The M Files

The data from my last post is worthy of review and reinforcement. McClure Company has a client who is installing a basic energy efficiency program with lighting upgrades, HVAC controls enhancements, boiler tuning, and equipment replacements; a geothermal HVAC system upgrade; a biomass heating plant; and both small- and large-scale solar photovoltaic systems. By implementing these measures they will reduce their fossil fuel reliance by 18,452 million BTU annually, accounting for more than 30% of their previous use.

Which of these energy-savings measures represents the largest contribution to fossil fuel reduction? Surprisingly, the answer is the basic energy efficiency program, at 49% of the total.

While representing nearly half of the environmental benefit from the portfolio of projects, the basic efficiency program only cost 12% of the total $7,262,767 price tag.

What makes this client’s energy plan so smart is that they first sought to gain mastery of the fundamentals of energy efficiency. Instead of relying on prescribed checklists, gadgets, and fads, they established energy performance benchmarks and implemented only those measures with verifiable benefits. The numbers don’t lie.

Gunning for LEED ratings or attaching solar panels to inefficient facilities regardless of performance is a public relations stunt. Genuine energy efficiency walking the green talk equals a commitment to measurable performance on every energy-reducing project.