A1 Energy
  • Energy Efficiency

Optimization Begins With Energy Efficiency

energy efficiency black graphic

Minimizing energy demand is a priority when addressing building efficiency.  While energy prices are unpredictable due to volatile markets, weather conditions, and changing energy policies, facility energy demand is predictable and can be adjusted through energy efficiency measures.  This requires that you fully assess your facilities and plan energy upgrades strategically by learning your baseline demand and deploying the best projects that reduce energy while operating at the same capacity.
To reach these goals, our energy solutions focus on LED Lighting Retrofits, Lighting Controls, Retrocommissioning, and Benchmarking.  We work with our clients to properly assess, strategize, and implement their goal-oriented action-plan for reaching optimized energy efficiency.

Energy efficient building graphic
Commercial and industrial led lighting

LED Lighting

Lighting controls and lighting professionals

Lighting Controls

Energy management and retrocommissioning

Retrocommissioning

Benchmarking energy efficient buildings

Benchmarking

LED Lighting Retrofits

LED Lighting improves productivity

LED lighting is currently the highest standard for energy efficient lighting.  An LED retrofit project allows for a significant reduction on energy spend and not just on energy bills but also on maintenance costs to replace fixtures, as an LED lifespan can be up to 100,000 hours.  In addition to these benefits, there are tax benefits and rebates specifically tailored to incentivize commercial and industrial buildings to install LEDs.  Furthermore, LED lighting finance programs can provide a cash positive solution from day one for your LED retrofit. 


Facility-wide LED retrofit projects return improved quality of light, minimized costs, and a lower carbon footprint.  Many clients we work with that began their LED retrofit project for costs savings are pleasantly surprised by the long list of other benefits that LED's deliver.

SCHEDULE A CALL WITH OUR LED LIGHITNG CONSULTANTS

Average Savings of LED Lighting Retrofit Projects

On average, lighting represents about 39% of a commercial building's total electrical energy consumption.  Lighting has a significant impact on a building's operational energy costs and performance.  Implementing a LED lighting retrofit can save a typical building roughly 40% to 60% on energy costs.

MI Windows and Doors facility aerial photo

Lighting Controls

Most buildings are overusing their lights and thus overspending on electricity.  This is because lights are often set higher than needed for a given space and also because unoccupied spaces lack the necessary lighting control systems to shut off lights with proper timing.  Advanced lighting control projects offer some of the biggest opportunities for effective energy reduction.  The installation of lighting fixtures with motion sensors, occupancy sensors, photosensors, and daylight harvesting whenever possible, can considerably lower energy demand and help you take back control of your lighting, energy bill, and the sustainability factor of your building. 

TALK TO LIGHTING CONTROLS TEAM

Retrocommissioning

Energy meters and retrocommisioning

To keep buildings running at maximum efficiency, it's important to conduct periodic retrocommissioning evaluations to determine areas that require maintenance, upgrades, or elimination.  Optimizing the performance of aged equipment, infrastructure, and major systems throughout each building that affects energy demand, will ensure a successful path to full energy optimization.

It's important to determine if your building needs an evaluation.  Some of these indications are easy to spot and include uncomfortable spaces (too hot or too cold), uncotrolled spaces, pressurization issues, systems that are set to manual mode, or excessive noise in occupied spaces.

The majority of government facilities are historic buildings and were in operation long before computers and modern equipment were invented.  The need for retrocommissioning these buildings by identifying energy waste is vital to their performance and long-term sustainability.


Benchmarking

The average building wastes about 1/3 of the energy it consumes.  Benchmarking allows you to calculate your buildings Energy Use Intensity (EUI) and compare it to similar buildings, or between buildings on your facilities campus.  Using ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager, extensive building data is collected to calculate your EUI or ENERGY STAR score.

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EUI = kBTU per 1 year / gross square feet


Benchmarking has become a standard operating procedure for C&I buildings practicing proper energy management.  This practice is required for understanding where inefficiencies exist for setting baselines and creating systematic plans for reducing those inefficiencies.  We manage our client's benchmarking process by using the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager.  We establish baseline goals and help prioritize upgrades for multiple buildings, thus ensuring a path to benchmarking success and ENERGY STAR certification.  

Benefits of energy benchmarking
Energy optimization process energy efficiency