Developing a UMP

We break down our Utility Master Planning (UMP) approach into four essential elements:

1. Define where you are: Utility Condition Assessment (UCA)
   Our first step is to define the condition of the existing utility infrastructure. A site survey and staff interviews allow us to glean knowledge from those who best understand your system operating schedules, known issues, and operator concerns. We review any existing data that the staff has, analyze billing history that provides insight into campus energy use, and then calculate existing load estimates. A heating system analysis, for example, can conclude how much fuel is used per month, total fuel consumption and cost, and how much steam is produced, as well as steam distribution losses.
2. Define where you are going: Campus Master Plan and Upcoming Projects
   A Utility Master Plan is set within the context of the Campus Master Plan, which outlines the scope of planned campus growth. We get familiar with the campus plan and any planned building or utility projects to prompt our understanding of potential future utility needs.
3. Define what is needed: Compare Projected Utility Capacity against Current
   Using our existing load estimates, we calculate future load estimates to accommodate anticipated future system demand. Based on our calculations, along with our assessments of condition and remaining system life, we provide recommendations for what repairs and improvements will be needed within the existing utility strategy to ensure that campus systems will reliably service the campus for the next two decades.
4. Identify viable options: Align Potential Solutions with Institutional Goals
   Throughout our existing systems analyses, our engineers consider and calculate the potential value and viability of introducing alternative utility systems for addressing the existing and anticipated needs of the campus. For utilities where the existing systems may not be the most effective means of ensuring long-term reliability, serviceability, and/or cost/energy-efficient operation, we provide alternative options for each utility in addition to the recommendations for maintaining the existing strategy, and we compare all options to one another using life cycle cost analysis.

The result of our collaborative efforts is a comprehensive technical report - a master plan - which will serve as a guide to lead the facilities management team and stakeholders in making informed decisions about how to wisely invest in the utility infrastructure to meet the institution’s immediate and long-term goals and mission.