Economical Energy Efficiency Obtained through Utility Demand Side Management
Even though companies have many reasons for not maintaining an energy efficient utility system, the biggest one seems to be built around money. They simply don’t have a budget that can handle the maintenance nor do they have the money to make the needed changes.
In some cases, the money may actually be available to change things but then there isn’t enough money to implement the changes. However, once company heads find out the significant amount of money that can be saved through implementing these changes, they start to feel pressured to make them.
For companies desiring to make energy efficient changes but unable to afford the upfront payment, the answer may be to implement the changes through Utility Demand Side Management programs. These programs are the result of energy providers joining with energy efficiency providers.
Together, they encourage companies to make energy efficient changes. The program motivates companies by offering very nice financing options that will drastically decrease the initial money upfront to implement these energy efficient changes. Utility Demand Side Management programs present their providers with financial incentives for getting more companies to use these energy efficient power systems. Right now there are 20 states with laws requiring a certain amount of power usage to come through energy efficient technology.
Companies are given options to make their buildings more energy efficient. However, most companies feel their priority is to retrofit their current inside lighting system. So an energy efficiency consultant conducts a technical and financial study of the lighting system and then offers a plan to retrofit the lighting that will still be energy efficient. They can also do the same analysis with the outside lighting so that more solutions can be offered.
Another way to help implement these energy efficient plans is through peak load management programs. These were developed as a way to keep a good balance of the supply of electricity with the demand for it while decreasing the strain put on the grid. This will also work to cap the use of more costly and least efficient operations. As long as companies cooperate, it can work to the good of everyone when they understand the importance of being more energy efficient.
