Jaime Ortiz

Visualization Reflection

Challenge and selection

For some years now I have used the visualization tool, or visual thinking, to understand the  present and future needs of customers with high domestic energy consumption, with limited  space on the roofs. The solutions that I offer to clients are rooftop photovoltaic systems, but  the variables of the solution (system size, module power, aesthetics, location, and wiring to the  main switch) completely depend on the client's vision of their future energy consumption,  expansion of bedrooms in the house, new heating or air conditioning systems, and many other  elements that could turn the established design, in an insufficient design according to their new  needs. I have used the technique of visualization to find out their plans for the future with a set  of questions or suggestions for discussion to allow the interested family to learn from each  other in the process of defining the scope, limits, key elements, and relationships between  elements to consider when identifying weak points and opportunities for improvements or  solutions.

Application

I start the process by creating a graph with their last 12 months of electricity consumption, with  this it is possible that they can understand the trends they have in recent months and the  energy environment in which they live. The next step is to locate the available space on the roof  of the house, considering the air conditioners, available pipes for laying cables, and possible  water tanks. A second graph is presented with the generation that can offer different sizes of  photovoltaic systems, depending on the space available on the roof, as well as the  representation of the space that the different solutions of photovoltaic systems would use. If  there is no way to get the models and available area to the roof, I make a model through the  satellite view of Google Maps. Once I have reviewed the models with the clients, it makes it  easier for me to know the habits they have on holidays and in summer. I even like to ask if they  would like to have more climates, a new refrigerator, a new microwave, a new heater, new  computers, or televisions. They serve me as my main points in the initiative for the future  growth of the photovoltaic system.

The knowledge of their future consumption habits helps me to present a linear growth of how  it is advisable to acquire those electrical products and the growth of the photovoltaic system(if  required) to continue paying the minimum amount to the energy supplier. The next step is to  show the variants of the default design and show the views of it from various points,  emphasizing not to damage the aesthetics of the house. This is achieved with a 3D model made  in SketchUp where it is easy to show the view from the street or the backyard of the house.  There are many customers where the rules of their neighborhood prevent them from displaying  the PV system, but there are also many who are proud to have a PV system and prefer to show  it in the neighborhood at all costs.

The next step is the stage of economic graphics, where the prices of the equipment are shown  according to the supplier, so it is easier for customers to understand the return on investment  of their installation, but always emphasizing that the price and quality of equipment they go  hand in hand at all times. Cheaper equipment most of the time does not have the same years of  warranty or high operating efficiency. I get clients to understand this by giving each supplier a  score of 1 to 5 so that they can identify how good the product is offered by the various  suppliers and thus make the best decision according to their needs together. Where 1 is the  supplier that offers the lowest quality products at a high price, 5 is a supplier that offers high- quality products at high prices, and 3 is a supplier that offers a product with average quality at  low prices.

Insight & Approach

I've learned to perform this exercise with many clients is that many are not well defined its  future consumption, which is why that questions how are your electronics today works to raise  awareness of how long to live them to these products and how long it is necessary to change it  or add more if you want an expansion of the house either in a new room or a pool with  integrated heating.

The modeling of the system according to the available space works as a starting point about the  maximum number of possible photovoltaic modules to install. I must clarify that this initial  model is never used as a final model since once seen by the client, comments that lead to a  new design always arise.

It is important to carry a power generation graph together with each design modification,  likewise, the client can see what repercussions each decision has with the energy that the  system can deliver. Personally, this is the simplest part of the process since normally the client  trusts the recommendations made by the engineers behind the model presented.

The most important part for clients is obviously the financial part. This decision is simplified by  having as visual support the rating of each supplier according to its price and product quality.  Over the years I have seen an average in terms of the rating chosen by customers, who usually  focus on providers of ratings 3 and 4, considering the price and quality of the products.


Jaime Ortiz Visualization Reflection Challenge and selection For some years now I have used the visualization tool , or visual thinking , to understand the present and future needs of customers with high domestic energy consumption , with limited space on the roofs . The solutions that I offer to clients are rooftop photovoltaic systems , but the variables of the solution ( system size , module power , aesthetics , location , and wiring to the main switch ) completely depend on the client 's vision of their future energy consumption , expansion of bedrooms in the house , new heating or air conditioning systems , and many other elements that could turn the established design , in an insufficient design according to their new needs . I have used the technique of visualization to find out their plans for the future with a set of questions or suggestions for discussion to allow the interested family to learn from each other in the process of defining the scope , limits , key elements , and relationships between elements to consider when identifying weak points and opportunities for improvements or solutions . Application I start the process by creating a graph with their last 12 months of electricity consumption , with this it is possible that they can understand the trends they have in recent months and the energy environment in which they live . The next step is to locate the available space on the roof of the house , considering the air conditioners , available pipes for laying cables , and possible water tanks . A second graph is presented with the generation that can offer different sizes of photovoltaic systems , depending on the space available on the roof , as well as the representation of the space that the different solutions of photovoltaic systems would use . If there is no way to get the models and available area to the roof , I make a model through the satellite view of Google Maps . Once I have reviewed the models with the clients , it makes it easier for me to know the habits they have on holidays and in summer . I even like to ask if they would like to have more climates , a new refrigerator , a new microwave , a new heater , new computers , or televisions . They serve me as my main points in the initiative for the future growth of the photovoltaic system . The knowledge of their future consumption habits helps me to present a linear growth of how it is advisable to acquire those electrical products and the growth of the photovoltaic system(if required ) to continue paying the minimum amount to the energy supplier . The next step is to show the variants of the default design and show the views of it from various points , emphasizing not to damage the aesthetics of the house . This is achieved with a 3D model made in SketchUp where it is easy to show the view from the street or the backyard of the house . There are many customers where the rules of their neighborhood prevent them from displaying the PV system , but there are also many who are proud to have a PV system and prefer to show it in the neighborhood at all costs . The next step is the stage of economic graphics , where the prices of the equipment are shown according to the supplier , so it is easier for customers to understand the return on investment of their installation , but always emphasizing that the price and quality of equipment they go hand in hand at all times . Cheaper equipment most of the time does not have the same years of warranty or high operating efficiency . I get clients to understand this by giving each supplier a score of 1 to 5 so that they can identify how good the product is offered by the various suppliers and thus make the best decision according to their needs together . Where 1 is the supplier that offers the lowest quality products at a high price , 5 is a supplier that offers high- quality products at high prices , and 3 is a supplier that offers a product with average quality at low prices . Insight & Approach I 've learned to perform this exercise with many clients is that many are not well defined its future consumption , which is why that questions how are your electronics today works to raise awareness of how long to live them to these products and how long it is necessary to change it or add more if you want an expansion of the house either in a new room or a pool with integrated heating . The modeling of the system according to the available space works as a starting point about the maximum number of possible photovoltaic modules to install . I must clarify that this initial model is never used as a final model since once seen by the client , comments that lead to a new design always arise . It is important to carry a power generation graph together with each design modification , likewise , the client can see what repercussions each decision has with the energy that the system can deliver . Personally , this is the simplest part of the process since normally the client trusts the recommendations made by the engineers behind the model presented . The most important part for clients is obviously the financial part . This decision is simplified by having as visual support the rating of each supplier according to its price and product quality . Over the years I have seen an average in terms of the rating chosen by customers , who usually focus on providers of ratings 3 and 4 , considering the price and quality of the products .