District Energy
A Highly Specialized Team at Your Plant's Service
RMF is a nationally recognized expert in the design of central energy plants. We pride ourselves on being a concept-through-startup engineering company. From assessments and evaluations to full-scale utility master plans, designs, construction quality management (CQM), and commissioning - RMF has the expertise to support all stages of your project. Our fully integrated team of generation, storage, and distribution specialists have committed their careers to understanding the ins-and-outs of district energy. In fact, RMF has been planning and supporting district energy projects for over 40 years, serving stakeholders across every variety of project delivery team.
Bringing a collaborative spirit to even the most technical of challenges, we are committed to delivering complete, highly coordinated, uniquely creative solutions to meet each of our clients' goals—no matter the need or nuance.
Comprehensive Solutions for Every Application
Leveraging the depth of discipline specialization that sets the RMF district energy team apart, we are uniquely positioned to problem solve at any scale. We've designed, renovated, and expanded energy plants and utility distribution systems of all varieties and settings; our team is equally adept at planning phased retrofits in single-building plants as we are at strategizing campus roadmaps 20 years into the future and optimizing large, multi-plant systems for all types of institutions and missions.
We understand the demands for performance in today's market and meet them with cost-appropriate, contextually driven design solutions, inclusive of:
Existing system evaluations, useful remaining life studies, and replacements
Life Cycle Costing, using real-time and historical energy rates
Combined heat and power systems
Process cooling and heating systems
Medium voltage substations
Micro and smart grids
SCADA systems
Renewable energy based alternatives
Water cooled and air cooled chiller plants
Electrode boilers
Fire-tube and industrial watertube boilers
Heat pumps
Ground source heat exchangers
Heat recovery chillers
Thermal and electrical storage
Thermal distribution piping
Tunnel assessment and rehabilitation
Utility distribution in tunnels, direct buried and trenchless methodologies, as well as alternative piping materials
Existing system evaluations, useful remaining life studies, and replacements
Life Cycle Costing, using real-time and historical energy rates
Combined heat and power systems
Process cooling and heating systems
Medium voltage substations
Micro and smart grids
SCADA systems
Renewable energy based alternatives
Water cooled and air cooled chiller plants
Electrode boilers
Fire-tube and industrial watertube boilers
Heat pumps
Ground source heat exchangers
Heat recovery chillers
Thermal and electrical storage
Thermal distribution piping
Tunnel assessment and rehabilitation
Utility distribution in tunnels, direct buried and trenchless methodologies, as well as alternative piping materials
Powering the Way to Electrification
By the nature of their design, district energy systems can be more amenable to conversion to electrification technologies – making for a more cost-effective, environmentally friendly campus in the long-term. As the calls for carbon-free emission alternatives grow, we're helping clients navigate the growing demand for not only increased electrical capacity but also the infrastructure required to support higher voltages, on-site transformation, and batteries or thermal storage to minimize peak requirements. Each of these considerations has an impact on plant design and, ultimately, its viability and longevity within the context of your campus' needs.
Whether your goals are to be fully net zero, support a growing campus, or simply be more resilient and energy efficient, a full-service partner like RMF can help you navigate the district energy planning, design and construction support to complete your mission.
Read more about our decarbonization efforts here.
Read more about our thermal and electrical distribution efforts here.
District Energy
Featured Projects
Allston Campus District Energy Plant
Harvard University
Centennial Campus Chilled Water Plant and Thermal Energy Storage
North Carolina State University
Utility Plant Expansion
George Mason University
West Utility Plant and Distribution System
William & Mary
North Plant and Polymer and ISB Chiller Plant Upgrades
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Generator Hub
Duke Health