Analytical Skills and Tools

ASW goes far beyond traditional "prescriptive" engineering to provide the expertise needed to make informed financial and operational decisions. Our team includes engineering economists who understand what you need to know. Their analyses and recommendations go beyond simple payback to an in-depth look at the economics of life-cycle analysis, net present value, and internal rate of return, including operations and maintenance.

The following provides an overview of our analytical experience, skills, and tools. For more detailed information, see also: " Energy Assessment and Evaluation," "Research," and "Software" in the Products and Services section of this site.

• We have conducted hundreds of feasibility, management, and financial studies for new construction and retrofit projects, saving our clients millions of dollars.

  • Our team of mechanical, electrical and industrial engineers spend a good part of their time developing feasibility studies and managing remote data collection.

  • At any given time, we are monitoring several systems for performance.

    A microprocessor in the field collects and stores data that we analyze to determine if installed energy-efficient equipment is accomplishing its assigned task with the specified efficiency.

• To accomplish the analyses, we have developed software programs that translate the collected data in simple understandable reports.

  • The software programs help make the necessary facility and energy usage analyses more meaningful and affordable to ASW's clients.

  • Customized software development and licensing is a company service product.

• ASW has played a significant role in Southern California Edison's pilot ESCO programs, as well as the existing Standard Performance Contract Program, developing protocols and preparing the various reports for program implementation.

  • We presently are providing services to measure and verify over a billion kWh per year.

  • We collected the evaluation database for SCE's 1997 Commercial Rebate Program from over 400 industrial sites for a statewide CEC industrial saturation study.

• Being engineering economists, ASW took an early interest in evaluating AB1890 savings. This early focus created a strong foundation for future economic assessments:

  • Developed analytical tools that have been used for hundreds of direct access savings assessments

  • Conducted aggregation studies for customer groups and several Energy Service Providers (ESPs).

• Our knowledge comes from implementation; our resources are many including forecasting, metering, and settlement.

  • We have a good understanding of metering software MV90 and have developed alternatives as well.

  • Our software known as Power Appraisal is being considered for the State of California evaluations.