Background:
IdeaSmiths LLC was founded in 2013 by two engineering PhD students, Charles Upshaw and Joshua Rhodes, and their advisor Dr. Michael Webber. The company was founded in response to repeated requests from various investors, innovators, and individuals looking for technically sound first-cut analysis and assessment of energy technologies and ideas. After years of performing occasional proj
ects on an ad-hoc basis, we decided it was time to formally establish a company. What we do:
At IdeaSmiths, we have accumulated a deep and broad expertise in energy systems from our collective background of education and professional work experience. Our company focuses on providing that expertise through three core services:
1. Green energy systems design, consultation, and modeling of the built environment for real estate developers, builders and architects,
a. On-site electricity generation/storage feasibility and sizing analysis; system design and implementation
i. Solar, wind, hydro, other renewables
ii. Conventional generation
iii. Battery storage
b. Thermal energy generation/waste heat recovery/thermal energy storage
c. Building energy measurement and modeling, efficiency upgrades assessment
i. EnergyPlus/Openstudio/BEOpt, EQuest energy modeling
ii. Energy Audits, assessment of electricity billing data, temporary monitoring and assessment
iii. Energy efficiency upgrades: evaluation of current performance, areas of improvement, optimized recommended upgrade plans
2. Technical analysis, background research, conceptual design for individuals, innovators, and investors
a. Systems-level analysis and feasibility evaluation
b. Thermodynamic/heat transfer analysis
c. Due diligence on technical claims of technologies/concepts for investors vetting new ventures, as well as inventors looking for 3rd party validation
d. Background research: summarize, contextualize, interpret, and explain information for educated but non-technical audiences
e. Assist in conceptualizing abstract ideas into technical system designs
3. “Garage”-style physical testing/benchmarking/prototyping
a. “real-world” performance testing/validation/benchmarking
b. Experiment/benchmarking procedure design and development (i.e. developing testing procedures for people to evaluate/test their technology for in-house testing)
c. “garage” prototyping and fabrication of conceptual designs (i.e. basic machining/woodworking, off-the-shelf components)
While we focused on these three services, we also have the ability to ramp our bandwidth quickly to meet special project requirements. Thus, we are willing to discuss any potential project related to engineering and energy systems. Special skills and capabilities at IdeaSmiths:
• Excellent capability through its roster of affiliated engineering professionals, consultants, and students to quickly ramp up and down; that gives our customers the ability to add bandwidth on short notice without swelling their roster of permanent employees
• Machine shop and carpentry training/work experience
• Extensive capabilities for resource modeling, which enables you to predict your energy and water needs before you build
• Expertise with renewable energy (especially solar, but also including wind, thermal gradients, waste heat recovery, bioenergy, and so forth)
• Expertise with “smart” systems, including the smart grid, smart water, and smart gas,
• Expertise with electric vehicle integration into the home or office,
• Expertise with energy storage (including batteries, thermal storage, and compressed air),
• Expertise with water harvesting and storage,
• Expertise with advanced HVAC systems and thermal modeling and analysis,
• Expertise with green building, energy audits, and residential energy use,
• Expertise with the energy-water nexus,
• Expertise in Thermal Storage system modeling and capacity sizing for residential and commercial applications
• Education/classwork/experience in sustainable architecture
• Ability to add energy system expertise to brainstorming sessions
