Empowered Energy Solutions

Q. What is Empowered Energy Solutions?
A. Empowered Energy Solutions Inc. creates and executes building energy efficiency upgrades focused on client return on investment.

Q. What services does Empowered offer?
A. Empowered Energy Solutions Inc. offers a comprehensive service package designed to help property owners reduce energy use and take advantage of renewable energy such as solar power.
Empowered will perform an audit to identify areas where energy waste is taking place, then, using our EnergyOptima software, make an optimized recommendation of the most cost-effective ways to retrofit to reduce or eliminate energy waste and if appropriate, the right-sized solar or other renewable energy system. Our experienced general contractors will then perform the retrofit and installation, while our incentive management team will submit, manage and collect all available incentives and rebates.
Our licensed, bonded contractors can perform retrofits including weatherstripping, window/door replacement, lighting replacement, HVAC optimization, insulation, water efficiency upgrades and solar thermal and PV installation.

Q. What is EnergyOptima?
A. EnergyOptima is Empowered's patented software that uses evolutionary algorithms to calculate optimized energy efficiency upgrades based on building data, all available potential upgrades, client financial goals, local conditions, and incentive/rebate programs. EnergyOptima uses algorithms developed to solve complex mathematical problems in biomedicine, defense and industrial applications.

Q. What are the benefits of energy efficiency?
A. Taking energy efficiency measures will reduce your utility bills and lower your monthly expenses, increase your income, and improve your building by making it more comfortable, healthy, and valuable. Commercial properties benefit from higher rents, increased demand, better sales, fewer sick days, and a more comfortable environment. Energy efficient private homes are also more comfortable, healthier, increase in value and sell faster.

Q. What does energy efficiency cost?
A. Empowered Energy Solutions building energy audits and energy efficiency upgrade proposals are FREE for qualified properties. Our "efficiency first" optimized proposals are designed to maximize client return on investment and bring the fastest possible payback. Most projects require no initial investment and will lower monthly costs immediately, resulting in improved cash flow as soon as projects are completed.

Q. Why "Efficiency First"?
A. Dollars spent on energy efficiency upgrades have a much higher return on investment than spending on renewable energy such Solar PV. Our "efficiency-first" philosophy reduces wasted energy use, lowering power demand, then utilizes renewable energy such as solar or wind power to zero out remaining energy bills.

Q. Who is the Empowered team? Do you have experience doing this?
A. Empowered's team includes scientists, engineers, researchers, project managers, general contractors, efficiency diagnosticians, accountants, financial analysis, and professionals. Together we have over 150 years of combined experience to draw upon as we push the leading edge of building energy efficiency.

Q. What about Solar?
A. Solar Power is an integral part of our goal to help clients zero out their energy costs. After reducing energy use through energy efficiency upgrades, solar hot water and solar photovoltaic are used to help eliminate utility power use. As solar Feed-in Tariffs are passed solar PV system owners will be able to sell power back to the utilities, generating revenue.

Q. What is a "Feed-In Tariff"?
A. Feed-in Tariffs are incentives designed to promote renewable energy. Utilities must buy renewable electricity (electricity generated from renewable sources, such as solar or wind power at above-market rates set by the government. California recently passed two bills, AB 920 and AB 32, which mandate that utilities must buy back power from solar and wind power systems. The result is that if your solar PV system generates more power than you use, the utility will actually pay you for your excess power generated!

Q. Isn't solar photovoltaic expensive?
A. Solar electric power does not have to be expensive. If solar PV installation is done without first gaining all possible energy efficiency measures, then chances are too large a system will be used, increasing cost. Taking energy efficiency measures first will reduce the size of the solar system needed as well as the cost. Additionally, taking full advantage of financing and incentives can eliminate out-of-pocket investment and lower overall cost drastically. Empowered's goal is to help clients zero out their energy bills and immediately reduce their costs.

Best of all, Empowered financing can lock in your payments so you can be sure that even as your neighbors pay more and more for power each year you keep paying at the same rate as the day you had the solar system installed.

Q. Doesn't Solar take a long time to pay back?
A. By utilizing energy efficiency first, sizing the solar system correctly, and securing the right kind of financing we can make solar cheaper than paying the utility company for power from day one. Most of our clients experience a complete return on their entire investment within the first five years, making solar an inflation-adjusted investment superior to anything else available today.

Q. Will I require a backup generator for my solar system?
A. Not unless you intend to go off the grid. This is a very unusual arrangement generally found in rural areas without consistent access to utility power. If this is important to you we can explore this option, explaining the pros, cons, and costs involved. Unless this is something you specifically want, however, we'll almost certainly recommend a "grid-tied" solar system in which your building remains attached to the utility system. Your Solar PV installation will put power back onto the grid during the daytime peak generation period, letting you offset the cost of the power you draw off the grid at night when your solar system is not producing.

Q. Will going solar change how I live my life?
A. Yes! By working with Empowered to employ an optimized energy efficiency strategy you will find yourself living or working in a more comfortable, healthy, valuable, and profitable building. You will have the security of knowing that your power costs are fixed, or even nonexistent, after the system is paid for in just a few years, and you won't have to worry about the rising cost of power adversely affecting your financial well-being. Finally, you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you are making a huge contribution to a healthier, happier, safer future for everyone.

Q. Does Empowered provide financing?
A. Yes! Our goal is to immediately reduce our clients' energy costs by lowering their monthly payments. We offer several different financing options that can result in no initial out-of-pocket expense for our clients and lower monthly payments. Of course financing is dependent on each client's credit and financial situation. We will work with you and your CPA to develop the financing option that makes the most sense and provides the best return on investment.

Q. Will this save me money? How much?
A. Empowered will provide you with a proposal optimized for your individual needs and objectives. In most cases we can eliminate your energy bill, and replace it with a fixed-rate loan or lease payment lower than the original bill. You will be saving money from day one and your out-of-pocket expense is zero. Not only that, the money you save is tax free!

Q. How much will energy efficiency or solar cost up front?
A. With the correct financing you will pay nothing up front, and actually experience a reduction in your monthly expenses from the moment the project is complete. Of course this depends on your particular credit and financial qualifications.

Q. How long will it take to make back my money?
A. Each situation is different, but most of our clients have experienced a total return on investment in less than five years, and some as quickly as the first year. Several have received significant cash back in the first year from rebates and incentives, even when there is no initial investment.

Q. Do efficiency upgrades actually work?
A. Yes. Because most energy efficiency technologies have actual ratings attached (I.e. R-value for insulation or wattage generated for solar PV), we can predict with great accuracy what the physical result of installing insulation or solar panels will be, and therefore the financial result.

Q. If we change my lights/bulbs what will the light be like?
A. New technologies in LED and CFL technology have succeeded in producing lights that many people actually prefer over obsolete incandescent lighting. Also, CFL and LED lights do not produce heat like incandescent bulbs, making your building more comfortable and reducing your conditioning costs. We will work with you to meet or exceed your current quality of light.

Q. How long does an energy efficiency project take?
A. Most projects can go from start to finish in just a few weeks. It depends on the scope of your particular project. Our project managers will give you an estimate of the project duration before getting started.

Q. Will an Empowered energy efficiency project disrupt my life/tenants/business?
A. We work to ensure minimum inconvenience for all our clients. Work can be scheduled around your needs, and completed with minimal disruption and mess. In the rare cases where this is totally unavoidable any interruption to normal operating should last for less than one business day.

Q. Should I replace my water heater/stove/gas appliances?
A. Possibly. We will determine what is in your best financial interest and advise you how to realize the maximum return on investment. Sometimes it makes more financial sense to keep certain appliances or an existing water heater. Gas can be more efficient than electricity for these appliances, and the cost of a new system may outweigh the benefit.

Q. What about solar hot water?
A. Solar hot water is frequently a great investment. When it is right for you, we will recommend it. If it would not be in your best interests, as defined by you, we will not even suggest it.

Q. What about water?
A. Water is a utility cost as well, and many new technologies exist to help use water more efficiently. Empowered can help property owners reduce water waste through upgrades of building water fixtures, and help develop a property water management program that increases water use efficiency, lowering water bills and helping building owners comply with water use restrictions.

If you would like additional information about Empowered Energy Solutions feel free to contact us via telephone at 858 345-1239 or via info@empoweredenergysolutions.com.