme through participation on the Steering Committee and being one of the lead assessors.

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Renewables and Batteries

There is no question that renewables and batteries play a major role in the decarbonisation of the Australian energy supply, and that rooftop solar PV systems are an obvious choice for building owners. With the commoditisation of solar PV, it is important for building owners to have independent and objective advice.

The DeltaQ team has assisted numerous building owners assess the feasibility of rooftop and ground mounted solar for their properties, project manage third party installers and verify the commissioning and operation of the solar system on completion.

DeltaQ can also conduct Embedded Network feasibility studies and manage the roll out the new or existing network at your sites. 

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Measure and Verify

Post-upgrade M&V

Buildings seldom achieve their optimum efficiency on day one. DeltaQ has developed the systems and processes to best able to monitor, and optimise energy usage post-completion of works. In addition to developing realistic energy targets for all sub-systems, we follow industry best practice guidelines (IPMVP) for accurate energy measurement at the gate meter and all sub-meters. We have two Certified Measurement and Verification Professionals (CMVP) staff members accredited in the application of IPMVP protocols.

In addition to energy measurement and reporting, we place a specific emphasis on ensuring that building controls are functioning optimally. In many cases this is the difference between building under-performance and achieving a 4.5 star NABERS or higher level of performance.

Our post-completion verification service includes:

  • Development of targets for the daily, weekly and monthly consumption of building sub-systems

  • Regular tracking & reporting of building & subsystem performance against NABERS/performance targets, including adjustment for variations in occupancy to provide real NABERS estimates

  • Regular (typically quarterly) detailed technical inspections of plant, controls and operation to identify energy efficiency related defects;

  • Tracking of defects and approval of defects resolution

Operations Review

Not all sites need to undergo a major upgrade in order to improve their energy performance. Since most buildings have a Building Management or Control System that controls the HVAC equipment and lighting, and the review of these systems provides a fantastic opportunity to deliver a “live rolling audit”. We call this service an “Ops Review”

An Ops Review is the ideal way to identify energy reduction opportunities in a simple and low-cost process that can lead to excellent cost effective savings.

In order to undertake an operational review, we visit your site and spend a day reviewing the operation and control of the plant via the BMS. We will take extensive observations and will supplement these with additional observations if a remote access to the BMS is available. We will analyse the data to identify performance issues and then develop a series of measures to implement. to the controls operation to improve energy efficiency.

We do not stop here! To ensure that these measures are actioned, DeltaQ’s team then attends site and works with your controls contractor to make sure approved control changes are implemented and savings are verified.

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Project Management

Energy efficiency upgrade projects don’t “just happen” – they require careful and specific project management to achieve the intended objectives. A number of DeltaQ’s staff are accredited under the Energy Efficiency Council’s scheme for accreditation of energy efficiency project managers for retrofit of existing buildings. In fact, DeltaQ’s Managing Director, Caoimhin Ardren was the primary author of the accreditation scheme and is a lead assessor on the scheme.

Our project management service covers all stages from establishing the initial project plan and project objectives, through the procurement/tendering stage, contract award and contract management through the build process

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Design Reviews

Energy Efficiency Design Reviews

DeltaQ provides design review services at all stages of a project, from concept through to detailed construction design. Our specialisation lies in the review of HVAC controls. We will work through the proposed controls in great detail, often providing a complete Functional Description for optimum efficiency operation.

Based on our intimate knowledge and experience working with existing operational facilities, the DeltaQ team is well placed to advise on energy efficiency in the design of new buildings and retrofit of existing buildings.

DeltaQ has substantial experience in the assessment of energy efficiency design for new buildings. We have developed this expertise through many years of building simulation modelling, post-construction evaluation and post-occupancy surveys. Many the designs have targeted high NABERS ratings and several were the subject of NABERS Commitment Agreements.

The DeltaQ team has NABERS Independent Energy Efficiency Design Review Panel on staff who can conduct a peer reviews required under the NABERS Commitment Agreement scheme. 

Contact us if you require design review services for the following building types:

  • Apartments
  • Hotels
  • Shopping Centres
  • Data Centres
  • Offices

NABERS IMPACT REVIEWS

Often, tenant fit outs changes or base building modifications are approved and implemented without considering the impact the building design parameters and impact on NABERS performance. DeltaQ can review the proposed fit out designs, quantifying the NABERS impact to all parties and prioritise issues based on magnitude of risk and cost. If required, we can also manage the rectification process to ensure that the review comments are correctly implemented.  

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Ratings and Compliance Reporting

NABERS Ratings

Depending on your facility type, NABERS ratings are a great way to benchmark your facility\’s existing performance. It is also a good way to validate your facility\’s improved performance after energy efficiency upgrades have been undertaken.

DeltaQ has some of the most experienced NABERS Assessors, Supervisors and Trainers in Australia. One of our founders, namely Dr. Paul Bannister, was involved in NABERS since its inception – having written the original Australian Building Greenhouse Rating scheme which later became NABERS Energy for Offices. Our team has subsequently been involved in the technical development for all of the NABERS Energy and Water tools, including Office, Hotels, Data Centres, Shopping Centres, Apartments and Hospitals rating tools.

We have completed hundreds of ratings for clients ranging from single sites to multi-building portfolios, covering all types of NABERS energy and water ratings.

DeltaQ\’s Carbon Neutral Accredited Assessors can also certify your buildings to be carbon neutral via the NABERS scheme. 

DeltaQ\’s accredited NABERS Assessors can conduct the following NABERS rating types:

  • Energy and Water Ratings
    • Data Centres
    • Hotels
    • Shopping Centres
    • Office Base Building, Tenancy, Whole Building and Co-Assess
  • Waste Ratings
    • Offices
  • Indoor Environment Quality Ratings
    • Office Base Building, Tenancy, Whole Building
  • Carbon Neutral Certification

BEEC Assessments

Currently all office buildings seeking to sell or lease areas greater than 1,000m² need a valid Building Energy Efficiency Certificate (BEEC). A BEEC consists of a NABERS Energy rating and a Tenancy Lighting Assessment (TLA) every 5 years. DeltaQ\’s accredited CBD Assessors can complete and lodge TLA and BEEC applications. 

Members of DeltaQ were involved in the recent review of the CBD mandatory disclosure program commissioned by the federal government. The review considered the program expansion to a lower office threshold as well as other sectors such as shopping centres and data centres.

Compliance Reporting

DeltaQ have the experience and systems to deliver compliance reporting services for industry schemes such as NGERS, GRESB, DJSI, GRI and broader organisational environmental reporting. Applying our understanding of energy, energy-markets, industry control systems and building operations, DeltaQ ensures reports are delivered accurately and on time.

Established systems and data driven processes support the most complex reporting requirements, DeltaQ’s processes have been put to the test through annual external audits and passed with flying colours.

Don\’t hesitate to contact us if you need any NABERS rating, CBD assessment or compliance reporting services. 

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Energy Audits

Energy Audits  

All buildings have opportunities for savings, and an energy audit is the traditional way that these savings are identified and quantified. After an initial site visit and detailed examination of all energy end uses and control systems, we use these observations, together with historical energy use data to develop a model of how energy is used throughout the year.

We use this model to determine and develop energy savings opportunities. Together with your site team, we customise the saving opportunities list, calculate the potential energy consumption and cost savings (kWh and $’s), provide budgetary capital costs and the draft implementation plan.

All our audits are undertaken using the AS/NZS3598:2014 Energy Audits as the guiding document, a standard DeltaQ members helped to develop. As such, you can be assured of the quality and content assurance of our energy audits.

For standard energy audits compliant to the AS/NZS3598:2014, we offer Type 1 (basic), Type 2 (detailed) and Type 3 (precision sub-system) audits. For some sites, it is best to start with a lighter touch. For such sites, we can conduct an Energy Audit-Lite.

Contact us to discuss which audit best suits your needs. 

Energy Audit-lite

An Energy Audit-Lite is a qualitative assessment of energy efficiency opportunities. We will visit your site and spend up to a day inspecting the energy-using systems and operations before developing a list of potential measures. We then rank the measures in priority of potential energy savings and return on investment.

Our Energy Audit-Lite is a fantastic starting point to develop a high level energy road map for your portfolio and to identify locations requiring a more detailed investigation.

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Strategic Energy Management Road Map

....SEMP - A considered road map that suits your business needs.

In our experience, many portfolio owners face the difficult challenge of the need to implement change across their portfolio, but require guidance on where to start due to the scale and technical complexity of this challenge.

DeltaQ has the experience and technical know-how to help clients identify the overall portfolio energy reduction potential as well as develop a prioritised implementation Road Map and see this through to completion. We call this a strategic energy management road map or SEMP. 

A SEMP clearly lays out the scope of the improvement measures together with capital budget estimates and delivery timeline. We work closely with the client’s management team to ensure that all improvement measures are suitably aligned with the organisations overall
business and asset management strategy as well as conforming to the annual budget allocations.

Ongoing program management of the delivery of the SEMP allows us to keep track of the success of all improvement works against agreed reduction targets and subsequently refresh the SEMP to take into account any variations, delays or acceleration of the works. 

Typically, we have identified energy savings and onsite generation opportunities in the order of 20- 30% of the portfolio energy use and achieving the agreed average payback.

As part of our SEMP service, we will also consider energy contract renewal timings and procurement events. DeltaQ can organise and manage the process for an independent review to be conducted by one of our elected partners.