Consolidated Energy Design
Smart Grid Innovations for a Greener Future

The seeds of groundbreaking change are often planted by a simple idea. For a young Rey Montalvo, that seminal thought came while surfing the rolling waves of the Atlantic coast in the 1970s. Following each surfing session, Montalvo found himself battling sore throats and respiratory issues—a consequence of the polluted waters.

Reflecting on these experiences, and not yet knowing what career path to choose, he decided that whatever path he embarked upon would include protection of the environment. In the ensuing nearly two decades, Montalvo relished every opportunity to design, install and service high-efficiency HVAC equipment.

This ultimately led to the establishment of Consolidated Energy Design (CED) in 1987 by the visionary Founder, President, and CEO Montalvo.

Initially, a critical aspect of its mission was pioneering energy savings technology solutions that would significantly reduce energy costs within reasonable payback periods. It wouldn’t be until some 15 years later that the emphasis would evolve into creating software technology that would optimize commercial spaces for reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions in a disruptive manner. That is the essence of what the company is about—always staying on top of the evolving energy consumption landscape.

Montalvo’s extensive history of some 30-plus years in the HVAC industry made it possible for him to have an intimate knowledge of the equipment that had to be controlled and maximized. This same equipment went through its evolution.

At the heart of CED’s technological advancements is the fully automated demand response/reduction system (FADRS®); pronounced faders, a flagship suite of sophisticated, integrated software programs to amplify the capabilities of advanced commercial Building Automation Systems (BAS). It employs self-healing artificial intelligence and prediction and human-centric technology to address a wide array of system failures—from data analytics and fault detection to notifying clients about equipment issues and facilitating predictive maintenance. Offered in modular formats, FADRS® caters to clients’ specific needs.

Through FADRS®, CED does its share to help stabilize the energy grid, increases its reliability, and offers end-users significant savings on their energy bills.

A prime example of this innovation in action is Essential FADRS®, the inaugural product in the FADRS® suite. Tailored for businesses aiming to reduce energy expenses and improve facility comfort, Essential FADRS® employs sophisticated algorithms to align with occupants’ usage patterns. Highlighting the system’s capability, a project for the Maryland Energy Administration showcased CED’s technological prowess. It also enables participation in demand response events for additional savings. The effectiveness of Essential FADRS® is evident in the numbers, with clients experiencing an average savings of 30-40 percent on their annual energy expenditures—one of the most impressive returns on investment in the market considering that the national average is just 5 percent.

Through FADRS®, CED does its share to help stabilize the energy grid, increases its reliability, and offers end-users significant savings on their energy bills.

The company installed its FADRS® system in two commercial office buildings layered atop existing BAS. Both systems got ‘smarter’ each year so that by year three, we had achieved 34 percent savings in one building and 37 percent in the other. The system also automated demand response capabilities to reduce peak loads by 31 percent while maintaining occupant comfort, compared to a national average of just 10 percent savings.

Building on its capabilities is the FADRS® Net Zero Energy Cost System, which reduces clients’ energy needs by integrating solar panels, backup generators, and advanced battery storage into CED’s already optimized smart grid platform. The addition of alternate sources of energy helps partners to fully tap into demand response programs, earning revenue by scaling back peak energy usage on request. 100 percent business continuity is assured through CED’s distributed generator backup. In total, depending on how much Solar PV can be installed, it creates energy independence and resilience while slashing clients’ utility bills by up to 100 percent.

Its innovations have earned the company some prestigious awards, like the Thomas Edison Patent Awards in ENERGY—dubbed as the Oscars for forward-thinking science and technology.

This holistic approach to energy optimization keeps CED on top of innovations. Guiding building energy use into an era of sustainability, CED puts innovation into action – turning bold visions of savings and sustainability into realities through its industry-leading FADRS® portfolio.