10. How do I know my savings will really be there?
If our calculations and assumptions are correct the energy savings HAVE TO BE THERE. Our calculations and assumptions are ALL documented on the Schedule A that is included with every proposal. We don’t want to hide anything and if you have any questions about our methods we are glad to discuss them with you. If you have any technical people on staff they should be able to understand what we have done and possibly would be willing to express an opinion. Please make sure to read How accurate are the projected energy savings?
Hopefully, before selecting The First Energy Group to do your project you’ve gained the confidence you will see the savings you expect. After your upgrade you will have a lower utility bill. However, if we save you $10,000/month and your bill is $2,000,000/month the reality is that although you are getting your savings you may not be able to separate them from your otherwise very large bill. For most all of our Clients knowing they will see their savings or seeing a lower utility bill is enough. But, there are some people that just want to measure the savings.
And, that’s the real answer. The only way to truly know your energy savings is to measure your energy savings. And, while most people don’t find this extra step necessary it is certainly an option. The First Energy Group works with companies that can perform measure and verification (M&V). Or, if you prefer you can find your own M&V Company. In either case we will coordinate with them to help ensure their equipment is measuring the proper circuitry. Depending upon your needs you may want to implement measurements for a short period of time or over many years – you may even want to implement an entire building management system with internet access to monitor hundreds of points in your facility over the Internet. Although the choice is yours, unless you are looking to implement a Building Automation system, we have rarely found a Prospect that completes this path. M&V is fairly expensive and requires (if you want to get any value out of it) a Senior Level person to set up specifications and review performance. Most Clients become so confident in our projections that they just can’t justify the added M&V costs. Once again, the choice is yours. We want you to be comfortable with whatever you choose.
