Net Zero Building MEP Design in Kansas City, MO

Achieve Carbon Neutrality Without Sacrificing Comfort, Simplicity, or Your Bottom Line

Achieving net-zero energy performance in a commercial building sounds aspirational, until you realize the real challenge isn't choosing the right solar panels or the most efficient heat pumps.

The real challenge is designing mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems that work together seamlessly, stay simple enough for your facilities team to operate day in and day out, and actually deliver the energy savings your pro forma projects. Too many sustainable buildings fall short of their design intent because their MEP systems are overly complex, difficult to maintain, and impossible to optimize without a PhD in controls engineering. That gap between design-stage promises and real-world performance is where millions of dollars, and tons of carbon, are lost.

5BY5 Engineering takes a fundamentally different approach to net-zero building MEP design. Rather than layering on complexity in pursuit of marginal efficiency gains, we engineer integrated mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems that are purpose-built for simplicity and long-term reliability. Every design decision we make is filtered through a straightforward question: will the people who operate this building be able to maintain peak performance five, ten, and twenty years from now? The result is high-performance buildings that actually perform as modeled, not just on day one, but across their entire lifecycle.

For building owners and developers in Kansas City, this approach carries particular weight. Our region's climate demands systems that handle extreme summer cooling loads and bitter winter heating demands with equal efficiency. 5BY5's deep familiarity with local utility rate structures, available renewable energy incentives, and Kansas City's evolving sustainability requirements means your net-zero project is designed not just for environmental performance, but for financial performance in this specific market.

✔ Saved clients over $1 million in unnecessary construction costs

✔ Helped clients simplify operations, saving over $300,000 yearly in maintenance fees

✔ Helped over 100 owners make buildings more efficient with well-designed MEP systems

✔ Proven experience with Kansas City brewery projects, including City Barrel Brewery and Limitless Brewing

✔ Founded in 2016 by Brock Centlivre, PE, Principal in Charge

Our Services

Net-zero building MEP design is the discipline of engineering a building's mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems so that the facility produces as much energy as it consumes on an annual basis.

This goes far beyond simply specifying efficient equipment. It requires a holistic, integrated design process where every system, from HVAC and lighting to domestic water heating and plug loads, is engineered as part of an interconnected energy strategy. At 5BY5 Engineering, net-zero MEP design encompasses load reduction, high-efficiency system selection, renewable energy integration, intelligent controls, and rigorous commissioning to verify that performance targets are met in the real world.

The process begins with aggressive energy load reduction. Before we size a single piece of equipment, we collaborate with the architectural team to optimize the building envelope, minimize thermal bridging, and maximize daylighting. From there, we design HVAC systems using technologies like variable refrigerant flow, dedicated outdoor air systems with energy recovery, and ground-source or air-source heat pumps, selected and sized specifically for your building's unique load profile and Kansas City's four-season climate. Electrical design integrates high-efficiency LED lighting with advanced daylight harvesting controls, and plumbing systems incorporate heat-recovery drain water exchangers and low-flow fixtures to minimize both energy and water consumption.

Renewable energy integration, typically rooftop or canopy-mounted photovoltaic arrays, is coordinated from the earliest design phases so that structural, electrical, and architectural systems are aligned. We engineer battery energy storage and grid-interactive controls where appropriate, ensuring your building can manage demand peaks, participate in utility demand-response programs, and maintain resilience during outages. Every system is tied together through a building automation platform designed for transparency and ease of use, giving your operations team clear visibility into performance without overwhelming them with unnecessary complexity.

The outcome is a building that meets its net-zero energy target while remaining straightforward to operate. 5BY5's commissioning services verify that every system performs as designed, and our energy monitoring frameworks provide ongoing data to ensure sustained performance. For Kansas City developers and building owners pursuing carbon neutrality, this means a clear path from design intent to verified results.

Achieve Net-Zero Performance With Expert MEP Design

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how you benefit

The financial case for net-zero building design has never been stronger. While conventional buildings in Kansas City spend significant portions of their operating budgets on energy, costs that only increase over time, a net-zero facility effectively locks in near-zero energy costs for the life of the building. 5BY5 Engineering designs MEP systems that minimize energy consumption through right-sized, ultra-efficient equipment and then offset remaining demand with on-site renewable generation.
In the Kansas City market, this translates into tangible financial advantages. Missouri and Kansas both offer renewable energy incentives, federal tax credits for commercial solar installations remain robust, and local utility programs can further offset first costs. 5BY5 has saved clients over $1 million in unnecessary construction costs across our portfolio, expertise we bring directly to net-zero projects by eliminating over-engineering and focusing investment where it delivers the greatest return. Our lifecycle cost analyses consistently show that net-zero buildings achieve payback periods that make financial sense for developers, institutional owners, and organizations with long-term hold strategies.
Beyond direct energy savings, net-zero buildings command premium lease rates, attract environmentally conscious tenants, and are increasingly favored in government and institutional procurement. For organizations with public carbon reduction commitments, a verified net-zero building provides concrete, measurable progress toward those goals. 5BY5 ensures that every dollar invested in sustainable MEP systems is working toward both your environmental targets and your financial objectives, because true sustainability must pencil out.
The most sophisticated net-zero building in the world is worthless if your facilities team cannot operate it effectively. This is the critical blind spot in much of the sustainable design industry, and it is 5BY5 Engineering's primary differentiator. We believe that the path to long-term, verified net-zero performance runs directly through operational simplicity. Every system we specify, every control sequence we write, and every equipment selection we make is evaluated against the capabilities and workflows of the people who will run the building.
In practice, this means we design building automation systems with intuitive dashboards that surface actionable information rather than burying operators in raw data. We select equipment from manufacturers with strong regional service networks in the Kansas City area, ensuring parts availability and qualified technicians when maintenance is needed. We standardize controls platforms across systems wherever possible, reducing the learning curve and minimizing the number of vendor relationships your team must manage. Our commissioning process includes comprehensive operator training that goes well beyond a single walkthrough, we ensure your team genuinely understands how and why each system operates the way it does.
This philosophy has helped our clients save over $300,000 yearly in maintenance fees by eliminating unnecessary system complexity. For net-zero buildings, where sustained performance is essential to meeting energy targets, this approach is not optional, it is the foundation of success. A building that drifts from its design intent due to deferred maintenance or operator confusion will never achieve net-zero. 5BY5 designs buildings that stay on target because the people operating them are empowered to keep them there.
Renewable energy is the supply-side engine of any net-zero building, but bolting solar panels onto a roof as an afterthought rarely delivers optimal results. 5BY5 Engineering integrates renewable energy planning into the earliest phases of MEP design, ensuring that photovoltaic arrays, battery storage, and grid-interactive systems are coordinated with the building's structural capacity, electrical distribution, and energy load profile from the start.
For Kansas City projects, this early integration is especially important. Our region receives strong solar insolation during peak cooling months, creating a natural alignment between solar generation and the building's highest energy demand periods. 5BY5 designs electrical systems to maximize this alignment, sizing inverters, planning panel orientation, and engineering battery storage capacity to reduce demand charges and provide resilience during grid outages. We coordinate with local utilities, including Evergy and Kansas City Power & Light, on interconnection requirements, net metering agreements, and demand-response program eligibility, handling the technical complexity so you can focus on your core business.
Beyond photovoltaics, we evaluate and integrate other renewable and high-efficiency technologies where appropriate, including ground-source geothermal systems that leverage Kansas City's moderate ground temperatures for exceptionally efficient heating and cooling. Every renewable system is tied into the building's automation platform with clear performance monitoring, so your team always knows exactly how much energy is being generated, consumed, and exported. The result is a renewable energy strategy that is not an add-on but an integral, optimized component of your building's MEP infrastructure.
A net-zero building that cannot prove its performance is simply a building with a claim. 5BY5 Engineering's commissioning services provide the rigorous verification framework that transforms design intent into documented reality. Our commissioning process for net-zero projects goes beyond standard functional testing, we verify that every MEP system operates in concert to achieve the building's energy performance targets under real-world conditions, not just design-day scenarios.
Commissioning begins during design, with 5BY5 developing a comprehensive commissioning plan that defines performance criteria for every system contributing to net-zero operation. During construction, we conduct inspections and verify installation quality. At substantial completion, we execute functional performance testing across all operating modes—including part-load conditions, seasonal transitions, and emergency scenarios that Kansas City's variable climate demands. Post-occupancy, we monitor actual energy performance against modeled predictions, identifying and resolving any gaps before they become entrenched operational habits.
For developers and building owners pursuing certifications such as LEED Zero Energy or the International Living Future Institute's Zero Energy certification, 5BY5's commissioning documentation provides the evidentiary foundation required for third-party verification. For organizations with internal carbon reduction targets, our performance data delivers the transparency needed for accurate reporting. Having helped over 100 owners make buildings more efficient with well-designed MEP systems, 5BY5 brings the experience and discipline necessary to ensure that your net-zero investment delivers measurable, verifiable results from the first year of operation.
Net-zero buildings, when properly engineered, are inherently more resilient than conventional facilities. On-site energy generation, battery storage, and reduced energy dependence mean that a well-designed net-zero building can maintain critical functions during grid outages, a significant advantage in a region where severe weather events, including ice storms and summer thunderstorms, can disrupt utility service. 5BY5 Engineering designs resilience into every net-zero project, ensuring that sustainability and operational continuity reinforce each other.
Our approach begins with load prioritization. We work with your team to identify critical systems, life safety, refrigeration, data systems, essential lighting, and design electrical distribution to allow seamless transition to backup power during outages. Battery energy storage systems are sized not only for daily demand management and utility cost optimization but also for emergency duration requirements specific to your facility type. For healthcare and institutional clients in Kansas City, where regulatory requirements mandate specific backup power capabilities, 5BY5 designs systems that satisfy both resilience mandates and net-zero energy targets simultaneously.
Beyond battery storage, we engineer MEP systems for passive survivability where possible, selecting building envelope strategies and HVAC approaches that maintain habitable conditions even without active mechanical systems for extended periods. This layered resilience strategy means your net-zero building is not just environmentally responsible, it is operationally robust and prepared for the realities of Kansas City's climate and infrastructure challenges.
Building codes and energy standards are moving decisively toward mandatory high-performance requirements. Cities across the country, including jurisdictions in the Kansas City metropolitan area, are adopting more aggressive energy codes, benchmarking requirements, and carbon reduction mandates. A building designed to conventional minimum code today faces the very real risk of becoming non-compliant or competitively obsolete within a decade. Net-zero MEP design positions your asset ahead of this regulatory trajectory, protecting your investment and preserving market value.
5BY5 Engineering designs net-zero buildings with adaptability built into the infrastructure. Electrical systems include capacity for future solar expansion. Mechanical systems are designed with flexibility to accommodate evolving refrigerant regulations and emerging heat pump technologies. Building automation platforms are specified with open protocols that allow integration of future technologies without wholesale system replacement. This forward-thinking approach means your building is not locked into today's technology, it is ready for tomorrow's.
For developers and institutional owners evaluating long-term hold strategies, this future-proofing translates directly into asset value preservation. Buildings with demonstrated high-performance credentials consistently outperform conventional assets in valuation, occupancy rates, and tenant retention. In Kansas City's growing commercial market, a verified net-zero building is a competitive differentiator that signals operational excellence, environmental leadership, and financial discipline. 5BY5 ensures your investment is designed not just for today's sustainability goals but for the market realities of the next several decades.

OUR SERVICE Categories

MEP Engineering for Net-Zero Buildings

5BY5 Engineering delivers fully integrated mechanical, electrical, and plumbing design optimized for net-zero energy performance. From high-efficiency HVAC systems and advanced lighting controls to low-energy plumbing solutions, our MEP engineering services are designed to minimize energy consumption while maintaining occupant comfort. Every system is engineered for simplicity, ensuring your Kansas City facilities team can maintain peak performance.

Renewable Energy Integration and Coordination

We design and coordinate on-site renewable energy systems, including solar photovoltaic arrays, battery energy storage, and grid-interactive controls, as integral components of the MEP design. 5BY5 manages utility interconnection requirements, net metering coordination, and demand-response program eligibility specific to Kansas City-area utilities, streamlining the path from design to operational renewable generation.

Energy Efficiency Consulting and Lifecycle Analysis

Before design begins, 5BY5 provides energy efficiency consulting that establishes clear performance targets, evaluates technology options, and develops lifecycle cost analyses. We identify available incentive programs, model return on investment for various system configurations, and provide the data-driven foundation for confident decision-making on your net-zero investment.

Building Commissioning and Energy Verification

5BY5's commissioning services verify that every MEP system performs as designed under real-world operating conditions. For net-zero projects, our commissioning process includes seasonal performance testing, post-occupancy energy monitoring, and documentation to support third-party certification. We ensure your building delivers on its energy, and carbon performance promises from day one.

Infrastructure Improvements for Existing Buildings

For building owners pursuing net-zero performance in existing facilities, 5BY5 designs phased infrastructure improvements that progressively reduce energy consumption and integrate renewable generation. Our approach prioritizes high-impact, cost-effective upgrades that deliver measurable results at each phase while building toward full net-zero operation.

OUR process

STEP ONE

Discover and Define Your Net-Zero Performance Goals

(Weeks 1–3)

Every net-zero project begins with a thorough discovery phase. 5BY5 meets with your development team, architects, and key stakeholders to understand the project's sustainability objectives, budget parameters, operational requirements, and certification goals. We assess site conditions specific to your Kansas City location, including solar access, geothermal potential, and local utility interconnection requirements. The outcome is a clearly defined set of energy performance targets and a preliminary MEP strategy aligned with your timeline and budget. Your involvement is essential during this phase: the more we understand about your operational expectations and long-term vision, the more precisely we can engineer systems that deliver.

STEP TWO

Integrated Energy Modeling and System Design

(Weeks 3–10)

With performance targets established, 5BY5 develops detailed energy models to evaluate system configurations and optimize the balance between load reduction, efficiency, and renewable generation. We collaborate closely with the architectural team to coordinate building envelope performance, daylighting strategies, and structural capacity for renewable installations. MEP system design proceeds in parallel, with iterative modeling ensuring that mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems are right-sized and fully integrated. You will participate in design review milestones where we present system options, lifecycle cost comparisons, and performance projections for your decision-making.

STEP THREE

Construction Documentation and Coordination

(Weeks 10–18)

5BY5 produces comprehensive construction documents that clearly communicate design intent to contractors and installers. Our documentation emphasizes constructability and includes detailed sequences of operation for all control systems, ensuring that the people building your facility understand exactly how each system is meant to function. We coordinate with all disciplines to resolve conflicts before they reach the field, reducing change orders and protecting your budget and schedule. Your team reviews final documents for alignment with operational expectations before release for bidding.

STEP FOUR

Construction Administration and Quality Assurance

(Duration of Construction)

During construction, 5BY5 provides ongoing construction administration to verify that MEP systems are installed per design intent. We conduct site observations, review submittals, and respond to contractor requests for information with a focus on maintaining net-zero performance integrity. For complex systems, controls integration, renewable energy installation, and energy storage, we provide targeted oversight to ensure quality. Your project manager coordinates with 5BY5 throughout this phase to address any field conditions that require design adaptation.

STEP FIVE

Commissioning, Verification, and Operator Training

(Final 4–8 Weeks and Post-Occupancy)

5BY5 executes a comprehensive commissioning process that tests every MEP system under real operating conditions. Functional performance testing covers all modes of operation, including part-load and seasonal scenarios critical to Kansas City's climate. Once systems are verified, we conduct in-depth operator training to ensure your facilities team is confident and capable. Post-occupancy, we monitor energy performance against design predictions, making adjustments as needed and providing documentation for any third-party certifications. Your team is fully engaged during training and post-occupancy review to ensure a seamless handoff.

Our APPROACH

At the core of 5BY5 Engineering's approach to net-zero building design is a conviction that sustainability must be practical to be real.

Our founding philosophy, that building systems should be simple, reliable, and efficient, applies with even greater force to high-performance buildings, where the margin for operational error is narrower, and the consequences of underperformance are measured in both dollars and carbon. We do not pursue complexity for its own sake. We pursue performance through clarity.

Our methodology begins with deep engagement. Before we draw a single line, we invest significant effort in learning, understanding the project's intent, the owner's operational capabilities, and the expectations of every stakeholder at the table. This is not a perfunctory kickoff meeting. It is a disciplined process of inquiry that ensures our engineering decisions are grounded in the specific realities of your project, your team, and your market. In Kansas City, this means accounting for the demands of a continental climate with temperature swings exceeding 100 degrees annually, the specific rate structures and incentive programs offered by regional utilities, and the practical skill sets of local facilities personnel and service contractors.

From there, we design through collaboration. Net-zero performance is not achieved by any single discipline working in isolation. 5BY5 coordinates tightly with architects, structural engineers, contractors, and building owners to ensure that every decision, from envelope performance to equipment selection to controls logic, is made with full awareness of its impact on the integrated system. We measure our success not by the sophistication of the technology we specify, but by the performance of the completed building in the hands of the people who operate it every day.

This approach has enabled 5BY5 to help over 100 building owners achieve measurably better performance from their MEP systems. For net-zero projects, it means the difference between a building that hits its energy targets on paper and one that delivers verified carbon neutrality year after year, simply, reliably, and cost-effectively.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

5BY5 Engineering, founded in 2016 and headquartered in downtown Kansas City at 1100 Main Street, is a team of engineers specializing in MEP system design to simplify building operations, improve efficiency, and deliver measurable results. Under the leadership of Principal in Charge Brock Centlivre, 5BY5 has helped over 100 building owners optimize their facilities and has saved clients over $1 million in unnecessary construction costs. Learn more about our team and approach.

Learn more

A net-zero energy building produces as much energy as it consumes on an annual basis, typically through a combination of aggressive energy efficiency and on-site renewable generation. Kansas City's climate is well-suited to net-zero design, strong summer solar resources align with peak cooling loads, and modern heat pump technology performs efficiently even during our cold winters. 5BY5 engineers systems specifically for our regional climate conditions to ensure year-round performance.
Net-zero buildings typically carry a 5–15% construction cost premium depending on building type and complexity. However, this premium is offset by dramatically lower operating costs, available federal and state incentives, and increased asset value. 5BY5's lifecycle cost analyses consistently demonstrate favorable payback periods, and our focus on eliminating over-engineering, having saved clients over $1 million in unnecessary construction costs, ensures that every dollar is invested where it matters most.
Not when it is designed correctly. 5BY5 Engineering's core differentiator is designing high-performance systems that are genuinely simple to operate. We select equipment with strong local service support in Kansas City, design intuitive control interfaces, and provide thorough operator training during commissioning. Our clients have saved over $300,000 yearly in maintenance fees because our systems are designed for the people who run them, not just the engineers who specify them.
Kansas City-area projects can leverage the federal Investment Tax Credit for commercial solar, accelerated depreciation (MACRS), and various state and utility-level incentive programs. 5BY5 identifies applicable incentives during the energy consulting phase and factors them into our lifecycle cost analyses so you have a complete picture of your net investment and return. Incentive availability evolves, so early engagement with our team ensures you capture maximum value.
Verification begins with 5BY5's comprehensive commissioning process, which tests all MEP systems under real operating conditions across multiple scenarios. Post-occupancy, we implement energy monitoring systems that track actual consumption and generation against design predictions. This data provides the basis for any required third-party certification, such as LEED Zero Energy or ILFI Zero Energy, and gives your team ongoing visibility into building performance.

Net-Zero Results Start Here

Achieve your carbon neutrality goals with expert net-zero MEP design in Kansas City.

CONTACT OUR TEAM