Controlling Costs Is Critical To Moneymaking Business
February 16, 2012 by Brandt Smith
Filed under Green Energy
For years I’ve been saying that clever businesses focus on increasing sales, not on cutting expenses. “You can’t cut your way to profitability” is one of my beloved sayings.
In business, a dollar earned is approximately identical to a dollar saved since taxes are based on your profits, not income. Basically, you are taxed on your revenue (sales) minus expenses. Sales and cost control are more or less worth the same. The difficulty is that it is a lot easier for most people to focus on expenditure control that on top end (sales) growth. And after you hit the obvious expenditures, you squander more and more time on stuff that save you less and less money. It is the 80/20 rule reversed, where you find 80% of your cost savings from the first 20% of cost cuts. Also, you are limited on how much you can cut expenses, while your ability to increase sales is in effect limitless, so it makes more sense to focus on development than on frugality.
So my simple advice is for entrepreneurs to concentrate on sales.
I still believe this, but that doesn’t mean that I’m saying that you should discount your spending. That would be a big misstep. First of all, spending troubles increase quicker than income. What is a inconsequential problem at $30k per year income is a massive crisis when you grow to $300k per year. The subsequent reason is that cost control is initially quicker to do than sales growth. Your initial swing at expenditure control will get you the biggest gains. Subsequent attempts at cost control will be more difficult, less effective, and often influence critical business areas like productivity or quality.
The Answer Is To Be Smart With Your Expense Cutting.
What’s my favorite area to cut costs? It’s saving energy through an ashrae energy audit or energy management. At this point a small confession is needed: I am an energy consultant and get compensated to help companies reduce their energy spending. I do energy audits for my customers and typically cut their energy bills by more than 20%.
Now that we have cleared the air, let me explain why I like to focus on energy spending:
-Nearly all of my customers are manufacturers, and they spend a lot every month on their energy expenses. This is a considerable area of worry to them.
-Even if you are not a manufacturer, utilities are nevertheless one of your main expenditures.
-Nearly all organizations can cut their energy costs by 20% or more. I’ve seen savings as high as 59%! I can’t think of many areas where you can save this much.
-Energy Management is an area where you will cut expenditures while increasing output. Any other cost cutting will eventually reduce production or quality.
Industrial Energy Audit Services are industry leaders in energy saving audits. Our decades of experience will make your energy audits fast, effective, and affordable. We are so confident that we will save you money, that we guarantee that we will save you 15% or more on your energy bills.
Understanding Industrial Energy Audits – How To Understand What Certifications Are Official
February 5, 2012 by Brandt Smith
Filed under Green Energy
Nobody can deny that getting an commercial energy audit will help you improve your industrial energy efficiency. The challenge is finding a qualified auditor to do the work. Although there are a ton of people out there willing to take your money, it can be tricky to find the right combination of education and experience.
It Can Be Confusing
It may be challenging to evaluate an auditor’s capabilities, so several organizations have created standards and certifications. Although this does help you select an auditor, it has created an alphabet soup of certifications: HERS, HESP, RESNET, BPI, AEE, CEM, EMIT, CEA, CSDP, CRM, CBCP, BEP, CMVP, CEP, CLEP, DGCP, GBE, CGD, CPQ, REP, EBCP, BESA, CRU, HPB, REA, NEASI, EEA, and EAI.
Another thing adding to your uncertainty is the fact we now have at the least six certifying organizations. Some offer overlapping coverage. Several are legitimate and respected, while some are of questionable validity.
Everybody Claims They Are The Best
One can’t even look towards the organizations themselves for advice. Every certifying organization states they’ve got the very best certifications. While the majority are authentic and high quality, they can’t all be the best!
Take into account Your Requirements
You also will want to take into consideration what form of building or facility the certifications cover. Most cover residential, some cover commercial, and only one even vaguely addresses industrial audits. Because residential, commercial, and industrial audits need distinctive skills and education, you’ll need to ensure your auditor’s certifications complement your needs.
For example, BPI and RESNET certifications focus on residential audits. They cover energy conservation basics, but deal with weatherization and household appliances. This means they are perfect for residential and light commercial audits, but these certifications don’t do anything to confirm an auditor’s expertise for anything else.
Contrast this with AEE’s CEA/CEM certifications. They also cover energy conservation principals, but their target is on commercial equipment, HVAC systems, and lighting. Weatherization is barely mentioned since it is just not used in commercial audits.
Industrial Audits Are A Unusual Breed
If you need an industrial energy audit, your options are limited. The only certifications that cover industrial audits are through AEE. That being said, the AEE certification in reality qualifies an assessor to perform commercial audits. For industrial audits you also want someone with extensive industrial experience, someone who understands your process and industrial gear.
We Have Created A Guide To Help You Interpret Energy Assessment Certifications
You are not alone if ashrae energy audit certifications confuse you. Over and overour clients ask us “what certification should I look for.” To answer these questions we created a free guide to help sort out energy auditor certifications: Deciphering Energy Audit Certifications. Check out our website at industrialenergyaudit.com and download it today.
Industrial Energy Audit Services are industry leaders in the field of ashrae energy audits. Our decades of experience will make your energy efficient audit quick, effective, and inexpensive. We are so certain that we will save you money, that we pledge that we are going to save you 15% or more on your energy bills.
Commercial Energy Audit is one of the best way to maximizing your industrial energy efficiency…and your profits!
January 29, 2012 by Brandt Smith
Filed under Green Energy
Why Must I Worry About ashrae energy audit?
I know, I know, you already have so lots of things to worry about. Your competition is gunning for your top client. The biggest project in your shop is behind schedule. You are worried about the economy and anxious we are heading into another depression. Expenses are rising but you can’t raise your prices without loosing business so profit margins are non-existent. How are you going to deal with growing energy costs?
And that doesn’t even take into consideration troubles in your personal life (we all have them).
Why should you add something in addition to your list? Since commercial energy efficiency is a low risk method to solve some of your major problems.
Think about it. Energy costs are a major expense. If you can slash your energy spending by 25%, how much would that help your business? What would that do for your profit margins? How much more competitive will you be if your costs are lower?
How Can ashrae energy audit Assist Me?
If done correctly, a energy saving audit will show you how to slash your expenditures. A first-class consultant can study your utility bills looking for billing errors, avoidable fees, along with superior rates. A first-rate energy auditor can show you ways to help reduce your energy consumption (and your energy spending), and many of his suggestions will cost you little to implement. And these suggestions are low risk since the consultant quantifies the savings and price to implement. You know ahead of time what to expect, and get to reap the reward of the energy savings year after year.
So What Is a ashrae energy audit?
A ashrae energy audit is simply a review of your business, building, along with utility bills by a consultant who is an expert in energy conservation. There are different levels of commercial energy audits. The most frequent designations are:
**Preliminary Audit: A high level look at your energy use. Your energy consumption is compared to other companies in your industry. This offers you an idea of just how much energy you could save, but doesn’t make any recommendations. **Scoping Audit: Scoping audits consist of an examination of your utility bills and a brief walk through of your facility to grasp your process, maintenance practices, equipment, and energy consumption. There is enough data to find the low hanging fruit, but not sufficient to find every savings possible or to give you a high level of precision. **Comprehensive Audit: Also know as an ASHRAE Level 2 audit, a comprehensive audit picks up where a scoping audit stops. A more comprehensive walk through and analysis of your facility lets the consultant to fully look at all energy conservation possibilities. More importantly, because there is enough data to accurately examine your energy consumption, the energy consultant is able to tell you how much energy your will save with a high degree of precision. This allows you to prioritize energy conservation measures as well as to a great extent reduces risk. **Engineering or Investment Grade Audit: These are the most complex (i.e….costly) audits. They are regularly used by major corporations with intensive project approval processes, or by companies looking to implement major (and expensive) technologies. These include wind, solar PV (photo-voltaic), hot water heating, solar heating system (passive & active), CHP (Combined Heat Power), CHCP (Combined Heat Cool Power), refrigeration (mechanical & absorption), heat pumps, HVAC, high performance electric motors, biomass, and small hydro-electric….Most businesses don’t need an audit at this level. The cost and time simply are too steep to justify the minor improvement in precision.
Industrial Energy Audit Services are industry leaders in industrial energy efficiency. Our decades of experience will make your business energy audits fast, effective, and affordable. We are so confident that we will save you money, that we guarantee that we will save you 15% or more on your energy bills. If you would like more information on business energy audits or would like a quote please contact us at www.industrialenergyaudit.com.
A Primer Guide to Piezoelectricity
September 28, 2011 by Jack Cashmere
Filed under Green Energy
Usually, alternative energy means energy-generating systems without having the damaging consequences from the burning of classic fuels, in particular increased co2 pollutants, thought of as a big contributing element of climatic change. Alternative energy, known also as renewable power or sustainable power is an environmentally good system and is likely to employ natural conditions, like the sun or wind, to generate electricity.
Economic experts have studied alternative energies, and they consider such changes as crucial in leading to significant monetary transformation. In medieval times, to illustrate, fossil fuels superceded wood as a dominant type of energy, as Europeans were running short on wood because they grew to become too quick at cutting down trees.
One more illustration is with petroleum, which had been formulated to replace whale oil when the reduction of whale supply by the middle nineteenth century prompted whale oil rates to increase. In the past, whale oil had been a dominant mode of lubrication and fuel for heat lamps. This new kind of oil, initially marketed in Pennsylvania in 1859, gradually supplanted whale oil.
Wind and solar power are two different instances of powers which may gradually supersede standard fuels, as our limited source of oil and coal diminish and as costs continuously multiply. One of the benefits regarding both wind and solar electrical power is that they are both significantly more affordable and easier to get into than they were before, in the 1970s. Currently, one can find an increasing number of companies investigating cutting edge advancements and functions of the wind and sun’s power, it’s basically a matter of time before achieving more popular usage.
One additional model of a naturally sourced alternative energy is piezoelectricity, which is a sort of power that comes from certain elements like Rochelle salt, topaz or quartz that yield an electric current while their crystal composition is disfigured. An example would be a piezo floor tile, set directly below a congested street bifurcation, that generates electric power as pedestrians walk atop it.
You will discover unique examples of the piezoelectric effect, like the piezo motor, which may be engineered very small but could carry approximately 1000 times its own weight. Piezo ceramics can be used in different common equipment like health-related items, cameras and oven lights, but there is plenty of area for improvement and more frequent usage.
If you are interested in learning more about different types of sustainable energy and piezoelectricity, there are many resources on the Internet. Some websites will even teach you how to build your own piezo motor, which can be a fun do-it-yourself project.
Energy Harvesting Applications and the Piezo Effect
September 13, 2011 by Jack Cashmere
Filed under Green Energy
In general, alternative energy describes energy-generating processes without the presence of negative outcomes of the burning of classic fuels, in particular substantial carbon dioxide wastes, reckoned to be a leading contributive element of climate change. Alternative energy, also called sustainable energy or renewable energy is an environmentally good strategy and will probably make use of natural conditions, like the sun or wind, to yield energy.
Economic experts have studied alternative energies, and they analyze such changes as vital in triggering noticeable economic change. In the late medieval period, to illustrate, fossil fuels supplanted wood as the dominant kind of electricity, as Europeans were running short on wood because they had become great at cutting down trees.
One more illustration is with petroleum, which was formulated to replace whale oil as soon as the reduction of whale supply during the middle nineteenth century prompted whale oil prices to increase. In those days, whale oil had been the principal kind of lubrication and fuel for lamps. This new kind of oil, first marketed in Pennsylvania in 1859, gradually took the place of whale oil.
Sun and wind electric power are a couple of additional illustrations of powers which might eventually take the place of conventional energy sources, as our limited availability of coal and oil shrink and as rates continuously increase. The good thing concerning both wind and sun electricity is that they are both considerably less pricey and simpler to engage than they were forty years ago. Right now, you’ll find several companies researching cutting edge developments and functions of the wind and sun’s potential, it is merely a matter of time before seeing more prevalent usage.
A different instance of a naturally sourced sustainable energy is piezoelectricity, which is a variety of electric power that comes from certain materials like quartz, lead or topaz that generate an electrical voltage while their crystal framework is disfigured. An example would be a piezoelectric tile, inserted beneath a fast paced street intersection, that produces electrical power when pedestrians move across it.
There are a few interesting uses of the piezoelectric effect, which include the piezoelectric motor, which can be built rather compact but may haul as much as 1000 times its weight. Piezoelectric ceramics are employed in numerous typical systems such as healthcare goods, dslrs and oven lights, but there is a whole lot of area for development in addition to extensive usage.
To learn more about the piezo motor, there are many alternative energy resources on the Internet. Some websites even teach you to build your own motor. The piezoelectric effect is a fascinating phenomenon, one I hope we’ll see more use of down the road.
Alternative Energy and the Piezo Motor
September 4, 2011 by Jack Cashmere
Filed under Green Energy
In most cases, alternative energy describes energy-generating practices without having the damaging repercussions from the burning up of classic fuels, like high carbon dioxide wastes, reckoned to be a major contributing element of climatic change. Alternative energy, also called renewable power or sustainable power is an ecologically good strategy and tends to take advantage of global conditions, such as the wind or sun, to make energy.
Economic historians have analyzed alternative energies, and they consider these changes as essential in bringing about substantive monetary improvement. In middle ages, as an example, fossil fuels succeeded timber as the major mode of energy, as European individuals were lacking wood since they had become too quick at forest harvesting.
An additional instance is the resource known as petroleum, which had been created in lieu of whale oil when the reduction of whale stocks by the middle 1800s triggered whale oil fees to escalate. Back then, whale oil was the dominant mode of lubrication and fuel for lighting units. This new kind of oil, originally commercialized in Pennsylvania in 1859, in time replaced whale oil.
Sun and wind electricity are two additional kinds of energies which could ultimately be a substitute for common fuels, as our finite supply of oil and coal diminish and as costs continue to multiply. The good thing pertaining to both sun and wind electrical power is that they’re both considerably cheaper and easier to get into than they were back in the 1970s. At this time, you can find a large number of companies investigating cutting edge developments and applications of the wind and sun’s potential, it is just a matter of time before achieving more commonplace consumption.
Another instance of a natural kind of renewable power is piezoelectricity, which is a kind of power that is produced by certain resources like Rochelle salt, topaz or quartz that create an electric current whenever their crystal framework is deformed. An illustration would be a piezo tile, put below a hectic street junction, that creates electricity when pedestrians step atop it.
There are a few fascinating uses of the piezoelectric effect, including the piezoelectric motor, which can be built rather compact but could bear nearly 1000 times its own weight. Piezoelectric materials are employed in a variety of typical equipment like medical-related products, dslrs and oven lights, but there is plenty of room for improvement in addition to prevalent engagement.
To find out more about unique and undiscovered applications of green energy, I’d read more about the piezo effect. Piezoelectricity is a remarkable occurrence with much potential, one that I hope will experience more widespread usage in the near future.

