Vital Group of Companies Blog

The cost of continuing to operate non-LED lighting is NOW higher than cost of an LED retrofit! A full parkade LED lighting retrofit can yield a payback of less than one year while improving lighting quality and the safety of motorists One of the biggest users of electricity in any building is lighting. Parkades and parking garages use a significant amount of electricity for lighting since they are often lit 24/7. Under these circumstances, the cost of a full LED lighting retrofit is often cheaper than continuing to operate the current lighting for the next year! Here is where the savings come from:

The City of Edmonton’s energy efficiency incentive program is now live Commercial, residential, light industrial, and special purpose buildings are eligible Existing rebates for benchmarking and energy audits now serve as the first step to accessing this funding In early June, the City of Edmonton announced the addition of implementation funding to its catalogue of environmental programs aimed at making commercial and institutional buildings more energy efficient. The already existing Building Energy Benchmarking Program and the Energy Audit Rebate Program, which provide energy performance information about buildings, now serve as the first step on the way to a more efficient building.

The best way for communities to identify their sources of energy consumption and GHG emissions is through the completion of a Community Energy Plan (CEP).  This initiative provides a foundation for program, policy and investment decision-making for community leaders and organizations.

A few months ago, we looked at the economics of solar PV investments for businesses.  This overview specifically explored the concept of behind-the-meter electricity generation which is empowered by Alberta’s microgeneration regulation.  We have received a few questions about the regulation and thought we would provide an overview of the behind-the-meter/microgeneration concept on this week’s blog.

Improving your energy savings is the best way to invest in a building and enjoy an immediate and verifiable cash flow payback. Yes, there are other building upgrades you could explore that reap different benefits that all may be worth pursuing on their own merits.

If you’re a business owner, among the many concerns you wrestle with day-to-day is, of course, your power bill. You pay for electricity consumed by everything from the lights and computers and electronics in your building to running industrial machinery. Electricity enables your business’s operation — but it doesn’t always come cheap.

Your HVAC system controls your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. For a property manager, ensuring that your HVAC system is properly maintained can be a source of considerable energy savings.

Commercial property owners looking at ways to reduce their energy spending might have stumbled upon the idea of co-generation as a potential solution. As electricity costs rise in Alberta, the prospect can seem tempting to anyone looking to get spending under control. So, what is cogeneration — and is it right for you?

The truth is, you don’t fully know how much your commercial building can save on energy unless you have an energy assessment. Get one, and you’ll understand exactly where your gaps are and be provided expert recommendations on how best to fill them.

The energy situation with your tenants is untenable, and there are various high-power systems working away unnecessarily If you read last week’s post on rising energy costs, you’re anticipating increased energy costs in your commercial buildings. You can solve these problems and bring down your energy cost per square foot — but you’ll need some strong data on your side