Goodbye summer and hello fall! As we move into this new season, we invite you to keep up with the latest energy news, catch up on energy saving tips and get started on your own energy efficiency project by visiting our website below.
What is a Programmable Thermostat?
We rely on our heating and cooling systems day in and day out, so it’s important that our units are running efficiently. If you have not yet upgraded to a programmable thermostat, your current equipment could be wasting energy and costing you money. A programmable thermostat allows you to maintain a constant temperature throughout the day in an effort to lessen complaints and increase comfort. With a programmable thermostat you are in complete control, because you can schedule your HVAC to run at different points in the day depending on necessity. For example, if everyone leaves your facility around 6 p.m., then there is no need to run your heating or air conditioning throughout the night.The same goes for weekends and holidays.
Since these thermostats run on a schedule that you put in place, you can spend less of your valuable time adjusting the temperature. As the seasons change, take a couple minutes to reset your schedule according to the outside temperatures. Interested in upgrading? Give us a call to see how your facility can benefit from a programmable thermostat.
How to be an Energy Champion in the Workplace
Energy efficiency is not a priority in every company, in which case it's difficult to suggest an energy efficiency upgrade.This mindset can come as a result of concerns in budgeting, a lapse in priorities or even misinformation on efficiency.The decision makers in your company might not realize how much they can save with simple upgrades such as lighting or regular HVAC maintenance. If your company has not taken any steps towards energy efficiency, you are missing out on a lot of savings – savings that could go towards planting that community garden, running that major event or hiring new employees.
To get things moving, there needs to be an energy champion in the workplace.This is someone who makes it his mission to delve into energy efficiency and make those upgrades happen. It’s one thing to talk about making an upgrade but it’s another thing to implement, so gear up and get your company moving towards a more sustainable future.
Know your goals: Before you even begin, it’s important to figure out where you want to be. Whether that means sitting down with colleagues in your office or talking to businesses in your community, you should configure a plan for success.
Do your research: Proposing a project can be intimidating, but you’ll feel more confident if you’re prepared. Think about the potential benefits as well as the drawbacks of this project.Think of how this will work in your company and what steps will get you there.Then, think about what questions your colleagues will have and do your best to research the answers. If you’re unsure of something, call a service provider to find out.
Start Small: Don’t come into a meeting and immediately demand that your building be run on 100 percent renewable energy. Instead, suggest that your company upgrade some light bulbs or install some motion sensors. Once they see the potential payoff of these projects, they will be more convinced to move forward with a bigger project down the line.
Set up a project fund: The best energy leaders have a fund put in place exclusively for energy efficient projects. Putting away a certain amount each month can help your company afford more upgrades throughout the year. Plus, you won’t have to spend as much time justifying the cost of a project if you already have the money.
Do small things around the office: Energy efficiency doesn’t have to mean big projects, sometimes it’s as simple as turning off lights when you leave the room or turning off computers at the end of the day. Come up with a company policy to outline how everyone can do his or her part to reduce energy use in the office.
Notable News
The Olympics may be two years away, but it is never too early to think about energy efficiency. According to the Japan Times, the organizing committee wants to power the Tokyo Olympics exclusively through renewable energy. This means the Olympic and Paralympic Games as well as the athlete’s village will run on renewable power such as wind and solar. Part of their plan to reach this goal includes installing solar panels directly into the roads – a tactic that has seen success in France and the Netherlands. To further this commitment to green energy, the organizing committee launched a campaign last year that encouraged people to recycle old electronics. The organizers plan to extract precious metals from these devices in order to make the medals presented at the Games.
Meet the Newest Members of Our Team
We are excited to welcome three new members of the 360EG team. We have our Communications Specialist, Alyssa Collins, Junior Energy Engineer, Ahana Shanbhogue and Energy Engineer, Kevin Tong.
Alyssa Collins
Alyssa is a Communications Specialist who joined 360 Energy Group shortly after receiving her Bachelor Degree in Journalism from Columbia College Chicago. Throughout her college career, Alyssa worked on several editorial projects and publications where she gained experience in writing, editing, marketing and advertising. At 360EG, Alyssa assists with project outreach coordination while managing the company’s website and social media content.
Ahana Shanbhogue
Ahana joined 360 Energy Group after graduating from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor Degree in Environmental Engineering. Passionate about the energy and sustainability industry, Ahana worked on several summer internships in various environmental fields. She worked alongside the University of Michigan Energy Institute, executing a solar energy feasibility study for the City of Ann Arbor. She assessed the feasibility of incorporating a battery storage component alongside solar panels for city owned buildings as well as executed the project cost analysis, determining the payback periods for buildings of various sizes. At 360EG, Ahana assists with retro-commissioning projects, helping to identify how clients can better optimize their energy systems.
Kevin Tong
Kevin’s experience as a mechanical engineer spans over 4 years specializing in high performance building design, performing assessment, design, construction, and commissioning services for commercial, residential, and public buildings, including energy auditing, model simulation, schematic design, construction drawing, and grant procurement for geothermal, solar, boiler, chiller, HVAC, and building automation systems. Kevin received a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Chicago as a Pi Tau Sigma honorary mechanical engineering society member, engineering researcher, and performance engineer at a utility startup providing combined heat and power to local businesses. At 360EG, Kevin provides assessment and retro-commissioning services identifying building performance improvements for public and private entities.
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