Residential Solar Power System Analysis

Residential Solar Power System Engineering and Financial Analysis

Amal Kabalan, LEED A.P.
MDC® Consulting Engineer

MDC® Consulting Engineer, Amal Kabalan, LEED A.P., conducted a comprehensive engineering and financial analysis on the proposed installation of a solar power system on a residential house in suburban Philadelphia.

The location and incident solar radiation of the unit under study was very favorable for installing the system. The house has minimal shading which makes it ideal for a solar power system. The house has ample roof area for installing such a system as well. Studying the energy consumption of the unit showed that consumption peaks in the summer, which adds to the advantages of installing a solar power system.

Addressing Green Building Risk

E. Mitchell Swann, PE, LEEP AP
MDC® Principal

In recent years there has been increased discussion on the risk aspects of green or ‘high performance’ buildings. While final case law and court decisions regarding green buildings are limited, prudent practice would recommend that designers, contractors and owners consider the potential risks, arrive at some appropriate strategies to address those risks and act accordingly.

Complexity: A Transient Condition Precedent to Project Failure

Robert C. McCue, PE
MDC® Principal

For more than 40 years MDC® has provided Forensic Project Management (FPM®) services to industrial, transportation and institutional capital projects. MDC’s understanding of key failure mechanisms and the necessary intervention actions to correct troubled projects has evolved. It is now apparent that the condition of complexity is driving the high failure experience for modern capital projects.
How did this problem emerge, why is it so prevalent today and how does the project management team recognize the condition and develop and implement strategies to overcome it?