Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Look for deals and information from an energy consultancy

Energy efficiency auditing services can be very expensive and leave you with little to show for the high consulting fees except reports and recommendations. By using the energy consulting services of a manufacturer of energy efficient equipment, you can see bigger savings and still get good solid advice.

I recommend: In addition to consulting services, Frost & Sullivan offers global analysis, market research and market analysis. Emerging Markets Online provides industry analysis and market research through its publications and papers that you can order.

Get unbiased energy management consulting

In the long run, it may be more prudent to stick with an independent energy consulting firm that has no ties to specific manufacturers. You won't have to wonder if you were pressured or if you perhaps missed out on a better opportunity somewhere else. An independent energy consultancy can help you to negotiate between a number of vendors to put together the best system overall.

I recommend: Energy Consultants is an independent consultancy that can come in make recommendations and help you find appropriate solutions to your energy issues. Sieben Energy is an independent energy management consulting firm that can look at all your systems to help you reduce costs and save energy with by the best means available.

Look at the big picture with energy management consultants

Follow the emerging energy industry and all the inherent changes going on through the regulators and groups that work with the suppliers, vendors and industry consultants. Find educational information and advice as you gather all the information you need to make informed environmental decisions for your company.

I recommend: You can find all the legal and regulatory information you need at the main U.S agency that oversees energy in the country at the website of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The Environmental Markets Association has developed certification and benchmarks for businesses to be able to claim high ratings fro environmental sustainability and energy usage.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  There are a number of organizations that have been formed in the past few years that monitor and inform the energy consulting services industry. Membership in an association of this kind can not only provide a better overview of the industry, but also open up networking opportunities for your business as well as referral sources for vendors you might need.

An audit will you enable to:

1. Understand your pattern of energy use.
2. Determine if you're running the most energy efficient equipment.
3. Evaluate older equipment you're considering replacing. The results of an energy audit may be the final straw.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Talk to your power company

Believe it or not, many utility companies provide energy audits for free.

I recommend: Utilities such as the Sacramento Municipal Utility District and Duke Power offer free audits for their small-business customers. Check with your utility company.

Ask your Uncle

Some small manufacturing businesses qualify for a free audit from the U.S. Department of Energy.

I recommend: Check out the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy to see the requirements.The audits are conducted by teams from universities so your plant must be within 150 miles of one of the 26 participating schools.

Power down with software

Software can also help you keep track of and analyze utilities expenses.

I recommend: Energy Watchdog provides energy analysis software as does BizEE's Energy Lens application.

Call in the pros

Energy consultants audit your business and provide advice on how to cut costs, including advice on buying and installing equipment.

I recommend: Firms such as EMC can help you with an audit and provide guidance on the best ways to cut costs.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you rent, your landlord also has an interest in having the plant run as efficiently as possible and may help pay for the audit and possibly even help with the cost of installing greener equipment.
• •  Check with your state about rebates. Some states, including California, offer rebates for installing energy-efficient equipment. An audit is the first step.
• •  If your plant consists of a small space (an office or shop) without complicated equipment such as freezers or machinery, you can perform a simple energy 'audit' by analyzing your bills for spikes that may have been due to something as simple as leaving the thermostat up too high.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Use full-service environmental consultants

Instead of going through a lot of trial and error and spending time and valuable resources setting up your energy-saving systems with different energy consulting firms, bring in an energy management consulting firm that can review your needs and set you up with all your best practices in energy efficiency.

I recommend: Bluestone Energy can come in a provide you with an analysis of your energy usage and make recommendation of where you can improve. Work with a large energy consulting firm such as NUS Consulting to reduce and better manage electricity, gas, water/wastewater, petroleum and telecommunications expenses.

Go green with energy consulting

Being environmentally is not only good for business, it's the right thing to do and most businesses are looking for ways to conserve energy. Bring in a company to perform energy efficiency auditing services and make recommendations.

I recommend: Work with Greene Energy Consultants to maximize your energy usage and find ways to make your business green and energy efficient. Energy LLP can advise you about all kinds of alternative energy solutions that you could incorporate into your business.

Let energy management consultants handle it all

Outsource your energy efficiency auditing services to a company that can handle all aspects of the system leaving you free to run your company. They can maintain the equipment, handle billing and provide regular reports. Outsourced energy consulting relieve you and your managers from one more piece of the complicated business territory to those who are experts in that field.

I recommend: Outsource your energy consumption and procurement to Seven Utility Management Consultants to get the maximum results from your resources. GPC can handle all aspects of energy for your business from procurement to building systems, billing and operations management.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  While you're working with environmental consulting firms, let your clientele know that you're doing your part for the environment as part of your marketing strategy.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Energy efficiency auditing

Energy consultants start by performing an energy efficiency audit, which is a multi-step process. Utility bill auditing is one step in evaluating energy usage. Personalized inspection helps identify and solve energy efficiency problems.

I recommend: Learn more about the energy audit process at Efficiency Partnership. For more information on utility bill auditing, see Energy Consultants.

HVAC

In your home and business, your heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system, called HVAC, is likely to be your biggest power drainer. Your energy consultant should be able to make suggestions to make your existing HVAC systems as efficient as possible or to help you choose a new, more efficient system.

I recommend: Learn more about how to design and implement efficient HVAC systems at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency website.

Energy audit software

Many energy consultants use energy audit software as a tool for simulating various energy usage scenarios. Inputting findings into an energy audit software program yields detailed information. As with any software, features and pricing vary widely.

I recommend: Discover one such energy audit software program at Elite Software Development, which shows the included features.

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or FERC, regulates energy industries. They do not regulate individual utility companies, but they regulate the market as a whole.

I recommend: Learn about what the FERC does for the energy industry.

LEED

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System is a set of standards for energy efficient building. Large energy consulting firms often have professional engineers with LEED certification.

I recommend: Learn more about LEED certification at Bluestone Energy Services.

Carbon footprint

Your carbon footprint represents your impact on the environment. It's a measure of the carbon dioxide emitted by daily activities usually expressed in metric tons. Use a carbon footprint calculator to determine those activities that have the greatest impact.

I recommend: Calculate your business or personal impact on the environment and learn what you can do to offset it at Carbon Footprint.