What does LC mean?
LC means Lighting Certified.  This certification identifies practitioners in lighting design and related fields that demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of key concepts and design relating to all aspects of lighting.

“Lighting is an essential part of our modern society, and is employed in all buildings and construction projects.  A well designed and well managed lighting system reduces energy consumption, saves maintenance costs, reduces risk of injury and loss, improves security of people and facilities, and contributes to increased productivity of workers.  Proper lighting serves both the public and private portions of our economy and in appropriate applications can add drama and beauty to natural and man-made environments.” – NCQLP website

What is the value of the LC?
The LC credential demonstrates the acquired knowledge, understanding, and ability to apply lighting principles and techniques successfully.

“We are proud of his accomplishment and appreciate the benefit of his specialized knowledge and expertise in this field.” – Aaron Burch, LEED AP – Vice President

A key step towards this goal is becoming certified or recognized by local government agencies for our Minority Ownership. As such, RTM has recently been recognized by the City of Orlando, FL.  RTM graciously looks forward to serving the City’s engineering needs and establishing itself as a mainstay in the community.

“Not only will this recognition help diversify our portfolio, but it will also allow us to build ongoing relationships with other large design firms – seeking to do business with the City.” – Curtis Lewis, LEED AP, Director of Business Development.

To discuss potential teaming opportunities, please contact our Orlando office at 407.838.2381.

City of Orlando Program Goals As of 11/2009
(www.cityoforlando.net/admin/mbe)

“The City of Orlando has established goals of 18% minority and 6% women-owned business participation for goods, service and construction contracts where minority or women-owned business bid and meet contract specifications. Adjustments to the goals are made for material oriented specialty contracts.

Florida Minority Supplier Development Council (FMSDC) is an affiliate member  of  NMSDC, a national organization with a membership of over 3,500 major corporations and 15,000 certified MBE (Minority Business  Enterprise) suppliers.

The purpose of the FMSDC  is  to provide major corporations and government agencies with easy access to minority owned  and operated businesses.  The FMSDC  provides MBE certification, networking, contract funding, trade fairs, web access to MBE and corporate member directories, buyer training, sales training and more.

If you would like more information on how RTM can help you meet minority procurement goals in your area… please give us a call at 407.838.2381.

RTM Orlando has moved from their previous location just outside of Orlando, to right smack downtown.  Those familiar with the area will find it very easy to locate.  Cornered at the intersection of Orange Avenue and Church Street – perhaps the two most popular thoroughfares in the entire City – the Florida office is near City Hall and other local beacons.

“The location is just perfect for our growth here in Florida.   It also helps us to reach our goal of being as big a part of the local A/E/C industry as possible… not to mention the downtown economy itself”.  – Curtis Lewis, LEED AP |  Director of Business Development

RTM’s official address is 201 S Orange Avenue, Suite 1070 |  Orlando, Florida 34787.

When one of the nations largest retailers decided to build its first green store, RTM welcomed the opportunity to be a part of the integrated team. This new construction freestanding retail store was designed to meet the requirements for a LEED® NC Silver rating. RTM aided in this endeavor by implementing high efficiency plumbing fixtures, rainwater capture and re-use, optimized mechanical system efficiency and other innovations during the design process.

RTM has been designing the mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection/security systems for the JC Penney Company since 2003. In 2006, RTM became their prototype engineer. To present, we have designed well over 100 projects for them, totaling over 10 million SF, in addition to several studies, including a chiller replacement study for one of their original Distribution Centers that is over 1 million SF.

If  you are in charge of hiring engineers for your next project and would like to receive a free copy… please give us a call at 847.756.4180.

RTM has worked with Walgreens for over 25 years to design retail stores distribution centers and their latest Health Initiatives projects such as this Mail Service Facility in Orlando, Florida.

As the engineer of record, RTM designed the MEP systems for the original shell building in 2005. Then, in 2008 RTM completed the remodel of this facility which made room for additional staff and more sophisticated production equipment.

Project Scope Included:

INDUSTRIAL

• 55,600 sf of Offi ce Space
• Computer Room with FM-200 Fire Suppression
• Wiring for over 500 Workstations and Offi ces
• Pharmacy Conveyor Line with Motor Control Center
• 2000 kva Back-Up Generator for Entire Facitlity

GROSS AREA

First Floor: 78,250 sf
Second Floor: 25,250 sf

COMPLETION DATE

Original: AUGUST 2004
Remodel: OCTOBER 2008

COST

$33,000,000

SERVICES PROVIDED

• Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing,
• Fire Protection, Security System,
• Tele/Data

If you would like to learn more about this project please contact Ramesh Mirchandani  at 847 756 4180.

The exceptional facility, which will serve south Florida Walgreens locations, will feature a high-tech Automated Storage and Retrieval System (AS/RS) comprised of a 100 foot tall structure with racks, pallets and automated cranes, and more than 15 miles of conveying systems capable of moving 22,00 products.

“Our new south Florida facility is one of the most sophisticated distribution centers in the United States today,” explained Tom Bergseth, Walgreen Company’s divisional vice president of facilities planning and design. “When it becomes fully operational in January 2002, a staff of 120 people will run it. We expect the staff to grow to 600 people within the next five years.”

Bergseth added that the center has an up to 850,000 square-foot expansion capability, which is just the building footprint. The flexible interior areas will include a number of mezzanines, working platforms, second story offices and other spaces.

When such a tremendous commercial customer moves into town, it’s crucial for the customer and FPL to team up as soon as possible. FPL Customer Manager Rick Chalker met with Walgreens executives to discuss servicing the new facility and FPL’s energy conservation programs.

‘Working together in the early building design stages and helping the customer through to construction and full operation is the key to implementing successful energy-saving programs,” Chalker said. During the initial conference with Walgreens officials, Chalker suggested that a Thermal Energy Storage (TES) system could lower HVAC costs.

Chalker explained that the challenge was to build the most energy-efficient cooling system possible, while utilizing the most sophisticated technologies such as TES. To achieve that goal, he partnered FPL HVAC specialist Dave Smith with Ramesh Mirchandani, president of Schaumburg, IL-based RTM & Associates, Walgreens’ engineering design firm.

Analysis
First, a feasibility study was conducted by RTM to analyze the costs and savings of installing TES vs. a traditional HVAC system.

Mirchandani focused on allowing Walgreens to store its myriad of products in a regulated temperature by cooling the entire building, an especially important decision considering the hot and humid Florida climate. The AS/RS area did not require special cooling, but a separate computer data center, as well as a prescription and other drug area, needed to be kept at 72º.

“Rick and David discussed FPL’s rate structures, helped us analyze our building loads and introduced other capabilities to assist us in our extensive evaluation,” Mirchandani said. “After reviewing FPL’s incentives and ease of setting it up, combined with the favorable payback, Walgreens found the TES program very attractive.”

Based on the fact that 2,200 tons of peak cooling loads would be required, Mirchandani and Smith determined that a single 1.6 million-gallon chilled water tank would offer the necessary 15,000 ton-hour capacity.

Solution
Walgreens installed the TES water tank to work in tandem with its three new chillers. Two 1,000-ton units will make chilled water during less expensive off-peak hours, but will be shut off during more costly peak energy times. Another 750-ton chiller will run on peak, but will be supplemented by the TES tank. In all, the TES system will shift 1,594 tons from on-peak to off-peak hours.

To increase the effectiveness of the tank, Mirchandani created a piping system with special nozzles that won’t cause any turbulence inside the tank. This diffuser design results in a very linear, low-velocity flow to prevent water in the tank from mixing, an important factor in keeping temperatures stabilized.

Bergseth added, “Ramesh designed another creative and cost-effective way to use the 1.6 million gallons of water. His engineering expertise helped us avoid a $215,000 cost to build a separate half-million-gallon fire protection tank.”

Benefits
Walgreens’ annual projected savings is $420,000 when TES is compared to the rooftop units the company considered installing. FPL paid a $478,200 incentive for the thermal storage system and $47,820 for commissioning. The payback is estimated at 4.6 years.

“This TES system has a lifespan of 30 to 40 years, which is 3 to 4 times longer than a traditional packaged roof-top system,” Mirchandani added. “Plus, Walgreens’ maintenance costs will be significantly less in the long run.”

In addition, Walgreens will experience a 2,300 annual kilowatt demand (kwd) reduction. This amounts to the difference between peak summer kwd had Walgreens officials chosen the roof-top units vs. the TES. The 2,300 kwd reduction represents a savings from using water-cooled chillers vs. roof-top equipment, as well as the TES shift in cooling load to off-peak hours.

What FPL can do for you?
FPL’d thermal Energy Storage program pays $2,500 toward a feasibility study by a professional engineer. Companies that install TES receive another $300 incentive for each ton of cooling removed from FPL’s summer peak demand. FPL also contributes toward system commissioning up to $30 per ton.