Crete United, ProStar Aim to Boost Energy Efficiency in Built Environments

The built environment encompasses all manufactured structures where people live, work, and play, including buildings, roads, and infrastructure. Amid growing environmental concerns, the need for energy-efficient built environments has intensified. Ultimately, this necessitates optimizing energy usage through insulation, lighting, HVAC systems, and renewable energy integration. 

Crete United is collaborating with ProStar Energy Solutions to improve energy efficiency in built environments. What are the challenges to improving energy efficiency in built environments, and how will the partnership address this problem? 

 

Built environments include lighting, electrical, and HVAC systems. Image used courtesy of ProStar Energy Solutions

 

Navigating Built Environment Challenges

The phrase "built environment" encompasses human-made settings designed for various activities, including buildings, parks, neighborhoods, and cities, along with associated infrastructure like water and energy networks. 

Climate change poses significant challenges in the context of built environments. Densely populated urban areas face heightened flood risks due to increased surface runoff and limited green spaces. Similarly, urban heat islands amplify heat waves, raising temperatures. Lifestyle choices, like reliance on energy-intensive appliances such as air conditioners, further exacerbate climate effects, increasing environmental degradation. Transportation preferences favoring private vehicles worsen air quality. High energy consumption in buildings, driven by population growth and aging infrastructure, compounds challenges as aging buildings become less energy-efficient over time.

 

Energy sustainability in the built environment. Image used courtesy of Fokaides et al.

 

Energy inefficiency in built environments arises from various factors, such as outdated building designs, inadequate insulation, inefficient HVAC systems, and outdated lighting technologies. In many buildings across the country, these inefficiencies cause excessive energy consumption, leading to higher operating costs and increased environmental impact due to greater carbon emissions. Energy inefficiencies can also strain local energy grids, leading to potential power outages and grid instability during peak demand periods. 

Short of building new infrastructure, addressing these inefficiencies requires retrofitting existing buildings with more energy-efficient technologies, implementing stricter building codes and standards, and promoting the adoption of renewable energy sources. Improving energy efficiency in built environments can reduce energy consumption, lower operating costs, enhance occupant comfort, and mitigate environmental impact, contributing to a more sustainable future.

 

Joint Effort for Energy Efficiency

In response to the growing demand for energy-efficient solutions, Crete United and ProStar Energy Solutions have forged a strategic partnership to tackle the challenge of optimizing energy consumption in built environments. 

At the heart of this collaboration is a connected delivery model, integrating Crete United's HVAC, electrical, and mechanical expertise with ProStar's data-backed energy-management-as-a-service offerings. The collaboration’s approach leverages ProStar's Internet of Things and artificial intelligence-powered controls and monitoring systems, optimizing HVAC systems and energy procurement processes. By harnessing data-driven insights, the partnership hopes to reduce energy consumption and enhance building operations efficiency without the need for completely new infrastructure.

 

Energy efficiency opportunities in buildings. Image courtesy of Crete United

 

According to the companies, ProStar’s data-backed approach has an impressive record of delivering average base load reductions of 30%.  As part of this, ProStar's suite of patented building automation solutions, such as catalysts for HVAC system retrofits, enables building owners and facilities managers to optimize energy use, reduce costs, and achieve sustainability targets. 

By combining each company’s unique strengths in this partnership, the groups hope to find a means of improving sustainability in the existing built environment.

 

Lighting the Way

As part of their partnership, Crete United plans to open a regional office at ProStar's Frisco, Texas, location. With a revenue target of $1 billion on the horizon, both companies believe this partnership's impact holds substantial financial and societal promise.