Businesses have unique needs and drivers that dictate where they invest their money. Energy savings may not be your top business priority. However, lowering energy costs reduces operating costs which will improve profitability. Lowering energy use also reduces emissions which may be attractive to external investors, customers or your service base.

Our energy audits typically identify multiple economic energy savings opportunities. However, the definition of what is economic depends on the viewpoint of your organization. That is why we work with our clients to determine what their principal economics drivers are. They could include:

• Payback within a specified amount of time,

• A minimum rate of return,

• Expected operating cost reduction, or

• Desired emission savings.

An example of where we worked with our customers to select appropriate energy savings measures was a recent business case we prepared for a not-for-profit affordable housing provider. Their capital investments go to the construction of new suites to meet the growing need for affordable housing. Lowering operating costs of their existing housing is a need, but saving energy is not their business. We worked with them to identify a package of energy saving measures whose annual saving would exceed the cost of financing those measures. That approach reduced their annual operating costs without taking capital away from new housing projects.