Energy Efficiency Engineering

“Ready to explore energy savings in your system? Let’s talk.”

A Career Built on Conservation and Performance

We’ve been focused on energy efficiency for decades — long before it became fashionable. From training energy auditors nationwide to uncovering system failures in million-square-foot facilities, we help clients make smart, retrofit energy decisions that often pay for themselves in under two years.

The devil is in the details in energy efficiency

Field Experience That Shaped My Approach

In the early 1990s, I spent four years working for one of the leading energy conservation companies in the country—XENERGY. There, I trained energy auditors, worked directly with large industrial clients, and used some of the most advanced mainframe-based energy auditing software available at the time. That software went on to generate building energy models for over 100,000 commercial and residential customers across dozens of states and millions of square feet.

I traveled across the U.S. and Canada performing custom audits, helping clients understand their energy usage and uncover practical strategies to reduce costs without sacrificing performance. I learned that good data—and boots-on-the-ground measurements—make all the difference.


Practical HVAC Efficiency in Building Retrofits

Over the years, I've developed a philosophy: Energy savings alone rarely justify ripping out working equipment. But if you're already halfway there—already replacing aging infrastructure—a small, smarter choice can bring a very real return.

That means choosing Option B, not just Option A.

  • Option A: Replace-in-kind. Fix what's broken.

  • Option B: Look upstream. Consider a better-performing component, a more efficient control strategy, or a rightsized system.

That slight shift in thinking—if made during design—often pays for itself in under two years.


Field Story: HVAC & Energy Controls at Hanscom AFB

While working at Boston Edison as part of their energy conservation team, I was called in to evaluate a potential ice storage system for two large office buildings at Hanscom Air Force Base. The initial costs came in high, and the utility asked me to take a second look.

I hired an air balancer, went into the field, and tested the system firsthand.

  • We found insulation lodged in the ductwork, restricting airflow.

  • The cooling control valve was opening at the wrong time, fighting the outside air damper.

  • The return fan and supply fan were battling each other—preventing proper ventilation.

The diagnosis? It wasn’t a need for more cooling—it was a need for better controls. The utility invested in a new control system instead of the expensive ice storage, and the buildings became far more efficient. The work was recognized with an award from Hanscom AFB.


Why It Matters

HVAC systems account for a major portion of a building’s energy use:

  • 40–50% in office and educational buildings

  • 60–80% in laboratories and industrial facilities

At Trinidad Engineering, we understand how to turn field data into actionable upgrades. We’re not chasing rebates—we’re solving root problems, optimizing what already exists, and guiding clients toward long-term energy performance.