To audit or not to audit? This can be a simply answered question when you consider the array of benefits gained from an energy audit. The switch to more energy efficient solutions could really be a benefit for your business.

An energy audit is an in-depth, outside to inside, room-by-room examination of your business’ current energy efficiency levels and usage practices. Taking this information and the level of savings you’d like to achieve into account, a customized plan can then be developed, focusing on cost-effective solutions for maximizing functionality and efficiency while minimizing your business’ energy usage and expenses.   

A professional audit pays for itself, offering you the opportunity to discover the most effective ways to cut operating costs through energy efficient improvements. How much can it save? The average commercial building wastes thirty percent of its energy dollars, meaning an investment in efficiency can return, on average, $1.50 for every dollar invested.  

By identifying and rectifying potentially dangerous problems, particularly in older buildings, auditors can detect possible health and safety risks such as carbon monoxide from improperly operating or improperly vented combustion equipment, radon leaks, and more.

Improvements in insulation and air sealing reduce heat transfer, leading to a more stable, efficiently heated and cooling space. This increased comfort through an improved thermal envelope can lead to not only increased productivity, but also a reduction in utility costs for you.

Energy audits not only protect the environment by reducing fossil fuel pollution, but also ensure a more secure energy future for everyone. Even addressing something as simple as lighting efficiency can net big results.

Rebates, tax credits and other incentives may be available toward your energy audit in efforts to encourage reduced energy usage and the conservation of natural resources. Contact your local utility company to learn more about the opportunity for a free or reduced price energy audit for your business. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) website also lists programs available to you, including grants and loans to assist your business in making energy efficient upgrades.

To ensure a successful audit, it’s necessary to provide detailed building information, including function, floor plans, orientation, copies of past utility bills, an equipment list, notes on existing issues, updates you’d like to achieve, and more. Talk to a Mr. Electrical® service professional prior to your audit for details. Please click here to see example energy audits from our company.

Promote the sustainability of your bottom line - and the planet - by contacting Mr. Electric to schedule your commercial energy audit today.

In our previous blog, we mentioned the importance of understanding when not to DIY at a general level. Today, we will look at specific instances of when it would be wise to call upon the services of an emergency electrician. As always, we recommend all electrical work be done by a certified professional, but we do understand that the DIY culture created by internet interconnectivity has more homeowners than ever attempting to take home repairs into their own hands. The following instances are a few definite instances that require the attention of an electrician, more specifically the services of a 24 hour electrician. These examples include:

We hope you never need an emergency electrician, but it is likely that you will need electrical services of some sort while you own your home. If you ever finding yourself in need of an electrician in Des Moines, please contact our certified professionals for your electrical needs or emergency electrician services.

ballast-compatible LED T8 tube for office lighting, school lighting, hospital lighting, basement lighting, and more. The energy-efficient F32T8 tube light can be used in direct-wire fixtures or to replace T8 tubes in fluorescent fixtures without removing ballasts. Designed to last 50,000 hours—5 times longer than fluorescent tubes—the LED T8 tube reduces costly repairs, disposal fees, and the need for replacements. This energy-efficient LED light uses just 18 watts of power and is comparable to a 32-watt fluorescent tube light.

It's not quite summer yet, but the recent bout of spring fever that has overtaken much of the Mid Atlantic has inspired many homeowners to begin planning for the upcoming warm weather. One of the first things that people look into this time of year is how they will make sure their backyard is utilized to the fullest once the temperatures outside start coming closer to the triple digits. The Washington, DC area is known for steamy, sticky summers that tend to hang around well into fall, and one of the only ways that many residents are able to stay comfortable later in the season is by taking a dip in their swimming pools.

If you are lucky enough to have a swimming pool in your DC backyard, you likely understand what a savior these structures can be, but also what a hassle they often are to maintain. It's true that there are few things as refreshing as the cool water on a sweltering afternoon, but if your pool isn't clean, it's one of the last places you'll want to be wading.

Maintaining your pool also brings with it several potential hazards that come about when you aren't keeping tabs on your equipment. After all, it's an electric motor that powers your pool's filter, and when water gets involved with electricity there are always precautions that need to be taken.

Make sure that the electrical connection from the motor to your house is secure and not located near any standing water. For instance, if you use an outdoor extension cord to power the unit, make sure that the spot where the male and female ends of your two cords meet is above ground so that it won't be vulnerable to any puddles.