Thank you for Subscribing to Construction Business Review Weekly Brief
Jonathan Schlundt, President / Mechanical EngineerFounded in May 2021, Net Positive Consulting Engineers specializes in designing, assessing and developing strategies to enhance the efficiency of mechanical and plumbing systems.
Net Positives’ licensed engineers, and plumbing, fire sprinkler, and mechanical designers enable the company to deliver solutions that enable clients to reroute around distinctive market challenges. For instance, one of the primary challenges in construction is supply shortage and delayed deliveries. Net Positive Consulting Engineers collaborate with various manufacturers to design customized solutions based on available resources, and employs skilled experts in the most recent 3D technologies. Working with 3D and other energy modeling software makes them a standout in the market. Delivering 3D models to clients offers a more in-depth analysis of building systems with accurate visual representation.
“Owing to our responsiveness and capability to utilize 3D technology, we attract and retain prominent client architects, including Darden Architects, Halajian Architects, and TETER A&E,” says Jonathan Schlundt, President/Mechanical Engineer at Net Positive Consulting Engineers.
Net Positive also operates in the design-build market with critical contractors, which make up 25 percent of their business. They collaborate closely with their vendors to understand their challenges, such as inflation, and develop designs accordingly. In addition, they make a significant effort to educate clients about the challenges faced by vendors, fostering flexibility regarding funding and timelines.
In the California market, there is a large scale decarbonization and electrification effort in place to eliminate gas from mechanical designs for all structures. Net Positive has designed plans that meet net-zero goals by fully offsetting all major electricity consumption, using solar and other renewable sources. However, available equipment lacks the technology to save energy, which is where the actual problem lies in this situation such as the technology gap in domestic water heating system. Working closely with architects and electrical engineers to maximize design applications and enhance the technologies needed to accomplish these objectives, Net Positive produced five designs in 2022 for carbon-neutral and net-zero projects.
As communication and coordination are essential for understanding a client’s expectations and timelines, the team, led by Jonathan, meets clients in person to acquire a broad overview of their objectives. If a client specifies equipment that needs renovation, for instance, the Net Positive team inquires about the construction goals, the desired occupancy date, and funding channels. This information helps them develop the best design proposals to fulfill the client’s requirements.
Early communication with vendors and clients is the key to ensuring that everybody has a successful project
“Early communication with vendors and clients is the key to ensuring that everybody has a successful project,” says Schlundt.
Looking ahead, Net Positive, with a promise to deliver design solutions that exceed customer expectations, will continue advancing in technology and innovation, while, continuing to support local community non-profit, service-based organizations with pro bono services.
