Go Direct. Build Better
Contribute Your Expertise
By Robert Kroon
Improving DC power solutions needs input from various stakeholders. Involving industry members helps find challenges, discover new ideas, and set best practices, ensuring effective and market-friendly solutions.
For too long, we've accepted the status quo of AC power, overlooking a transformative opportunity that promises a more efficient, resilient, and sustainable future for our built environment: Direct Current (DC) power. This isn't just a marginal improvement; it's a fundamental shift poised to redefine how we design, build, and operate commercial buildings.
As pioneers in promoting DC-powered solutions, you understand the compelling advantages: unparalleled energy efficiency, significantly reduced operating costs, enhanced grid stability, and the seamless integration of the renewable energy sources our clients increasingly demand. Yet, a critical bottleneck persists: the lack of standardized tools to effectively communicate and evaluate the value proposition of DC against conventional AC systems.
Traditional Requests for Proposals (RFPs), inherently biased towards AC infrastructure, often sideline or completely ignore the superior potential of DC. This outdated approach not only hinders the adoption of cutting-edge technology but also limits our clients' ability to unlock substantial long-term benefits.
This is our moment to change the narrative
We've taken the initiative to develop a draft RFP template specifically designed to illuminate the advantages of DC power for building owners and architects. This isn't just another document; it's a strategic instrument to level the playing field and empower informed decision-making. By providing a framework that enables a fair and comprehensive comparison between AC and DC solutions, we can effectively showcase the actual value of DC-powered buildings.
Consider the power of a standardized RFP
Educate and Inspire: A well-crafted template clearly articulates the benefits of DC, sparking interest and understanding among building owners and architects who may be unfamiliar with its potential.
Streamline the Specification Process: It provides a clear roadmap for specifying DC solutions, removing ambiguity and reducing the perceived complexity for project teams.
Facilitate Fair Evaluation: By establishing consistent criteria, the template ensures that DC proposals are evaluated on their merits, not against outdated AC-centric benchmarks.
Drive Market Transformation: Increased adoption of a standardized RFP will create greater demand for DC technologies and expertise, fostering innovation and growth within our industry.
This draft RFP is a crucial first step, but its true power lies in our collective refinement. We are calling upon you, the leading professionals championing DC power, to contribute your invaluable expertise. Your insights into technical requirements, cost analysis methodologies, and effective evaluation criteria are essential to transforming this draft into a definitive industry tool.
Your active participation will directly shape the future of our industry
We believe crowdsourcing is the best way to create the template and include the interests of all in the DC power ecosystem.
By collaborating on this RFP template, we can:
Empower Building Owners and Architects: Equip them with the knowledge and framework to confidently choose DC power for their next projects.
Accelerate DC Adoption: Break down the barriers to entry and pave the way for widespread implementation of DC-powered buildings.
Strengthen Our Collective Voice: Present a unified front in advocating for the superior performance and sustainability of DC power.
This isn't just about refining a document; it's about building a movement. Imagine a future where DC-powered buildings are the norm, celebrated for their efficiency, resilience, and contribution to a greener planet. This future is within our reach, and this RFP template is a critical catalyst.
Join us in this pivotal endeavor. Review the draft RFP template, share your critical feedback, and offer your expert insights. Let's work together to create a powerful tool that will not only empower our clients but also solidify our position as the architects of a more sustainable and efficient future.
Reach out, contribute, and let's make DC-powered buildings the undisputed standard, one persuasive RFP at a time.
