About

GARD Analytics, Inc. is a small business corporation located in northwest suburban Chicago that provides energy, environmental and economic R&D services for residential, commercial and industrial buildings to a broad mix of institutional, governmental, and corporate clients in the energy and environmental sectors.  The principal engineers of GARD Analytics have worked together as a team since 1990 and together formed GARD Analytics, Inc. in late 1995.

GARD Analytics can be hired to perform a large variety of services as described in this web site.  We work on a contract basis.  Prior to starting work or spending any money with GARD Analytics, a staff member will  discuss the work with you.  If our capabilities match your needs, we will prepare a proposal.  We also will prepare a proposal in response to an RFP (request for proposal) that outlines the general work.  Our proposal will include our price, a list of deliverables, an approach to solving the problem and a schedule of when we will get the work done.  We will include an estimate of the hours needed and the cost to you. If you accept our proposal we will start working upon signed authorization by you. This is often in the form of a contract, although it could also be a letter of commitment or a purchase order.  Once we begin working, generally we will invoice you either monthly or by deliverable depending on the agreement.  We expect payment by check or direct deposit within 30 days of our invoice although other arrangements can also be made.  For a very small effort, you may just want to hire us on the basis of the cost of our time. For larger efforts we perform work on a fixed-price or cost-not-to-exceed basis.  We are primarily a U.S. firm but welcome international business. The first step is to contact us and describe the work you need done.

Building Energy Mailing Lists

The onebuilding.org project including the web site and mailing lists have been created to foster communities to improve the performance of buildings. This web site, established and supported by GARD and Jason Glazer, hosts several mailing lists related to building energy simulation and ratings, including the widely used BLDG-SIM.

History of GARD

GARD Analytics, Inc. was founded in December 1995 as a result of a reorganization of ElectroCom GARD Ltd., an R&D subsidiary of ElectroCom Automation. The genealogy of GARD and project highlights are summarized as follows:

  • In 1953, three engineers from Armour Research Institute in Chicago formed the Midwest Research Division (MRD) of American Machine & Foundry (AMF).
  • In 1962, as a result of the consolidation of AMF’s research activities on the east coast, MRD was sold to the GATX Corporation and was renamed the General American Research Division (GARD).
  • During the ‘60s, GARD conducted extensive analysis and equipment development related to the natural and human-powered ventilation of fallout shelters.
  • In 1969, GARD developed the first hourly building energy simulation program for the U. S. Post Office.
  • During the ‘70s, GARD continued the development and enhancement of energy simulation software including: NECAP for NASA, AXCESS for the Edison Electric Institute, E-Cube for the American Gas Association, and SCOUT for commercial sale.
  • During the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, GARD conducted large scale energy conservation and retrofit studies of military installations, VA hospitals, and Post Offices as well as numerous commercial buildings.
  • In 1984, GARD was acquired by Duchossois Industries’ Chamberlain Manufacturing Corporation and became Chamberlain GARD.
  • In 1986, GARD began operation of the Conventional Research House on the northwest side of Chicago. GARD conducted extensive testing of various heating and cooling systems to investigate their performance in actual house operation. Later, indoor air quality experiments were added to the work done at the house. The Conventional Research House was retired in 2004.
  • In the late ‘80s, GARD began performing analytical studies of commercial HVAC equipment economics and market potential for the utility industry and various utility companies.
  • In 1991, Duchossois Industries sold Chamberlain GARD to ElectroCom Automation L.P., who renamed it ElectroCom GARD Ltd.
  • In late 1995, ElectroCom Automation restructured and consolidated its product R&D efforts at its headquarters in Arlington, Texas. GARD Analytics, Inc. was spun off so that services under ongoing energy and environmental contracts could continue uninterrupted.
  • In 1999, Jason Glazer of GARD established the BLDG-SIM mailing list for users of building energy simulation tools.