The Importance of Expertise

Alternative energy is an ambiguous topic that requires a precise design vision and successful multidisciplinary collaboration to design and build a high-performing system. Understanding the nuances of design, code, project team communication, and practical construction strategies are key factors necessary for MEP engineering firms who craft these systems. It takes a skilled engineer to communicate these complex topics clearly and concisely in order to build client trust and confidence in project execution. When implemented correctly, alternative energy sources can significantly slash building operation costs and increase building resiliency.

At Alvine Engineering, our firm views alternative energy as an integral piece to achieving carbon-neutral building and construction initiatives, as well as a novel strategy to pursue admirable guidelines for energy use, such as LEED and Green Globe certifications. We strive to remain at the forefront of alternative energy design as the future points to more accessible applications for their use across multiple industries and clientele.

Photovoltaic Systems and Microgrid Technology

One of the leading alternative energy resources is photovoltaic (PV) energy systems, which harness the sun to create electricity. The utilization of PV systems within commercial facilities is an innovative concept. Our firm’s experience and pursuit of carbon-neutral initiatives have allowed our technical personnel to build familiarity with these types of systems. Due to the technical complexity and uniqueness of PV systems, our design team must find innovative solutions to the potential installation challenges they may pose.

“Having enough space is a big challenge when adding a PV system on a project,” Sam Bloom P.E., an Alvine Engineering electrical engineer, stated, “Especially when the project also requires a battery energy storage system to capture any PV overproduction, or provide an alternative energy source for overnight use or during weather events that block sunlight from reaching the solar panels. These systems take up a substantial amount of square footage, and need to be considered for weight and wind loading.”

The Santa Barbara Police Station is a significant project in our firm’s portfolio, highlighting the effectiveness of high-performing alternative energy design. The design utilizes a PV system with battery storage and features two generators servicing the base building systems and emergency dispatch center during an outage. In-depth coordination was required during the design of all of the distributed energy resources to ensure the building was compliant with the State of California’s building codes.

Our team coordinated closely with the structural engineer to ensure the structure could support the mass of the PV system. Additionally, our team worked with the architect to ensure a clean and desirable aesthetic remained intact. Additionally, our team worked with the owner to specify a microgrid controller for precise deployment to leverage the distributed energy resources.

“The microgrid controller manages the generators, PV system, battery system, and utility power,” Sam stated, “The microgrid constantly monitors these energy sources and deploys energy sources based on availability and owner directives. We’ve defined several sequences of operations identifying which energy source to use during normal and emergency operations, and it seamlessly switches power sources to minimize interruptions.”

Staying On Top of Code Requirements

Constantly staying up-to-date with the latest cycles of code changes is a top priority for design teams working on alternative energy projects. Gage Gibney P.E. is an electrical engineer who is currently working on a large private residence on the West Coast utilizing alternative energy. Through Gage’s work on multiple PV projects, he understands that codes can change throughout design, which necessitates adaptive project solutions.

“There’s a lot to be aware of when a client starts a project,” Gage stated, “While the changes may not all be electrical design specific, we’re expected to know the code and communicate necessary design requirements across disciplines to ensure a thoughtful design is maintained throughout construction.”

The National Electric Code and the International Building Code are two publications responsible for providing designers with requirements regarding alternative energy production and storage. Most recently, updates have increased specificity on how to shut down PV arrays safely, properly label electronic devices on design documents, and identified required clearances around arrays.

Fire protection is another major point of emphasis during the design of alternative energy sources for commercial buildings. In the event of a building fire, system designs must ensure firemen can access the roof and utilize their equipment safely. Our designers must incorporate safety protocols that shut down solar panels in the event of a fire, as well as properly space equipment to allow ample access to working clearances and emergency personnel entry areas.

“Firemen must have enough space to vent the roof properly during a building fire without obstruction,” Sam stated, “This is just one of many examples of the unique considerations we account for when designing a PV system.”

Ensuring Client Confidence

Due to uncertainty regarding alternative energy sources and their higher initial costs, the responsibility of communication falls on the project team to adequately explain different system configurations, energy storage capabilities, and funding options. Our firm provides clear explanations and graphics, especially early during the design process, and outlines various alternative energy options for clients to pursue if they’ve identified carbon-neutral or clean energy initiatives in their project requirements. Our design teams have provided analyses for PV systems, battery energy storage systems, alternative fuel generators, and even fuel cells.

“If there is anything visually that we can build and show the client to help them better understand how these systems will work and how they’ll look on their project, we love exploring it,” Gage stated, “I see our role as going beyond design to help our clients attain peace of mind regarding what will be constructed on their project.”

In the case of the Santa Barbara Police Station, the City’s Sustainability Department and the Santa Barbara Police Station representatives were the major project stakeholders. Aptly explaining the PV and battery storage system to these stakeholders, along with outlining how the microgrid controller functions and is utilized during occupancy helped mitigate any potential confusion. These discussions helped our pool of stakeholders feel confident in their decision.

“Utilizing the energy produced by the building’s renewable sources, especially during the utility district’s peak hours, was a big benefit to our stakeholders,” Sam stated, “The in-depth discussions we held helped them visualize this benefit, and was just as important as providing
good design.”

The Future of Alternative Energy

Cost is the number one driving factor in the utilization of alternative energy. To be considered in design and construction, these systems have to be a more economical choice than conventional energy over a span of decades.

Through our experience and cost analysis of these systems, our experts have found that the initial installation cost of PV systems, in particular, is diminishing. Our firm anticipates alternative energy projects will grow as the initial costs of these systems decrease and technology is improved, primarily for clientele who are anchor tenants or have owner-occupied property.