Quick Home Energy Checkups (QHECs)
A few quick improvements can make a massive difference, especially when multiplied by hundreds of units. That’s why Maryland utilities sponsor no-cost multifamily unit upgrades known as Quick Home Energy Checkups (QHECs). Zerodraft has upgraded thousands of units around the region and is a leader among utility efficiency subcontractors.
Air Sealing
Our trained technicians quickly identify priority areas of air infiltration/exfiltration. Reducing air infiltration can improve the indoor air quality by keeping out harmful pollutants. Air sealing can also help extend the life of your HVAC equipment by keeping the conditioned air inside the living space, thus reducing the time equipment is operating.
Smart Water Heating Monitoring
Zerodraft partners with Mosaic Power to deliver a smart water heater monitoring system. This device gets wired into your standard electric water heater to provide energy and usage monitoring. This allows us to detect when the unit starts failing well before any major damage occurs. The best part is that you, the property owner/manager, actually will make money on this! This service can be provided through a variety of financing structures suitable for any ownership structure.
Lighting Design & Installation
Showcase your units in the best possible light! Residents love new integral LED fixtures for their clean, even light quality and dimming capabilities. Property managers love the fact that new fixtures eliminate the hassle of bulb changes and drastically reduce maintenance stock and expense. As experts on regional utility incentives, we will also ensure that you are not overpaying for lighting fixtures and bulbs. If you’re looking for high-value, high-efficiency lighting, then it’s time to give Zerodraft a call.
Smart Thermostats
A thermostat is the brain of a heating/cooling system, and having a smart thermostat is key to any smart energy management system. Zerodraft works with regional utility demand response programs to market digital thermostats that benefit your residents and your portfolio assets.
Bathroom Exhaust Fan Replacement
As an integral piece of health and safety equipment, having an effective, modern bathroom exhaust fan can go a long way in improving the overall indoor air quality of your apartment. Replacing the exhaust fan can also assist in reducing your maintenance and repair costs by removing excess humidity and limiting the potential for mold/mildew growth.
Cumberland Arms
Cumberland, MD
Units Serviced: 66
Annual kWh saved: 8,789
Annual Gallons of Water Saved: 643,860Orchards at Severn
Severn, MD
Units Serviced: 439 Annual kWh saved: 66,610
Annual Gallons of Water Saved: 4,930,110Ridgeview at Wakefield
Westminster, MD
Units Serviced: 195 Annual kWh saved: 187,740 Annual Gallons of Water Saved: 2,375,640The Point at Germantown
Germantown, MD
Thermostats Installed: 217
Value of Installations: $43,000Potomac Woods I and II
Woodbridge, VA
Heat Pumps Serviced: 128 Value of Tune-Up Service: $11,500
Lighting Retrofits
Lighting upgrades are one of the smartest ways to make a permanent dent in rising electricity costs, and multifamily property managers love LEDs for their bright, clean light and long life (5-year warranty on most fixtures). With over 100 multifamily LED lighting projects to our credit, we have the expertise and the in-house crews to spec and install a lighting job that will put your property in the best light.
Building Envelope Upgrades
Do you know what’s in your walls and attics? For many older multifamily properties, the answer is “not much.” Air leaks and insulation deficiencies often lead to tenant comfort complaints, high bills, and problems with humidity and moisture control. Our experienced auditors, led by a registered architect, have the tools and experience to diagnose common building envelope problems, and our air sealing crews are true to our name – we know how to combat drafts!
HVAC Efficiency
Don’t have the budget for a new heating or cooling system? That’s no reason to accept high heating and cooling costs. Together with our expert mechanical partners, our auditors can identify low-cost, high-payback items, such as economizers and controls, that will extend the life of your HVAC systems and lower your annual usage.
Regency Club
Glen Burnie, MD
Annual kWh saved: 105,286 Annual Savings: $13,161
Payback Period: 2.8 yearsKnights Bridge I Apartments
Silver Spring, MD
Annual kWh saved: 32,128 Annual Savings: $4,177 Payback Period: 2.4 yearsIO Piazza
Arlington, VA
Annual kWh saved: 103,911 Annual Savings: $12,469 Payback Period: 1.9 yearsWe have the expertise and equipment to help you improve your physical facility, but we can also help with your overall energy management program. Whether you are a multi-site property management company or a small business just starting an energy management program, we can help ensure that:
- you are being billed fairly and correctly for your energy usage
- you are compliant with requirements — and receive proper recognition for your improvements
- you receive proper utility, regional transmission, and tax credits for your energy conservation improvements
Utility Invoice Review
Do you understand your utility invoices and are you being billed correctly? Are you getting competitive utility supply rates with fair contract terms? Zerodraft and its partners provide no-cost utility invoice review and supply consulting services on a contingency basis. When we’re through with your review, you’ll either be saving money or have the peace of mind in knowing you’re being billed correctly and fairly.
Energy Benchmarking
Property benchmarking… coming soon to a jurisdiction near you! If your city or county does not already require you to track and report your property’s energy data with EPA Portfolio Manager®, it’s a good bet that this requirement is on the way. Zerodraft can help you stay compliant and turn this requirement into actionable data that helps you better budget for costs and prioritize projects.
Solar
The wide-open roof spaces, multi-family utility rates, and generous tax credits available to multifamily owners make many garden-style apartment communities ideal properties for PV solar. Think solar is too expensive? If you haven’t looked at the numbers in a while, you may be pleasantly surprised! Contact us for your free solar site assessment.
Is Zerodraft MD licensed and insured?
Yes, Zerodraft is fully certified, licensed, and insured to meet or exceed all utility standards. All of our auditors are certified by the Building Performance institute
How many multifamily projects have you performed?
Over the past seven years, Zerodraft has completed energy efficiency upgrade projects at over 200 distinct multifamily projects across the mid-Atlantic region.
What Energy Upgrade Measures are included in the QHEC program?
The direct installation measures include: efficient-flow shower heads, efficient-flow faucet aerators, efficiency light bulbs, as well as water heater tank wrap, pipe insulation and “smart” power strips. *Update: as of October 1, 2016, the program has been improved to include LED bulbs!* All measures are subject to program specific installation and quantities.
Do all residents in the community have to participate?
No, tenants may opt out of the program if they choose. However, most property owners prefer that all units be upgraded uniformly for ease of maintenance and repair in the future.
Do residents have to be home for QHEC upgrades?
No, maintenance can give Zerodraft entrance to all participating units in a tenant’s absence.
How long will it take to complete a QHEC upgrade?
We typically install upgrade measures in less than 15-minutes per unit with an average of 60 units or more per day.
What should residents do if they have questions or comments regarding QHEC upgrades?
We maintain a 24-hour QHEC hotline for any questions or comments regarding upgrades. We will provide you and your tenants with the 24-hour QHEC hotline (1-800-385-5535) or else you can reach us during business hours at 410-312-5936
How much does a QHEC cost?
The program is fully funded by the “EmPOWER Maryland” initiative, so there is no cost to tenant or property owners. These upgrades will save apartment residents and condo owners more than $100/unit per year in electricity bills and save management more than $40/unit per year on water and sewer fees.
What other energy efficiency measures does Zerodraft provide?
Zerodraft participates in additional utility-sponsored common area upgrade programs, which can further reduce operating costs by upgrading your building’s lighting, HVAC systems, and envelope. After completing your in-unit upgrades, we can provide you with recommendations concerning additional programs that further reduce energy expense.
Will LED Lighting reduce our maintenance costs?
Absolutely. Besides the substantial reduction in your lighting costs, you will also enjoy lighting that is virtually maintenance free. New LED fixtures last 10 years or longer, and don’t have ballasts or bulbs need to change.
How do you choose the right lights for my facility?
We are officially vendor-neutral and have years’ of experience in finding lighting product that meets the right criteria of reliability, aesthetics, utility specifications, and price. We often buy in bulk and factory-direct, which enables us to be extremely price-competitive, but we can also work with you if you have a preferred manufacturer or aesthetic for your property.
Can you upgrade our PL lights to LED?
Yes. Compact Fluorescent PL lights (a type of ballasted CFL most often found in recessed can fixtures) are very common to hallway lighting because they are a reasonably efficient light with neutral aesthetics. However, they are widely disliked by maintenance because of issues with flicker and the necessity of frequent ballast changes. There are now a wide variety of LED replacement solutions that offer a higher-quality light that is more efficient and maintenance-free. Some utility programs now even offer a rebate for this conversion.
What warranty do you provide?
On all of our common-area lighting jobs, we provide a 5-year manufacturer’s warranty on all fixtures, and a 1-year service warranty on labor.
What kind of rebates can I expect?
This depends on a number of factors, including your state, utility, existing building condition, and your electric rate classification. Rebates can range from as low as 10% to as high as 80% of final project cost. We are utility program experts and would be happy to give you a straightforward assessment of what utility programs can do for you.
Do you handle the rebate paperwork?
Yes. We take care of all of the utility rebate paperwork and reporting requirements so you don’t have to. In addition, and unlike many other contractors, we offer the option of discounting the utility rebate directly from your final project cost so that you don’t have to wait 12 weeks or even longer for the utility rebate to arrive.
More questions?
Please contact us today with your project-specific questions!
Are You Ready to Cut Your Energy Costs?