Editor’s Note: Sponsored content brought to you by Garfield Clean Energy
From
poorly insulated buildings to old lighting to out-dated heating systems, energy
inefficiencies cost more, aren’t environmentally-friendly and often make
business less comfortable for customers and employees.
Garfield
Clean Energy offers free walkthroughs to help local businesses reduce their
energy bills by improving efficiency, increasing comfort and reducing their
contribution to climate change.
Garfield Clean Energy is a program funded by seven local governments plus RFTA and Colorado Mountain College and administered by Carbondale-based CLEER (Clean Energy Economy for the Region). One of its primary purposes is to help local businesses become more energy efficient and identify financing options that include rebates — sometimes thousands of dollars in rebates.
“We are
here to help from start to finish and to make the process as smooth as
possible,” said Maisa Metcalf, an energy consultant at CLEER. “We have helped
complete over 340 commercial upgrades in the past decade.”
Energy Assessments
When a
business enrolls in Garfield Clean Energy’s commercial program, it receives a
free walkthrough with recommendations on how to improve energy performance.
GCE
coaches start by talking to the business owner about their various systems and
the building’s overall condition. They look at lighting, heating and cooling,
insulation, windows and doors and make an assessment that they share with the
business owner or manager.
For
businesses that decide to make improvements, GCE energy coaches remain available
to provide contractor referral, review proposals from the contractors, and
assist with rebates and financing.
Metcalf
said the most common energy inefficiency is old, inefficient lighting — both
indoors and outdoors. But there are many ways a building can be made more
energy efficient to lower costs and improve comfort.
“Our
coaches also find poorly insulated buildings, leaky windows and doors and
opportunities for heating system upgrades,” she said.
Solutions to inefficiencies
Here
are the solutions GCE has been helping businesses to implement in order to
become more energy efficient, save money and have a lighter impact on the
environment.
1. Lighting: For all businesses, switching to more energy efficient light bulbs indoors and
out can save money right away.
Modern
LED lighting is more cost effective and lasts for years, whereas incandescent
and fluorescent bulbs burn hot, burn money and burn out much more quickly than
LED lighting. Installing LEDs is a simple way to reduce maintenance costs for a
building or business owner.
Lighting
controls and occupancy sensors also increase comfort and save on utility bills.
Installing
a system to manage parking and security lighting is a great and often easy way
for businsses to achieve significant energy savings. Metcalf said GCE coaches
have seen the price of such lighting systems come down in recent years with
significant improvements in quality.
2. Temperature
Control: Upgrading heating and cooling systems have saved hundreds of
businesses working with GCE tens of thousands of dollars on their utility bills
over the last decade.
For
larger businesses with a large space or multiple buildings, a more
comprehensive plan may be worth considering. GCE coaches will help identify all
possible areas of improvement and help develop a plan to meet the specific
business’s needs. That may include additional insulation, replacing single-pane
windows, or installing an up-to-date, highly efficient HVAC system.
But
sometimes the solution is as simple as the thermostat on an office wall.
“You’d
be surprised how much more efficient your heating and cooling systems can be
with a new thermostat,” Metcalf said. “It’s a low-cost solution that can bring
big savings.”
3. Industrial settings: GCE coaches also have
experience working in complex industrial settings. In workshops and garages,
GCE coaches can identify opportunities for installing variable speed pumps and
motors, controls on ventilation equipment, and other maintenance measures which
can improve the efficiency of equipment while also extending its life.”
Improving
heating and lighting systems makes businesses more comfortable, which can
equate to an increase in its employees’ productivity and customer/client
comfort. Retailers have said better lighting improves their displays and art
galleries say LED lighting protects the art they sell.
“When a
building addresses air leakage by sealing the leaks and adding insulation,
occupant comfort increases immensely and can also make the space quieter,”
Metcalf said.
Rebates and benefits
Paying
for upgrades may give some business owners pause, but there are actually many
resources available to reduce costs and make larger investments possible.
“There
are several different rebates available through utilities and local
organizations for both heating and lighting systems to help reduce the upfront
cost and the payback time,” Metcalf explains. “GCE can help you find and sign
up for those rebates.”
Black
Hills Energy, Xcel Energy, Glenwood Springs Electric and Holy Cross Energy all
offer rebates and incentives to encourage businesses to become more energy
efficient. The Community Office for Resource Efficiency (CORE) also offers
rebates in the Roaring Fork Valley.
CLEER
is also registered to offer The Colorado Commercial Property Assessed Clean
Energy (C-PACE) financing to businesses in Garfield County. Repayments are made
through an assessment on the property’s county tax bill, with no upfront
capital outlay.
C-PACE
can be used to finance a variety of improvements, including new heating or
cooling systems, lighting, water pumps, insulation, solar panels, and other
renewable energy projects, and water efficiency upgrades.
The
easiest way to learn about rebates and financing opportunities is to call CLEER
at 970-704-9200 and talk to an Energy Coach.
For
more information about GCE’s programs for businesses, visithttp://garfieldcleanenergy.org/com-free-energy-consulting/
