How Are You Going To Manage All That Paperwork? Practical Software Solutions

Transcription

1 How Are You Going To Manage All That Paperwork? Practical Software Solutions Presented By Robert Burns, Pivotal Energy Solutions Steve Byers, Energy Logic Daran Wastchak, D.R. Wastchak, LLC Presentation Outline 1. Introductions 2. Overview of ENERGY STAR , Software Development 4. Critical Software Functionality For Success 5. Questions and Answers 1

2 Managing Estar 3.0 Overview of ENERGY STAR 3.0 Version 2.5 started April 1, 2011 Version 3.0 started January 1, 2012 Four new checklists: Thermal Enclosure Rater Checklist HVAC Contractor Checklist HVAC Rater Checklist Builder Water Management Checklist Rater is responsible for Collecting all the checklists Scheduling with builder, coordinating with trades Managing program updates Managing Estar 3.0 HVAC Checklist Requirements Document Collection Ventilation Design (per 1.3) Manual J Load Calculation (per 2.18) AHRI Certificate (per 3.15) Air Balance Report (for 10.2) Synching load calculations with rated home Evaluation of Contractors Checklist inputs 2

3 D.R. Wastchak s path to software development Number of homes grew to 10, annually Sampling became more complex Evolution of sampling from EPA and RESNET Really cool spreadsheets just did not cut it anymore Multiple failed attempts to build a database 2001 First attempt at SQL server database. Database created, but never actually was able to use it In-house IT guy created Access Database (still using today!) 2006 Hired MySQL programmer, never made it out of schematic planning to actual programming D.R. Wastchak s path to software development Lessons learned: Lack of clarity on processes (from RESNET and EPA) Lack of pre-planning Lack of adequate dollars invested Lack of programmer understanding / appreciation of the testing and inspection work to be tracked Pivotal Energy Solutions Axis Benefits that software provides Financial efficiency (automation versus man power) Paperless Improved accuracy Improved coordination (internally and externally) Data mining 3

4 EnergyLogic s path to software development In the beginning, there was Access Ratings11 And Excel and Outlook and REM/Rate and QuickBooks To Web or not To Web that was the question Better Living Through Data Is more better? Who decides and why? Don t know what we don t know! EnergyLogic s Philosophy Created with our people Staff Schedulers Raters Management Rater Partners 4

5 EnergyLogic s Philosophy System is a manifestation of process Process is a manifestation of the system Feedback loops! Workaround is not a four letter word System is an enterprise management system Not an energy modeling system Not a spreadsheet We don t design to hardware EnergyLogic s Process Critical aspects begin with QuickBooks structure Architecture done by ALL internal stakeholders Clients consulted after an Alpha build Testing done by EnergyLogic field staff in Beta Release build General Release only after extensive Beta Data theory vs the Here & Now there is no escape! 5

6 EnergyLogic s Critical Functionality Flexibility Data Migration REM/Rate OptiMiser HPXML Systems that help you win QuickBooks integration Reduce Eliminate double entry Energy modeling system or vice versa Rebranding next month! New name Free Beer But seriously None of this works, none of it is worth a single minute of your time or dollar of your money if you don t COMMIT 6

7 Software Functionality Gotta Haves Community/Subdivision creation Association with EEP/checklist, Builder, Rater/Provider, HVAC Contractor Address list import/upload Single and bulk upload Floorplan support Base and derivatives Energy simulation model file upload and storage REM/Rate, EnergyGauge, others Basic scheduling functionality based on construction phases ENERGY STAR Version 3 checklist population and storage On-line and off-line population Photo/image uploads Sample batch assignment support Queries, reporting, and data analysis ENERGY STAR label/documentation generation or support Software Functionality Nice to Haves Multiple program support Duel fuel communities ENERGY STAR, LEED, EFL, etc. Custom checklist support RESNET Chapter 6 Sampling protocol Beyond sample batch assignment Prioritized inspection scheduling capability Automated workflow-based notifications Ties to invoicing software Customized report generation Company letterhead, value-added proprietary reports, etc. RESNET Building Registry upload support 7

8 Considerations Accessibility and Scalability Cloud-hosting is here! Shared database solutions vs. internal solutions? Is it flexible enough to scale and grow with my business? Field-Friendliness Maps! On-line and off-line checklist population Photo/image upload and storage ROI Does it fit my workflow? Does it improve my efficiency? Make vs. Buy? Does it fit my budget? Can software make my business more competitive? Questions? 8