Blue Forest Engineering

Blue Forest Engineering is more than just a mechanical engineering design and consulting firm; it is a purpose-driven organization dedicated to making sustainable building design accessible to all. Founded in 2017 by Tyler Bradshaw in Oakland, California, Blue Forest Engineering emerged from a desire to create a work environment centered around meaningful impact, moving away from the conventional "mission-driven profit-first" model often present in larger engineering firms.

Driven by a core belief that sustainability should be an integral part of every project, Blue Forest Engineering champions "Intentional Design" as its guiding principle. This approach results in cost-effective, energy-efficient, and low-maintenance solutions that minimize environmental impact without compromising functionality or aesthetics. The firm's commitment to open communication and collaboration extends even to competitors, fostering a shared understanding and driving the replication of sustainable practices across the industry.

Our Comprehensive Services

Blue Forest Engineering offers a comprehensive range of services encompassing both HVAC and plumbing design, as well as sustainability consulting. Their expertise extends to the design and implementation of energy-efficient systems tailored to the specific needs of various building sectors.

HVAC Design: Our team excels in designing innovative HVAC solutions that prioritize energy efficiency and occupant comfort. This includes expertise in chilled water systems, steam and high-heat water systems, constant air volume (CAV) and variable air volume (VAV) air distribution, radiant heating and cooling, chilled beams, thermal energy storage, cooling towers, kitchen/lab/industrial exhaust systems, ground source heat pumps, borefield thermal energy storage, variable refrigerant volume (VRV)/variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems (both air and water source), cogeneration, natural ventilation, underfloor and displacement ventilation, heat recovery ventilation, and direct digital controls (DDC) coupled with energy management systems (EMS) and building management systems (BMS).

Plumbing Design: We provide expert plumbing design services encompassing all aspects of domestic and commercial water systems. This includes domestic hot water (DHW) and cold water, reclaimed water systems, solar thermal DHW, sewer, storm water, rainwater, greywater, and blackwater reuse systems, natural gas and propane heating pump DHW, compressed air systems, and the design of cisterns and storage tanks.

Sustainability Consulting: Our dedicated sustainability consultants leverage their deep knowledge and experience to guide clients towards environmentally responsible building practices. Services include passive and low-energy building envelope design, passive and low-energy mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) systems, on-site renewable energy integration, maximizing natural daylight and ventilation, energy modeling, site/project resource and opportunity analysis, charrette management and planning, MEP to architectural cost transfers, carbon footprint calculations, campus/community master plans and site development, and assistance with various green building certifications.

Blue Forest Engineering also excels in conducting studies, reports, and assessments, including facility condition assessments, feasibility studies, energy audits, and lifecycle costing analyses (LCCA). Additionally, they provide valuable support during the design-build process through services like design-build coordination, peer review, subcontractor interview and selection, site inspections, and deficiency reporting, as well as T-24 commissioning and design review.