In recent years, innovations in energy efficiency technology has opened many new avenues to reduce electric consumption in buildings.
But it is hard for building owners to keep up with these developments, analyze which options are most cost effective, and decide how best to invest their money. An increasingly popular method to implement energy efficiency technology is called “energy efficiency as a service.”
A typical arrangement consists of a building owner and a provider striking an agreement that pays for energy efficiency projects. The building owner does not pay anything upfront. The owner makes payments in installments within a certain timeframe. Payments are in the form of savings in energy costs realized from the improvements.
Bentley Mills, a manufacturer of commercial carpet products, employed this technique to fund a $1.5 million energy efficiency project. The contract stated that over the course of the 8-year term, Bentley would save over 12.8 million kWh. One year after the project was completed, the plant measured a 21% decrease in the kWh per square yard manufactured while increasing sales growth by 9% during the same time.
Related Stories
| Oct 28, 2011
Bipartisan opposition to federal 3% withholding for contractors
Both major political parties and the Obama Administration support repealing a law that would withhold 3% of all government contracts.
| Oct 28, 2011
OSHA requires training module on top causes of construction deaths
The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) now requires a training module on the top four causes of death for construction workers.
| Oct 28, 2011
New York City requiring building energy use to be posted online
Owners of every New York City commercial and residential building larger than 50,000 sf will have to post each building’s energy use online by 2013.
| Oct 28, 2011
New ISO standard for escalator safety
A new ISO standard specifies safety requirements for escalators and moving walks.
| Oct 20, 2011
LEED 2012 to require real-time energy, water use reporting
The LEED 2012 rating system, set to launch in November 2012, will contain features to make sure buildings function as intended, and improve over time.
| Oct 20, 2011
New York City moving to speedier, online design reviews
New York City is moving towards a development design review process that will let officials and developers review blueprints for new projects online in a virtual conference room rather than in person.
| Oct 20, 2011
Michigan bill would let private firms operate as a city’s building department
Michigan House Bill 5011 would change state’s building code to allow private companies to operate as a municipality's building department.
| Oct 20, 2011
Alabama’s strict immigration law drives away construction workers
Alabama's strict new immigration law is driving many construction workers and roofers from the state.
| Oct 20, 2011
Fed bill would allow school rehab funding via historic tax credits
Virginia Sens. Jim Webb (D) and Mark Warner (D) introduced a bill this month to rehab aging schools across the country through the use of historic tax credits.
| Oct 20, 2011
Process leads to new design values for southern pine and other visually graded dimension lumber
A summary of the process used to develop new design values will clarify many of the questions received by the SFPA.
