Cx Associates is proud to be working with BETA Technologies in support of their sustainability goals and growing business in developing zero-emissions electric aircraft. Our services are divided into three distinct scopes of work: quality assurance/quality control for the ground source heat pump bore field, building systems and envelope commissioning for the newly constructed aircraft assembly facility and we are acting as the owner’s technical representative to develop and finalize the HVAC controls design in collaboration with the design and construction teams. By providing these services, we are confident that the entire project will operate efficiently, effectively, and sustainably for years to come. The facility is projected to be complete by November 2023.

For the bore field work, Cx Associates is providing quality assurance/quality control for an extensive ground source heat pump system. Working in collaboration with construction manager PC Construction, we’re overseeing the installation of 256 individual 400-foot-deep wells. Cx Associates developed the final layout of the field, and our team inspects and documents the entire installation and startup of the system, including all wells, underground piping, associated trenching and fill for piping, manifold vault, and thermal conductivity testing and pressure testing. In addition, Cx Associates will verify the  extensive and precise as-built documentation for each part of the ground source heat pump system. Our process will result in a system that will likely have a longer lifespan with less system issues and failures. 

For the aircraft assembly construction project, Cx Associates is responsible for completing MEP and building envelope commissioning for the new 188,500 SF high bay facility, which includes aircraft assembly space, as well as office and operational spaces. The facility is designed to support the manufacturing and assembly of BETA's first all-electric aircraft, ALIA, and will operate without fossil fuels. Our design review process resulted in over 100 design comments, which will be resolved before construction completion. 

Our team is closely involved with the development of the HVAC controls, providing in-depth review and in some cases re-writing the sequences of operation. 

From 2011 through 2018, Cx Associates worked as the energy consultant with National Life in Montpelier, VT – the largest office building complex in the State of Vermont, measuring approximately 500,000 square feet. Our work began with a retrocommissioning study that identified building performance improvement opportunities to reduce annual electrical consumption by 18% and cut biomass fuel use by about 425 tons of wood chips per year.  In addition to the resulting 770,000 kWh of annual energy savings realized by these projects, the firm is also saving 69% of their chiller operating costs from the chiller plant control sequences that Cx Associates developed in 2014. Through continuous engagement in identifying, developing, supporting implementation, and commissioning energy efficiency projects, we have helped the already Energy Star Rated facility save over 5,580 MWh and 51 million BTUs of fuel.

Cx Associates commissioned Unilever’s 36,600 SF Seventh Generation headquarters facility in Burlington, VT, which contains offices and labs. Commissioned systems included the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system (HVAC), domestic hot water, and lighting and lighting controls. The commissioning process included Owner’s Project Requirement (OPR) facilitation and two design reviews, along with full construction phase commissioning. The owner is pursuing LEED Gold certification (v4 ID+C Commercial Interiors) for this building.

Cx Associates commissioned energy efficiency improvements at Burlington International Airport including the upgraded central chilled water system, replacement of two inefficient constant volume dual duct air distribution systems with a VAV system, extensive controls system programming upgrades, and lighting efficiency upgrades. CxA conducted design review for the central cooling plant and air system and heating plant upgrades. Many of our design review comments had a positive impact on system performance, especially part load operational efficiency. We estimate that our design review of the chiller plant controls alone saved the airport 150,000 kWh/year (20% of full load), worth $19,000/year. In addition, CxA worked with BTV to implement Building Performance Metrics and Monitoring to enable the building operators to maintain system performance over time.

Cx Associates provided peer-level design and construction phase commissioning of the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems for the YMCA's new, state-of-the-art facility in Burlington, VT. The building is made up of a gymnasium, natatorium, studios, fitness areas, childcare spaces, and offices, and uses water source heat pumps for heating and cooling with rooftop units (RTUs) and an HRV for ventilation. Our work focused on efficiency, first-cost and maintenance cost savings, and ensuring occupants would be comfortable in their spaces. For example, we found a lighting controller that required a fifteen minute wait time before the lights could be re-enabled after shut-down, a potential safety hazard. We worked with the design team and the contractors to find solutions to this and many other issues.

CxA’s commissioning of the multi-purpose, year-round Stowe Arena began during the Request for Proposals (RFP) stage and continued through bidding, design, construction, and occupancy. The RFP development and bidding services helped to ensure that energy efficient design concepts were included in the project proposals from the very beginning. During the design phase, CxA identified many opportunities to improve building performance, such as variable speed control for the desiccant dehumidification system, and optimal hot water supply temperature for boiler efficiency and heat recovery. CxA’s functional performance testing of the installed systems revealed additional opportunities to improve energy efficiency, such as reduced ventilation air pre-heating and adjustments to lighting control settings to more effectively switch off lighting when spaces are unoccupied.

Cx Associates was retained by the Town of Shelburne, VT to provide design and construction phase commissioning for the town’s 16,000 SF new Pierson Library and renovated Historic Town Center project. Commissioned systems included the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system (HVAC), domestic hot water, and lighting and lighting controls. Designed with sustainability and high-performance in mind, the building incorporates many energy efficiency features such as a roof rainwater collection, passive daylighting, and energy-efficient HVAC equipment. Designed for net-zero energy use, the new library and town center was awarded the 2020 Efficiency Vermont Best of the Best Honor Award – Large Commercial, as well as the 2020 People’s Choice Award at Efficiency Vermont’s Better Buildings by Design Conference.

Cx Associates provided engineering analysis for two projects as part of a census evaluation of the largest projects completed in the evaluation period for NYSERDA. The evaluation included on‐site M&V, delivery of engineering and attribution surveys by engineering staff and completion of rigorous verification of over 6,500 MWh of savings claimed on the two projects to determine the measure level and project specific gross and net savings realization rates with an enhanced degree of rigor.

From 2015-2017, Cx Associates was part of a team that provided consulting services to the Maine Public Utility Commission to conduct an evaluation of Efficiency Maine Trust programs. This included a thorough review of the Trust's programs, program design/ modification, efficiency measure cost-effectiveness screening, development of the Triennial Plan and a Best Practices memo, as well as an overview of the Trust in general.

As a subcontractor to West Hill Energy & Computing (WHEC) under their contract with Efficiency Vermont, Cx Associates worked with the Vermont Forward Capacity Market (FCM) participants and regulators to design and develop the Vermont FCM Measurement & Verification (M&V) implementation plan. Since 2009, Cx Associates has subcontracted with WHEC to provide independent measurement and verification of Vermont's FCM peak demand reduction claims for over 100 utility C&I projects, as well as annual energy savings evaluation. Our staff performs on‐site metering, utility bill analyses, building automation system trend analyses, and engineering analyses using these data to verify peak demand reduction claims for Efficiency Vermont and Burlington Electric Department in compliance with IPMVP and ISO New England standards.

In 2019, Cx Associates assisted VTARNG with an energy assessment of three facilities: Regional Training Institute, the Jericho Readiness Center, and the Green Mountain Armory. This work utilized Efficiency Vermont’s Retrocommissioning (RCx) program. Using ASHRAE Level I Energy Audits, we assessed the energy consumption, water consumption, and mechanical and electrical system infrastructure to identify low-cost operating and controls measures for inclusion in VTARNG’s developing Installation Energy and Water Plans (IEWP). We recommended a list of infrastructure investments and capital improvements vital to meeting the IEWP mission goals regarding effective operation, mitigation of risks, lowering operating costs, and reducing energy and water consumption. For example, the measures identified for the Jericho Readiness Center would save VTARNG approximately 45,713 kW/yr.

Cx Associates conducted an extensive retrocommissioning study for the Vermont Army National Guard’s Combined Services Maintenance Shop (CSMS) and Regional Technical Institute (RTI) located at Camp Johnson in Colchester, VT and at the Mountain Warfare School (MWS) in Jericho, Vermont. We identified energy savings opportunities that were estimated to generate $96,000 in energy savings per year.

Cx Associates has provided design and construction phase commissioning projects for several large Vermont Army National Guard projects. These projects include the following:

Cx Associates provided design, construction and occupancy phase commissioning services to VTANG’s new LEED Gold Certified Security Forces Building. We commissioned mechanical and electrical systems, including ground source heat pumps and solar PV. Our commissioning engineers found several issues during construction phase, such as sensors installed too high and poorly programmed controls sequences. We estimate that the resolution of these issues saved the facility $7,000/yr. in energy and maintenance costs.

From 2016-2018, Cx Associates provided construction and post-occupancy commissioning services for a new Flight Simulator Building (Building 120) for the Vermont Air National Guard in South Burlington, VT. For this project, Cx Associates focused on the HVAC systems and identified issues pertaining to the duct access doors, a broken damper shaft, improperly aligned air vents, damaged heating coil fins, and a number of other systems.

Cx Associates provided lead commissioning services for a LEED Gold certified renovation and expansion of VTANG’s Fire-Crash-Rescue facility in South Burlington, VT. Our commissioning work with this high-performance building included mechanical and electrical systems, air and water source heat pumps, a geoexchange wellfield, and a 27.63kW PV array on the roof of the station. We developed and coordinated a Measurement and Verification Plan in compliance with LEED-NC 2.2 credit EA C5 to monitor all energy consuming systems through a DDC Base Meter Monitoring System (BMMS).

Cx Associates provided construction phase commissioning services for this new construction project in Burlington, VT, which features office space and 20 residential apartments. The project utilized high efficiency water source heat pumps to offset their heat/cooling rejection in the swing seasons, thereby minimizing the energy input from the central plant during those times. We identified approximately 100 issues during project construction; for example, we found that no automatic controls were installed on exterior lights and no emergency shutoff switches were installed for the gas-fired boilers. We recommended changes that saved the client energy, first costs, and long-term maintenance costs.

Cx Associates provided design, construction, and occupancy phase commissioning for Housing Vermont and Downstreet Housing & Community Development’s new 30-unit multifamily building in Montpelier, VT. Our clients' commitment to providing affordable housing to Vermonters means they needed a commissioning provider who would ensure the new building operated efficiently and with low maintenance costs.

Cx Associates provided mechanical and electrical commissioning for this new county nursing home in Boscawen, NH. This multi-residential health care facility includes over 300 beds, kitchen, laundry, offices and ancillary spaces. The owner required commissioning as a mandatory component of the project to ensure that all systems were complete and functioning properly upon occupancy, and that adequate documentation and training were provided to facilities staff. The facility design included energy efficient measures such as radiant floor heating, geothermal heat pumps, and energy recovery ventilators.

Cx Associates performed ASHRAE level 1 and level 2 energy audits, including metering, energy analysis, and Energy Star Portfolio benchmarking, of the Grand Way Commons building in South Burlington, VT. Grand Way Commons is a four-story senior housing building that was built in two phases, with completion dates of 2005 and 2011. This 97,000 square foot building is primarily for senior housing with office space and a senior care facility.