Energy efficiency is defined as using less energy to accomplish the same task, and taking measures to improve energy efficiency is the first step toward reducing energy use. With improved efficiency comes reduced energy consumption and opportunities for more effective renewable and distributed energy generation. One of the most economical ways to save energy is by improving energy efficiency; doing more with less energy benefits your business and your bottom line.
At Southland Energy, we are experts in generating innovative yet cost-effective ways to achieve energy efficiency in buildings, central plants, and campuses. Through long history of designing and building energy efficient buildings and plants, we are able to take a holistic approach to your facility’s lifecycle. Our wide range of in-house capabilities include building energy auditing, advanced controls and metering, measurement and verification, energy modeling and computational fluid dynamics simulation; and our experienced design professionals are industry leaders with a positive reputation of developing superior energy efficient solutions. By collaborating with you and your operations staff, we offer practical options for increasing energy efficiency from lighting upgrades to HVAC renovations to complete central plant retrofits.
Renewables
Southland Energy offers comprehensive energy solutions to overcome each customer’s unique challenges. As part of our comprehensive, holistic approach, we first provide complimentary cursory audit services to ensure your energy generation system is sized correctly and that our approach incorporates the most appropriate energy efficiency and implement demand response measures for your facility. With superior mechanical and electrical core competencies, we have a unique advantage over most other companies in the marketplace. Our variety of project experience involves systems such as:
- Biomass
- Geothermal
- Wind
- Biogas/Digester Systems
- Solar Thermal
- Solar Photovoltaic/Electric
- Waste Heat to Power
- Municipal Solid Waste to Power
- Combined Heat & Power/Cogeneration
The systems we deliver not only reduce carbon footprint, but also reduce your utility bills. With many of our projects are designed to pay for themselves over time, energy costs are avoided.
Demand Response
Recently, many utility providers have moved to time of use tariffs and rates, meaning the cost of electricity increases based upon supply and demand. For example, in many areas of the country, air-conditioning can drive demand during hot summer months. The increased demand results in higher electricity prices for those consuming electricity during the “on-peak” periods of time. However, such utility cost increases can be avoided through the customized demand response solutions offered by Southland Energy.
Demand Response is a reduction in total system demand designed to reduce peak demand and avoid system emergencies. Often, demand response solutions are a cost-effective alternative to adding generation capabilities to overcome the cost spikes that accompany peak periods. The underlying objective of demand response is to actively engage customers in modifying their consumption in response to pricing signals sent out by utility providers to announce energy price changes and incentives.
At Southland Energy, we have the expertise required to offer a variety of demand response solutions to curtail, limit, or permanently shift your electrical consumption to reduce your facility’s consumption during high demand and high priced times of day. From implementing controls strategies with metering and submetering to accepting an open automated demand response signal from the utility provider or installing a thermal energy storage system to permanently reduce peak power consumption, our team can provide the solution that’s right for you.
As the United States moves forward with implementing the Smart Grid, more and more utility providers are providing discounted utility tariffs and rates, as well as rebates and incentives for customers. With this in mind, the financial returns on investment for implementing demand response solutions is made even more attractive than reduced energy costs, alone.
Carbon Footprint
Taking a holistic approach to each project, Southland Energy is experienced in reducing carbon footprints and creating sustainable environments for our customers. Collaboratively, we work to address the energy savings, water conservation, utility infrastructure management, renewable, and environmental aspects of each project to ensure lower emissions and result in a smaller carbon footprint. With a portfolio of data collection tools to help manage energy savings, water conservation, and metering, we are able to understand how to best address your unique sustainability goals. To learn just what kind of impact reducing your carbon dioxide emissions could have, try this greenhouse gas equivalencies calculator.
Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions
To improve your carbon footprint, Southland Energy can measure, track, and reduce your greenhouse gas emissions. After establishing your project goals and outcomes, we will create a roadmap of energy solutions, waste reduction, and pollution prevention strategies that not reduce your greenhouse gas emissions as well as energy consumption.
Sustainable Design and Consulting
Whether your project involves new construction or an existing facility, Southland Energy’s team of over 80 certified LEED professionals provides valued support from project conception through completion. Our specialists are knowledgeable in regards to the most recent LEED standards as well as utilize advanced energy design software and 3-D BIM modeling.
Energy and Water Efficiency
Southland Energy can guarantee lower carbon emissions instantaneously through low cost building upgrades and retrofits such as lighting, HVAC, controls, and water conservation systems. We recommend allowing our team of experts to perform a building-level audit and help create an action plan to best fits your facility’s needs.
Design-Build
Backed by an MEP building systems firms with over 60 years of experience, Southland Energy’s knowledge of each phase of the facility’s lifecycle is extensive. Our in-house design-build-operate-maintain expertise allows us to holistically approach your energy services needs and successfully deliver a superior outcome in the most effective manner. By handling both the design and build phase of your project, our strengths become readily apparent. We are seeing the use of the design-build delivery method expand as more owners recognize the significant benefits that a fully integrated design-build team provides, including:
Whether as part of a design-build team or as a prime contractor, Southland Energy maintains responsibility for engineering, constructing, and delivering a solution that universally meets the performance, cost, and schedule requirements of the project. Aligning Southland Energy’s objectives with those of the owner, this accountability drives our team to produce a more innovative, collaborative, and efficient end result.
Southland Energy has a history of creating solutions that are lower in cost than traditional solutions yet also energy efficient, sustainable, constructible, and reliable. Combining the collective and integrated knowledge of our talented energy, engineering, construction, and facility personnel enables us to generate superior solutions.
Our teams are responsive and adapt quickly to the ever-changing demands of each project and industry. We streamline our workflow to maximize the benefits of building information modeling and lean construction techniques
Southland Energy is disciplined in delivering projects that meet or exceed owners’ performance expectations. This approach demands the combined knowledge of our energy, engineering, construction, and maintenance personnel to pinpoint engineering solutions, products, and construction techniques that are known to satisfy the quality expectations of both Southland Energy and our clients.
By self-performing the majority of our services, we are able to guarantee cost, schedule, and system performance even in the early stages of the project, which allows you to focus on the needs of the project rather than managing risk.
Financing
Project Financing Capabilities
For the past ten years, Southland Energy has been involved in financing for various types of energy and construction projects. From simple mechanical retrofits to complicated central plants and cogeneration—and even tri-generation—projects, we are experts at performing in-depth financial analysis for various types of projects. With significant project financing capabilities in house, our dedicated finance professionals have experience performing complicated financial analyses and arranging highly structured finance options for clients.
Southland Energy takes a “partnership” approach with customers to develop and implement customized energy solutions. Our financing team works closely with each customer’s financing staff to identify and evaluate what works best for your specific financial objectives. We will work with you to identify key financial factors such as financing structure, length of contract, capital market conditions, equipment type, and agreement terms and conditions.
Additionally, Southland Energy’s excellent relationships with various third-party lending institutions allow us to provide you with competitive funding for energy efficiency initiatives as well as other construction projects. By leveraging such relationships and utilizing our internal expertise and financial strength, we can confidently ensure appropriate capital structure and funding sources for your next facilities improvement project. Southland Energy’s variety of project financing experience includes customized options such as:
- Design Build Own Operate Maintain (DBOOM)
- Power Purchase Agreements
- Tax Exempt Lease Purchase or Taxable Lease
- Certificate of Participation
- Traditional Third Party Financing
- Other Financing Mechanisms:
- Federal funding and loans for energy related projects
- Local state and utilities financing for energy related project
- On-bill financing (via utility provider)
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