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Step 4. Define The Scope Of Work

Set clear project expectations.

How do I do this?

After reviewing your energy audit alongside your project goals you will be able to determine which scope(s) of work are most appropriate in both the short and long term. The scope should also consider potential effects on current building occupants, available financing, and any other short- or long-term impacts.

What are the available options?

There are seven major categories of commonly implemented energy conversation measures (ECMs) that your scope of work can address:

  1. Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Systems
  2. Lighting
  3. Hot Water
  4. Building Envelope
  5. Controls and Sensors
  6. Plug and Process Loads
  7. Behavior Modification and Education

A more holistic approach could be whole-building retrocommissioning, which would analyze all building systems in totality.

Additionally, there is the option to install solar photovoltaics, which would not improve energy efficiency, but could help offset energy bills. Or, if installed as part of a community solar development, the benefits of solar could be delivered via the grid to low-to-moderate income District residents.

What are the social equity & inclusion factors?

Large contracts, typically those greater than approximately $2.5 million in fee, are often too large for the available pool of small contractors, because of limits in insurance coverage. Projects (in whole or parts) should be “unbundled” into smaller bid opportunities to increase the likelihood of bidder/supplier diversity.

Alternatively, high capital, bonding, and insurance requirements should be lowered for firms that have historically experienced discrimination in bank and insurance lending. These business practices are pervasive today, be they inadvertent or intentional, and can create noticeable difficulties for small, minority-owned, women-owned, or historically disadvantaged firms to be competitive in the market. Taking that into consideration, solicitations should be designed and executed with diversity and inclusion in mind.

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