(US Dept. of Energy)

July 20, 2010

At the world’s first Clean Energy Ministerial, U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced that the United States is helping launch more than 10 international clean energy initiatives. These initiatives will cut energy waste; help deploy smart grid, electric vehicle, and carbon capture technologies; support renewable energy markets; expand access to clean energy resources and jobs; and support women pursuing careers in clean energy. The new programs offer partners concrete, technical actions to promote economic growth while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants. The initiatives will eliminate the need to build more than 500 mid-sized power plants world-wide in the next 20 years.

“The Clean Energy Ministerial has brought together leaders from around the world to take unprecedented actions to deploy clean energy technologies—from energy efficiency to renewable energy to smart grids to carbon capture. These steps will promote economic growth, create jobs, and cut greenhouse gas emissions,” said Secretary Chu. “What we’ve seen here is that working together, we can accomplish more, faster, than working alone.”

At this week’s Clean Energy Ministerial in Washington, D.C., countries are launching and joining innovative initiatives to accelerate the global transition to a clean energy and low-carbon future. Ministers from 24 governments are participating in the two-day Ministerial. These countries represent more than 80% of global energy consumption and a similar percentage of the global market for clean energy technologies.

The United States helped lead the development of several initiatives as part of a Global Energy Efficiency Challenge. These projects will cut energy waste around the world by deploying super-efficient appliances, improving industrial and building efficiency for large-scale facilities, implementing smart grid technologies, and helping to put millions of electric vehicles on the roads.

Under the Super-efficient Equipment and Appliance Deployment (SEAD) Initiative, for instance, governments will work with the private sector to transform the global appliance market. The program will address both ends of the efficiency spectrum—incentivizing the deployment of super-efficient appliances while implementing and enforcing stronger appliance standards that push the most inefficient appliances off the market. The program will initially focus on televisions and lighting—two globally-traded products that together account for about 15% of household electricity use. Leading experts estimate that international efforts to improve the efficiency of televisions alone could reduce energy use equal to about 80 power plants by 2030.

As part of the Global Energy Efficiency Challenge, governments also joined the U.S. to improve efficiency in the buildings, industrial and vehicles sectors. The Global Superior Energy Performance (GSEP) Partnership will help large buildings and industrial facilities measure and manage their energy use, which will save money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Under this public-private partnership, governments will establish internationally-recognized certification programs to recognize facilities that adopt approved energy management systems and achieve significant and independently validated efficiency improvements over time. To start, eight companies representing over $600 billion in annual sales and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology will pilot the program.

In the transportation sector, the U.S. and other countries are participating in the Electric Vehicles Initiative (EVI) to enhance global cooperation on the development and deployment of electric vehicles. Through sister-city partnerships, high-level discussions, and information-sharing on electric vehicle investments and best practices, EVI will help countries deliver on their respective deployment targets. According to the International Energy Agency, this initiative will help put participating countries on the path to deploy at least 20 million electric vehicles by 2020 and reduce global oil consumption by approximately one billion barrels over the next decade.

To further accelerate the introduction of electric vehicles, improve the reliability of the electrical system, promote the growth of renewable energy, and help consumers and businesses better measure and lower their energy use, 15 governments also joined theInternational Smart Grid Action Network (ISGAN). This partnership will accelerate the development and deployment of smart electricity grids around the world by facilitating cooperation in key areas, including smart grid policy, regulation and finance; standards policy; technology research, development and demonstration; workforce skills and expertise; and consumer engagement.

Governments also came together to participate in an additional seven initiatives that will support the growing global market for renewable energy and carbon capture technologies; bring solar LED lanterns to more than 10 million of the world’s poorest citizens by 2015; launch virtual Clean Energy Solutions Centers to help developing countries transition to low-carbon technologies; and encourage young women to pursue careers in clean energy.

CRG conducts a thorough site survey and inspection, completes a review and analysis of blueprints, building plans and service contracts, and looks closely at historical expenditures. Our consultants utilize national costing information for calculations and projections, along with usual and customary asset longevity.  This allows us to create a thorough, very detailed and complete picture of the property and anticipated asset longevity.

Reserve Studies examines an exhaustive list of property components, including everything from carpet, masonry and windows to HVAC and other systems.  The study also includes property features such as parking areas, athletic fields, gymnasiums and swimming pools.  Whatever the unique features of your property may be, a CRG Reserve Study will provide thorough analysis and projections.

CRG’s comprehensive Reserve Study Report enumerates each asset or component by cost, useful life and estimated remaining longevity.  We will also recommend annual funding expenditures to manage replacement, repair or improvements over a 30 year period.  Our Reserve Study Reports project annual expenses over the next 30 years, taking inflation into account.

A Reserve Study provides peace of mind, and more importantly, is just a smart business practice that provides valuable information on the longevity of assets and planning for their estimated and useful lives.  Having this knowledge enables any organization to stop managing from crisis and lack of preparation for asset failure, and take charge of budgeting.

Don’t be caught off guard as repair costs mount and systems fail.  Call Marky Moore at CRG to discuss a Reserve Study today.

If you aren’t aware of how you are using, or losing, energy in your facility you are probably spending too much.  Capital Review Group offers businesses several options when it comes to energy audits; from a walk-through identifying problem areas and usage issues to a sophisticated and detailed analysis that will enable significant capital investment decisions.

CRG’s Level I energy audit is typically a facility walk-through focusing on low-cost or no-cost efficiency measures, operational improvements and behavioral practices.  Due to the inexpensive nature of many efficiency measures, many clients find a significant ROI.  Clients experience the ease of efficiency implementation and can enjoy both immediate and long-term savings opportunities.  This type of audit can determine whether a more detailed analysis is required, and also allows clients to prioritize energy-efficiency measures.

Level II audits go into more detail, targeting specific efficiency measures that require some level of capital investment.  A CRG Level II audit includes energy use analysis with engineering calculations, as well as financial analysis of proposed energy efficiency measures.  LEVEL II audits also provide a more in-depth analysis of existing behaviors, maintenance procedures and possible impact of savings/efficiency measures. CRG provides clients with a clear report including ROI analysis, illustrating the financial benefits of each energy saving/efficiency measure.

In many cases a more detailed analysis of energy-efficiency upgrades is required to justify investment and provide confidence in these capital expenditures.  CRG’s LEVEL III audit is an “Investment Grade Audit” which builds on the LEVEL II analysis, and focuses primarily on capital-intensive opportunities and providing a high degree of monitoring, data collection and engineering analysis.  This comprehensive report will provide detailed cost saving measures with the requisite financial data to make significant capital investment decisions.  Additionally, the report may also include implementation plans and milestones necessary to achieve the client’s predetermined ROI.

Awareness is the first step in making improvements. Don’t continue wasting money on inefficient energy use.  Call Marky Moore at CRG today for a no-obligation consultation.

Whole-building (integrated) design is a growing trend in green building.  This method of building or making improvements, analyzes the way a building’s systems work together and affect each other, rather than trying to make improvements to systems or components individually.  Whole-building design results in a more efficient design that maximizes energy efficiency and minimizes the building’s impact on its environment.

Before making improvements to an existing building, it is important to establish the overall goals for the project and establish a green team that will design and coordinate an integrated plan.  The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has established the LEED Certification process in an effort to create the standard for what constitutes a green building.  Having a project coordinator who understands the USGBC standards and/or other standards and can integrate them into the project is extremely beneficial.

In projects where an integrated approach is not taken,  often plant or facility employees have little experience in evaluating equipment or systems and don’t have up-to-date knowledge on green building codes and available incentives.  They are typically looking for the cheapest install and may overlook important economic factors that will save the property owner money in the long run.   An improperly installed system may not yield the expected energy savings and may have a negative impact on future upgrades to other building components.

An experienced consultant on your green team can facilitate coordination of the trades so that when looking at a lighting upgrade all incentives are reviewed.  A lighting upgrade can also result in significant energy saving opportunities for subsequent building system upgrades.  It’s important to coordinate with the HVAC trade so that the new equipment may be sized to account for the reduction of heat from old lights to new lights. You’ll also need to know if there are any potential incentives that may be available for the new HVAC system.

Additionally, a consultant who understands the wider-reaching impact of improvements that might include fenestration, roofing or insulation will provide the property owner the added benefit of their knowledge of integrated building systems and the effect of local environmental factors on the building.  It is possible that with the right basic building materials in place, the building will be more energy efficient and require smaller and more energy efficient heating and cooling equipment.  This could easily result in significant savings overall, improved productivity, as well as, establishing a more comprehensive – and improved environment within the facility.

Whole-building design takes into account the complexity of each building’s structure and systems, creating a logical and cohesive design.  Implementing an integrated design approach also allows property owners to follow professionally developed best-practices for creating lasting green improvements.

To learn more about Green Building Improvements, project coordination,  or for an initial cost-free consultation, contact M.A. Moore, corporate sustainability advisor at www.capitalreviewgroup.com or directly at 602.741.7776.

Some of the key initiatives sponsored by more than $1.6 million contributed by IPEEC member countries include the Sustainable Buildings Network (SBN) and the Worldwide Energy Efficiency Action through Capacity Building and Training project.

Italy leads the Worldwide Energy Efficiency Action through Capacity Building and Training project, providing seed funding for the project which will establish on-site training workshops and online materials to share best practices for energy efficiency. The International Energy Agency and the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory are providing technical assistance in developing training materials, and the first on-site workshop will be held this year in Mexico.

The SBN has already held six workshops in their efforts to focus on intelligent tropical architecture, zero-energy buildings, and innovative policies to increase efficiency in exiting buildings. The SBN brings together a number of building efficiency organizations, and building experts from across the globe participated in an in-depth review in May at the EE Global Forum.

Cathy Zoi, Assistant Secretary of the Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy is heading up the committee, and the US leads the Super-efficient Equipment and Appliance Deployment project and has committed up to $3 million annually to support the project.

Membership in IPEEC continues to grow, with Australia joining just last month; and the world’s energy community will be brought together next in July at the Clean Energy Ministerial hosted by US Department of Energy Secretary Chu.

The built environment has a profound impact on our natural environment, economy, health, and productivity.

In the United States alone, buildings account for:
• 72% of electricity consumption,
• 39% of energy use,
• 38% of all carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions,
• 40% of raw materials use,
• 30% of waste output (136 million tons annually), and
• 14% of potable water consumption.

Benefits of Green Building
Environmental benefits:
-Enhance and protect ecosystems and biodiversity
-Improve air and water quality
-Reduce solid waste
-Conserve natural resources
Economic benefits:
-Reduce operating costs
-Enhance asset value and profits
-Improve employee productivity and satisfaction
-Optimize life-cycle economic performance
Health and community benefits:
-Improve air, thermal, and acoustic environments
-Enhance occupant comfort and health
-Minimize strain on local infrastructure
-Contribute to overall quality of life

Consumer awareness of such issues has risen, and in challenging economic times, people are choosing carefully where to spend their dollars. A growing percentage of consumers are more likely to buy from businesses they perceive as being eco-friendly. The general population is becoming more knowledgeable about concepts like “carbon footprint” and consumers are looking to alternative energy sources, hybrid vehicles and responsibly produced food products. Consumers are buying fewer cheap, disposable products and are re-using and recycling more items.

Whether at home or at the office, state and federal tax refunds for upgrading to energy-efficient appliances and systems are providing incentives for many to make the switch to a greener lifestyle. Tax benefits available to businesses through the Energy Policy Act of 2005 have been extended through 2013. A growing number of businesses are working toward LEED certification to make a positive contribution to the health of their employees and the environment, as well as benefitting from the improved financial health of their business.

The newest significant development in green construction is the launch of the IGCC on March 15, 2010. The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) continues to actively promote green building, and most recently joined with the International Code Council (ICC), the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), and the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IES) to create the International Green Construction Code (IGCC). The IGCC builds on the LEED certification system, and provides a set of standards and enforceable green building codes intended to facilitate the construction of green buildings in the U.S. The IGCC is designed to be continuously evolving, resulting in increased performance as new technologies are developed.

The ICC and ASHRAE have a long history of establishing codes and standards governing the design, construction, operations and maintenance of residential and commercial buildings. By joining forces with the USGBC and IES, each organization’s strengths can be leveraged in a partnership that will establish enforceable green building codes reaching all 50 states and over 22,000 local jurisdictions.

Additionally, ANSI/ASHRAE/USGBC/IES Standard 189.1 provides an alternative set of standards covering indoor environmental air quality, energy and water-use efficiency, materials and resource use, and impact on the building site and surrounding community. Standard 189.1 was written by building industry experts over a three year period, in which it underwent four public reviews, receiving thousands of comments.

As the sustainability trend continues to evolve and green building codes become the standard, it’s important for businesses to be aware of available programs and incentives, stay up to date on code requirements as they continue to be refined, as well as understanding the potential impact of these factors on their bottom line. The experts at Capital Review Group assist businesses in targeting the maximum savings and developing a strategy for successfully riding the “green” wave.

For those business owners who have pinpointed the upgrades they’d like to make, the SBA provides loans to finance energy efficient improvements. The SBA Certified Development Company (504) loan program helps small businesses “make significant capital improvements including extensive plant/office renovations to increase energy efficiency overall.” On April 15th, President Obama signed legislation that will provide an additional $80 million in funding to continue supporting SBA loan programs. The SBA may continue to reduce loan fees on 504 program loans through May 2010 or until funds are exhausted.

An SBA loan would finance approved energy-efficient appliances, purchase of hybrid or improved mileage vehicles, alternative fuel for vehicles, energy-efficient power, wind and solar power, increased-efficiency systems, and increased insulation. The 504 loan program provides larger commercial real estate and equipment loans to build new facilities, or finance renewable, green energy equipment. There is also a green retrofit refinance available to qualified businesses.

Businesses with net income of up to $3 million can now qualify for the 504 program loans, with as little as 10% down and 10% equity. In a time when many small businesses are struggling to qualify for financing, SBA business loans are a viable option for those business owners who want to have a positive environmental impact. Studies show a growing percentage of consumers who look for green companies to do business with, so the improvements made with the help of an SBA loan may result in a stronger customer base and increased revenue. Additional benefits to small businesses come in the form of state and federal tax deductions for implementing energy-efficient changes.

Thinking an SBA 504 loan might be right for your business? Contact Marky Moore at Capital Review Group for a no-cost analysis while SBA loans are still available. We will estimate both immediate and long-term measurable savings, credits and other opportunities for your business.

In challenging economic times, consumers are choosing carefully where to spend their dollars.  A growing percentage of those consumers are more likely to buy from businesses they perceive as being eco-friendly.  The general population is becoming more aware of concepts like “carbon footprint” and consumers are looking to alternative energy sources, hybrid vehicles and responsibly produced food products.  Consumers are buying less cheap, disposable products and are re-using and recycling more items.

Whether at home or at the office, state and federal tax refunds for upgrading to energy-efficient appliances and systems are providing incentives for many to make the switch to a greener lifestyle.  Tax benefits available to businesses through the Energy Policy Act of 2005 have been extended through 2013.  A growing number of businesses are working toward LEED certification to make a positive contribution to the health of their employees and the environment, as well as benefitting from the improved financial health of their business.

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) continues to actively promote green building, and most recently joined with the International Code Council (ICC), the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), and the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IES) to create the International Green Construction Code (IGCC).  The IGCC builds on the LEED certification system, and provides a set of standards and enforceable green building codes intended to facilitate the construction of green buildings in the U.S.  The IGCC is designed to be continuously evolving, resulting in increased performance as new technologies are developed.

As the sustainability trend continues to evolve, it’s important for businesses to be aware of available programs and incentives, as well as understanding the potential impact on their bottom line.  CRG can help your business target the maximum savings and develop a strategy for successfully riding the “green” wave.

Within the specified workspace, LEED certification for Commercial Interiors establishes a set of performance standards for certifying the design and construction of tenant spaces for office, restaurant, healthcare, hotel/resort and education buildings of all sizes, both public and private.  This certification promotes a healthy work environment, as well as affordable and environmentally sound practices in design and construction.

The LEED for Commercial Interiors Rating System addresses 7 main areas:

• Sustainable Sites
• Water Efficiency
• Energy and Atmosphere
• Materials and Resources
• Indoor Environmental Quality
• Innovation in Design
• Regional Priority

Specifics addressed in these main areas include diverse components such as lighting, HVAC, materials reuse, storage and collection of recyclables, water use reduction and usage of low-emitting materials in furniture, paint, and flooring systems.  Factors such as access to public transportation, bicycle storage and changing facilities, environmental tobacco smoke control, and daylight and views are also considerations in the certification process.

Imagine the impact of addressing these diverse concepts in your workspace, as they relate to sustainability, responsible building practices, and the health and well-being of employees and customers.  Business owners who consider LEED certification are at the forefront of this increasingly important national awareness, which is supported by a growing number of government programs and incentives.

Capital Review Group can help business owners weigh the benefits of LEED Certification for Commercial Interiors and develop strategies to best implement the requirements to your workspace.  Marky Moore is a LEED Accredited Professional, who can work with you, your designer and contractor to develop a progressive workspace, or conduct a review of your current space to see how it may be improved to achieve LEED certification.