As California transitions to 100% renewable and zero-carbon energy by 2045, many facilities have the daunting task of decarbonizing their central plants. This requires the replacement of fossil fuel equipment such as natural gas boilers with non-fossil fuel alternatives. At first glance, it might seem like the obvious choice is to install the most efficient state-of-the-art equipment possible, however, increased maintenance costs and risks are often overlooked. 

For example, a commonly proposed solution for central plants with simultaneous heating and cooling needs are heat recovery chillers (HRCs), very sophisticated equipment with fantastic efficiency. HRCs also require additional training and extra cost for service and maintenance. This maintenance is absolutely crucial to prevent premature failure of the HRC, a very expensive capital investment in itself. Facilities may skip the maintenance, or assume staff are capable of maintaining the new technology without training, and find themselves with an irreparably damaged chiller. Much like running a car without refilling fluids and proper regular maintenance, or attempting to service a lamborghini like a standard car. 

Clients should be given:

• realistic lifecycle costs

• the true requirements of running a proposed system

• the risks of non-adherence to maintenance plans

Our engineers emphasize the additional needs of new systems and offer realistic life cycle cost analysis to ensure that a client’s capital investment is a success. We also understand that the highest efficiency and state-of-the-art equipment isn’t always within budget. We keep the whole picture in mind and offer a range of solutions that will meet the client’s decarbonization goals, given their budget, scope and staff expertise.