Robert McKay Joins Freese and Nichols Leading Energy Services Expansion
Robert McKay, PE, has dedicated 20 years to helping businesses and homeowners conserve energy and save money.
An experienced energy management professional, Robert recently joined Freese and Nichols in our Austin office to lead our new Energy Services line. This service, part of our Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing group, helps communities, agencies and other entities improve operational efficiency, conserve energy and save money.
Robert has designed and led energy-efficiency utility programs, analyzed energy use for government, commercial and residential facilities and offered strategic solutions to conserve energy, optimize performance and reduce costs.
His expertise supports our expanded Energy Services, including monitoring energy use and project commissioning, seeing that projects meet design and building specifications. Other services include equipment assessment, asset management, energy use analytics and energy audits.
Robert also will collaborate with our funding team to identify grants and other resources for implementing renewable energy solutions, such as microgrids, that help our clients save money and improve resiliency. Energy conservation is a sustainable strategy that not only lowers energy costs, but limits the strain on power grids, reduces carbon footprints and improves air quality.
Freese and Nichols Assistant Division Manager Vimal Nair, who oversees our Facilities team, describes Robert as a “forward-thinking” professional who always works to determine the most efficient solution for his clients. Vimal said Robert brings extensive energy services experience on the demand side, which is the use of energy, as well as on the utility side, which involves providing energy services to customers. Having someone with an understanding of each side is a critical component to developing our Energy Services offerings.
In the energy sector, Robert has:
- Developed a strategy roadmap to achieve Austin Energy’s goal to reduce grid demand by 225 megawatts (MW) by 2030, as required by Austin’s Resource, Generation and Climate Protection Plan.
- Managed Texas’ statewide Technical Reference Manual — a 2,000-page document that significantly affects energy efficiency and demand response programs managed by Texas utilities — as an evaluator for the Public Utility Commission of Texas.
- Developed an award-winning pilot program that improved comfort and reduced gas use for underserved Native American communities in New Mexico, a project recognized with the 2018 Program of the Year by the Association of Energy Services Professionals Southwest chapter.
A decade ago, engineers analyzed monthly utility bills to determine energy use profiles and project savings. Today’s advanced technology allows for tracking this information in 15-minute intervals. Robert said he looks forward to analyzing this energy consumption for our clients and offering them beneficial conservation solutions, be it through lighting, air conditioning, rebates or renegotiated power agreements, “without compromising comfort.”
Robert received a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering from The University of Texas at Austin. He is a certified Professional Engineer in Texas and holds multiple credentials, including Certified Building Commissioning Professional, Commercial Energy Inspector/Plans Examiner, Certified Energy Manager, Certified Measurement and Verification Professional and Residential Energy Services Network Home Energy Rating System Rater. In 2010, Consulting-Specifying Engineer magazine named him to its “40 Under 40 Consulting Engineer” list, recognizing his achievements in the building and construction industry.