We are an energy-centric, design-build firm that can fast-track your Electric Vehicle, Solar Photovoltaic, or Building Energy Efficiency Project.
About
Smart Solutions Direct, Inc. is a Veteran-Owned “design-build” consortium of architects, engineers, designers, and contractors dedicated to our profession. We strive to provide a rewarding project experience, deliver winning projects, and build lasting relationships.
As an Energy Services Company, we provide Architectural, Engineering, and Construction Services for the Electric Vehicle, Solar Photovoltaic, and Building Energy Industries.
Our staff of Architects, Professional Engineers, Certified Energy Managers, LEED Accredited Professionals, Licensed Contractors, and Utility Company Consultants are industry leaders.
Services
Smart Solutions Direct, Inc. is an energy and sustainability company providing the Electric Vehicle and Solar Photovoltaic markets with Project Management, Electrical, Civil, and Structural Engineering, and Construction services. We also serve the commercial real estate market by providing building energy audits to identify methods to improve your building’s operating efficiencies and overall property value and performance.
Project Management
Our Project Managers are a dedicated group of industry professionals with architectural and engineering backgrounds. They understand and manage the design and construction process from the initial “kick-off” meeting to the final turn-over.
From the onset of a project, the client will be assigned a dedicated Project Manager. Over the typical course of the project the Project Managers will perform various duties including:
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Serving as the daily Point-of-Contact for the Client
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Preparing Project Schedules and Budgets
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Attending and Conducting Scoping Meetings
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Managing the Engineering Teams
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Engaging the Electrical Utility Company
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Assembling and Processing Construction Documents for Permitting
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Supporting the Construction Teams
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Researching and Advising the Client on Available Federal, State, Local and Utility Rebates and Incentives
Electrical Engineering Services (EES)
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Conducting Electrical Site Surveys
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Preparing Electrical Site/Plot Plans
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Preparing Power Distribution Plans
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Preparing Communication Distribution Plans
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Preparing Electrical Equipment Floor Plans and Layouts
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Preparing Electrical Single-Line Diagrams
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Performing Electrical Load Calculations
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Sizing, Selecting, and Specifying Electrical Distribution Equipment
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Selecting and Specifying Solar and Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (Unless Purchased by the Client)
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Preparing Electrical Details
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Preparing Electrical Specifications
Civil Engineering Services (CES)
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Preparing Fine Grading Plans
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Preparing Drainage Plans
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Preparing Horizontal Control and Paving Plans
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Preparing Low Impact Design Plans (LID)
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Designing ADA Improvements and Paths-of-Travel
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Preparing Site Demolition Plans
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Conducting Design Level Topographic Surveys
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Preparing Boundary Surveys
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Utility Identification and Verification
Structural Engineering Services (SES)
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Designing Switchgear and Transformer Pads
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Designing Electrical Panelboard and Cabinet Supports
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Designing Charging Station Pads and Supports
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Designing Concrete Bollard Structures
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Designing H‐Frame Supports
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Designing Light Pole Bases
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Performing Capacity and Structural Integrity Assessments of Existing Structures
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Selecting Racking and Attachment Systems for Solar Modules
Building Energy Audits are comprehensive evaluations of the actual performance of a facility’s energy and water-consuming systems and equipment benchmarked against their intended design performance levels and industry standards.
The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) identifies three types or levels of energy audits that have become an industry standard.
Smart Solutions Direct, Inc. performs Building Energy Audits per ASHRAE standards as follows:
LEVEL-1 ENERGY AUDIT
A Level-1 energy audit includes a one-day walk-through of the facility to identify the rough potential for energy savings. A Level-1 audit includes a list of recommended Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs) and outlines “rough order of magnitude” (ROM) savings opportunities in the building.
Types of Energy Conservation Measures (ECM’S):
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No-cost measures
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Low-cost measures
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Capital intensive measures
LEVEL-2 ENERGY AUDIT
A Level-2 energy audit is the most common type of facility energy audit. More time is spent on site interviewing the management and maintenance staff, reviewing available drawings, performing detailed energy system observations, and documenting all findings.
Level-2 Energy Audit Tasks:
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Planning: Setting objectives and collecting available drawings and documentation
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Discovery: Performing a site assessment with the customer and the audit team to collect detailed information on the energy and water-consuming systems as well as collecting and analyzing energy usage and system efficiencies.
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Audit Report: Our final report provides a comprehensive summary of our findings, recommendations, and construction costs to implement the proposed energy-saving measures. The report includes the following sections:
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Executive Summary
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Project Background Information
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Major Energy and Water Consuming Systems Equipment Inventory
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Energy Demand and Consumption Data Analysis
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Proposed Energy Conservation Measures (ECM’s) with Simple Payback
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Rough Order-of-Magnitude (ROM) Implementation Costs
LEVEL-3 ENERGY AUDIT
The Level-3 audit is typically an audit associated with and requiring capital expenditures. It builds upon and expands a Level-2 audit to include building energy modeling, investment grade return-on-investments (ROI’s), and utility company and equipment vendor participation.
A Level-3 energy audit is rarely requested directly by customers. It is typically requested when performance contracts are involved as a means of increasing the due diligence around project viability and savings claims.
Construction Services (CS)
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Implementing Site Safety Measures
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Conducting Pre-Construction Work
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Performing Demolition Work
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Performing Electrical Construction
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Performing Earthwork, Grading and Trenching
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Performing Concrete and Asphalt Work
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Performing Structural Construction
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Performing Site Landscape Improvements
How it works: Three Major Electric Vehicle and Solar Photovoltaic Project Phases
Assessment Phase
Initial no-cost consultation to determine the project's feasibility. Once it's determined the project can move forward, the full Assessment Phase begins, and Smart Solutions Direct, Inc. goes to work preparing the Site Walk and Survey Schematic Design Package. Read More
Pre-Construction Phase
Once the client has approved the Schematic Design Package, the Electrical, Civil, and Structural Engineering and Design process begins. This phase ends with Construction Documents permitted by the city and approved for Construction.
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Construction Phase
Smart Solutions Direct, Inc. will mobilize to the site and prepare the construction site and staging areas for the required contractors to arrive and begin their work. This phase ends with sign-offs from the required inspectors and operating permits issued.
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Assessment Phase (Site Walk & Survey)
The Assessment Phase begins with a no-cost consultation to discuss the overall project. We will discuss the project with respect to location, scope, timing, functionality, and anticipated performance. During this consultation, SSD will review and explain the process in detail and provide you with the necessary information to make an informed decision on how to move forward.
During the Assessment Phase SSD will conduct a site walk to survey the project site. We will identify and document existing conditions including topography, existing structures, and potential points of connection for power and communications, and take all necessary pictures and measurements. This information will assist in the production of a Site Walk Schematic Design Package that will include plans with the following information:
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Site Plans with Solar and Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) locations
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Solar and EVSE Cut-Sheets and Specifications
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Utility Company Points of Connection
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Conduit Pathways
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Electrical Distribution Equipment locations
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Preliminary Electrical Single-Line Diagram
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Americans with Disability Act (ADA) access
Construction Phase
Upon receiving Building Permits, Smart Solutions Direct, Inc. (SSD) will mobilize to the site. We will set up all necessary safety and security signage and barriers, issue notifications, establish work areas, protect areas surrounding construction, set up traffic control (if required), connect temporary utilities, establish pollution controls, and begin construction.
As a “design-build” entity, SSD will design and build your project. We will furnish all engineering, labor, materials, equipment, transportation, construction management, supervision, safety material inspections, and permits for the execution and construction of your project. Our licensed contractors include:
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A & B General Contractors
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C-10 Electrical Contractors
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C-12 Earthwork & Paving Contractors
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C-21 Demolition Contractors
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C-31 Construction Zone Traffic Control Contractors
Pre-Construction Phase: Engineering & Design
The Pre-Construction Phase involves the preparation of Construction Documents for submittal and approval by the local jurisdiction. It begins with Site Surveys, progresses through Engineering and Design, and culminates with the issuance of Building Permits that will allow construction to begin.
Our ability to provide Electrical, Civil, and Structural Engineering services under one roof is what contributes greatly to our “one-stop” solution. Engineers are critical contributors to any project and our engineers contribute greatly from their participation in the initial site survey through to project turnover.
The Building Energy Audit Process
The process for performing commercial building energy audits as described in our “Services we provide” is as follows:
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We conduct an initial consultation with the customer to obtain their purpose and goals for the energy audit.
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We perform a site visit to meet with the customer and perform a detailed assessment of the building's energy-consuming systems.
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We collect all available demand and consumption data related to the buildings’ energy systems.
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We analyze the information and benchmark it against industry standards.
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We prepare a report with our findings and recommended Energy Conservation Measures (ECM’s) including a simple payback analysis and costs to implement these measures.
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When the customer decides to implement the suggested ECM’s, we prepare all documentation required for construction and construct the project.
Markets
Smart Solutions Direct, Inc. has provided “design-build” services for electric vehicle and solar photovoltaic projects and served the energy and sustainability markets by performing building energy audits on hundreds of projects nationwide. Our market sectors include:
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Commercial and Retail Businesses
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Fleet and Public Transportation
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Public Sector
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Residential Multi-Family
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Parking Structures
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Franchises
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Private Businesses
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Utility Scale Solar Farms
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Commercial and Industrial Solar
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Residential Solar
Learn more about the services we provide
Careers
Smart Solutions Direct, Inc. (SSD) is always looking for individuals seeking a long-term career. We are looking for professionals wanting to become associates and partners in an industry at the forefront of creating America's future and independence from fossil fuels.
If you are an architect, electrical, civil, or structural engineer, designer, or contractor wanting to become part of an exciting industry, feel free to reach out to us through our “Learn more” form.
Please include a little bit about yourself, your resume or CV, and any other information you deem relevant.