Radiance Corporation is a full service designer and installer of state-of-the-art renewable energy systems for residential and commercial buildings. Radiance specializes in Geothermal Heating and A/C Systems combined with Solar Energy Technologies, providing environmentally conscious customers with ultimate comfort and economy.
Radiance provides a total carbon solution for your home or business; a holistic approach to reducing your building's carbon footprint helping you solve the global climate crisis. Unlike many solar energy firms, Radiance's services stand on a practical foundation of traditional energy conservation principles. Radiance reduces the price and complexity of your renewable energy solution to fit the energy requirements that remain after all cost-effective energy conservation measures are implemented. This is of crucial importance. By reducing your building's energy waste to start with, it is simpler to design a cost-effective renewable energy solution. Don't be fooled by the size of the rebate. The bigger prize is the fraction of your energy usage that is curtailed over the course of years. This is what Radiance calls your total carbon solution, and this focus is what sets us apart from the pack.
Radiance provides renewable energy solutions for both new construction and retrofits of existing homes or businesses. While the end goal is the same, the scope of services differs somewhat between new construction and retrofit services. To follow is a basic description of our typical service offerings, however, Radiance remains flexible and attentive to your needs. Any services described below may be tailored to any approach that may be appropriate to your project and requirements.
Architectural Design Consulting -- Radiance works with your Architect and performs a plan review as early in the design process as practicable. Issues and considerations such as building orientation, passive solar access, insulation R-values and window specifications, size and location of mechanical room(s), and proximity of mechanical equipment to key loads, are reviewed and recommendations are made for cost-effective changes that can be made early on.
Mechanical Engineering & Design -- Often overlooked and undervalued by too many architects and homebuilders, mechanical engineering and design is critical to accomplishing your total carbon solution. While engineering is expensive, rule-of-thumb design can lead to errors and mistakes that are even more costly and can adversely impact the performance of your renewable energy system. Radiance embraces a rigorous engineering process to
- calculate building loads;
- compare interactive energy savings of multiple options;
- design geothermal loop fields;
- design solar photovoltaic systems;
- design solar thermal systems and storage options;
- design domestic hot water solutions;
- design radiant floor heating systems;
- design and layout of air conditioning and ventilation systems;
- and anything else necessary to ensure the success and performance of your renewable energy project.
Project Development -- Radiance will prepare detailed Statement of Work Documents and Drawings, then solicit multiple bids from the range of necessary trades contractors in order to find the best price and best value installation contractors for your specific project. Radiance will work closely with you, your architect, and your builder to ensure that the contracts are compatible with your project, to ensure that all required permits are obtained, and cover all the bases to ensure that your project will proceed smoothly.
Project & Construction Management -- Radiance stays with you every step of the way to make sure that your equipment arrives on time, that it is the right equipment, and that it is not damaged. Radiance works closely with you and your builder to ensure that the installation progresses as expected and in a timely manner and that key engineered features of the design are built as intended to ensure the energy savings are acheived. Radiance supervises and inspects the installation in order to ensure that the work will meet the requirements of local building codes officials, and if things don't go exactly as planned, to make it right without delay.
System Commissioning -- When your installation is complete, Radiance supervises system startup to ensure that freeze-protection regimes are observed, and that key system components such as fans, pumps and valves are operating as intended. Startup checklists for each system are checked off and any omissions taken care of. Control sequences are tested to ensure that the completed systems are operating as designed and engineered. If necessary, measurement and verification procedures are performed, adjustments are made and repeated until the systems are operating properly. Finally, Radiance provides training so that you know how to operate and maintain your new renewable energy system to acheive maximum comfort and energy economy.
Ongoing Maintenance and Warranty -- Radiance warrants its work according to the warranties contracted durng the Project Development phase. After the warranty is expired, Radiance is available as needed to provide an ongoing program of system checkups, tuneups and repairs in order to keep your total carbon solution performing year after year.
EXISTING BUILDING RETROFIT SERVICES
Home or Facility Energy Audit -- Radiance performs an energy audit as the very first step in order to define the energy usage of the existing building, identify key streams of energy waste, and recommend all cost-effective measures to reduce or eliminate wasted energy. A utilities analysis is completed in order to define existing energy rates as well as predict potential rate impacts post-retrofit. The product of the Energy Audit is the Energy Conservation Implementation Plan.
Energy Conservation Implementation Plan -- This is the product of the Energy Audit described above. All cost-effective energy conservation measures are incorporated into the plan, including the estimated cost of implementing them. The plan defines the energy savings in units of energy and dollar savings, and becomes a key design reference for the Mechanical Engineer. The size and hence the price of the resulting renewable energy system solution is made to fit what is left after all energy conservation measures are implemented. Through this process, Radiance avoids common overdesign pitfalls that can result in high system costs and poor performance.
Mechanical Engineering & Design -- Often overlooked and undervalued, mechanical engineering and design is critical to accomplishing your total carbon solution. While engineering is expensive, rule-of-thumb design can lead to errors and mistakes that are even more costly and can adversely impact the performance of your renewable energy system. Radiance embraces a rigorous engineering process to
- calculate building loads;
- compare interactive energy savings of multiple options;
- design geothermal loop fields;
- design solar photovoltaic systems;
- design solar thermal systems and storage options;
- design domestic hot water solutions;
- design radiant floor heating systems;
- design and layout of air conditioning and ventilation systems;
- and anything else necessary to ensure the success and performance of your renewable energy project.
Financing Assistance -- There are many sources of funds and financing available to help you through the first cost of implementing your total carbon solution. Rebates and tax credits are available from some utility companies for certain technologies. 3rd-party lease-purchase financing is very often available to qualified buyers. Interest rates are often quite reasonable if you have a good credit history. Radiance helps you through the maze of financing options and choices, gets you the application forms you will need, and walks you through every step of the way.
Project Development -- Radiance will prepare detailed Statement of Work Documents and Drawings, then solicit multiple bids from the range of necessary trades contractors in order to find the best price and best value installation contractors for your specific project. Radiance will work closely with you, your architect, and your builder to ensure that the contracts are compatible with your project, to ensure that all required permits are obtained, and cover all the bases to ensure that your project will proceed smoothly.
Project & Construction Management -- Radiance stays with you every step of the way to make sure that your equipment arrives on time, that it is the right equipment, and that it is not damaged. Radiance works closely with you and your builder to ensure that the installation progresses as expected and in a timely manner and that key engineered features of the design are built as intended to ensure the energy savings are acheived. Radiance supervises and inspects the installation in order to ensure that the work will meet the requirements of local building codes officials, and if things don't go exactly as planned, to make it right without delay.
System Commissioning -- When your installation is complete, Radiance supervises system startup to ensure that freeze-protection regimes are observed, and that key system components such as fans, pumps and valves are operating as intended. Startup checklists for each system are checked off and any omissions taken care of. Control sequences are tested to ensure that the completed systems are operating as designed and engineered. If necessary, measurement and verification procedures are performed, adjustments are made and repeated until the systems are operating properly. Finally, Radiance provides training so that you know how to operate and maintain your new renewable energy system to acheive maximum comfort and energy economy.
Ongoing Maintenance and Warranty -- Radiance warrants its work according to the warranties contracted durng the Project Development phase. After the warranty is expired, Radiance is available as needed to provide an ongoing program of system checkups, tuneups and repairs in order to keep your total carbon solution performing year after year.