Issue 84 - Collective Energy Solutions: Steps Toward A Healthier Planet

We all suffer rising energy prices. These costs consume a significant portion of our monthly expenses. For manufacturers and big business these amounts can be in the tens of thousands of dollars while many small companies worry that increasing electricity costs might force them out of business.

So what can companies do to reduce the expense but not sacrifice their needs?

There can be more than one answer, more than one solution. Every business is different, each have their own unique set of circumstances and particular needs. That is why it is important to bring in the professionals.

There is one local company committed to finding ways for businesses to save on their energy costs without diminishing their use. They approach the question by intensely scrutinizing the problem in a collective way. They offer more than one answer, more than one possible solution, they provide Collective Energy Solutions.

Collective Energy Solutions is a progressive, forward thinking company. They are a young company of experienced professionals and bright young minds who are as dedicated to the environment as they are committed to their customers. They are certified electrical contractors and their job is to help businesses optimize their use of electricity while reducing the expense and at the same time, have a positive impact on the environment.

For nearly three years now Collective Energy Solutions (CES) have been showing local businesses how to reduce their use and save money even in the face of rising electricity costs. For small businesses to large manufactures; for retailers and malls; for streets and parking lot owners; for new construction and renovations; for inside and outside Collective Energy Solutions provides answers.

Mike Lapalme is the company owner, a young man with a deep understanding of all things electrical and a profound appreciation for the environment. He is graduate of St. Clair College and served a five year electrician apprenticeship before stating his own business in 2010. Along with his team Collective Energy Solution is a growing company with the expertise and capabilities for any project.

While CES primary focus is working with local businesses to help them reduce their energy bills many of their recommendations and practices can be adopted by homeowners too. However, CES does not offer residential energy audits at this time.

For businesses, they offer a full energy audit without charge. One quick phone call or an e-mail can get your business started on the green path to efficiency and savings.

Collective Energy Solutions breaks down the question of saving energy costs by beginning with a comprehensive on-site inspection. They examine everything electrical. Testing, measuring, scrutinizing all the connections and every thing along the line from the panel box to the plugs. They check wiring; the fixtures; machinery, equipment, even the refrigerator. Anything that requires electricity is closely analyzed.

“We conduct a thorough on-site energy audit,” Mike explains, “we check everything , ...we look to see how and where energy is being used, ...we look for deficiencies and waste, then we provide recommendations and offer ways to improve the system.”

Sometimes the problems are as conspicuous as the lights above our head, in fact, Mike points to out-of-date lighting as one of the biggest culprits of an inefficient and expensive use of electricity.

“Changing your lights can result in immediate savings” he says. “Today’s products use significantly less energy and just by switching to something more efficient will lower your bill.

And modernizing or upgrading your building’s entire lighting system can save businesses thousands of dollars every month.”

Mike points to another wasteful expense many businesses face: the lights are on, but it’s daytime! Or there is nobody in the building, or it’s after hours, or somebody just forgot to turn off the lights! These are situations Mike insists can be managed and prevented.

“Implementing the use of photo-cells, sensors and timers help manage lights and electrical devices more efficiently,” he said, adding, “eliminating those wasteful hours when things do not need to be on or are not in use will add up to significant savings.”

Mike also adds that regular maintenance and inspections will keep everything running at optimal performance and mitigate costs by finding potential trouble before it can become a serious problem. There are other pro-active and protective steps worth serious consideration. Without confusing that matter too much, you can protect your electrical panel box from sudden spikes of electricity with surge protectors, you can protect your energy costs from similar spikes with surge suppression. Mike explains it better.

“When the compressor in your fridge or air conditioner kicks on there is a spike of energy. That spike is measured at a higher rate and therefor delivered at a higher cost. Surge suppression, suppresses these spikes, evens them out, it can reduce the operating costs of something like air-conditioners by 15%, or more.”

Mike further describes how manufacturers today are producing a variety of energy saving light products such as LED’s, T-5 (fluorescent) and induction lighting. This is some of the newest technology the lighting world has given us since incandescence, and it achieves the purpose of getting more for less. But there are differences, in price and applications, it is important to allow only qualified professionals like CES help you select the products and designs that best serve your business needs.

“This is where our close working relationship with our customers allow us to make recommendations suited for their particular needs and circumstances” Offers Mike, “each project is different, each customer is different, ...we are going to recommend different products, different designs in different situations. It is our job to consider all the factors and it is not just about numbers or kilowatts, its about the people, the business and the environment. We consider how our recommendations and solutions affect everything. “

Investing in better technology and modernizing is going to come with a cost but as Mike suggests, doing nothing and continuing to use old energy-hungry machinery, equipment, devices and lights will cost more!

“The project will pay for itself.” he says. “The return on the investment can be as little as three months, ...of course circumstances differ from project to project, costs differ, time frames differ, but sometimes even the most extensive projects can recover their costs in as little as two years! That is an indication of how significant changes to they way we manage electricity can have, ...collectively our customers are saving millions every year!”

This is all so promising, but Mike warns businesses to be diligent and careful in choosing an electrical contractor. Not all are fair and equal. Not all provide the same service for the same price. Not all are environmentally conscientious. However, with great confidence and with check marks in all the categories, Mike rated his own business Collective Energy Solutions at the top.

“I don not think that our competitors are as thorough as we are or equally committed to the specific needs of customers. Some companies do not offer much choice ...they have only one way of doing things or carry only one product line, and this limits their service. We have many suppliers, we can get the right product to fit the right need, we look at all the factors and present all possible solutions giving our customers options, ...choices.”

And Collective Energy Solutions give their customers something very few can offer: the opportunity to help the environment when they help themselves by choosing to reduce and conserve electricity. At CES, this is more than their business philosophy it is their belief.

“It is our passion for the environment that sets us apart from the others,” Mike says, “we do not see it as just a job, we see the bigger picture. What we do gives us the opportunity to have a positive impact on the environment, ...every time we replace or retrofit old wasteful technology with modern and more efficient products and every time we complete a project we know we have helped the environment by helping businesses reduce their energy use and shrink their carbon footprint. Sure, these are tiny steps but as more and more people, more and more businesses join this movement to use energy more efficiently, collectively these are many steps moving forward together toward a cleaner world. We are proud to be a company that values the environment and promotes conservation and efficiency. And of course when we help other businesses save money, we are also helping the local economy and in turn, the whole community.”

If you need any more encouragement to look for ways to save energy costs, there are Government rebate programs available. Business can be eligible for up to a 50% rebate off project costs. Collective Energy Solutions can provides all the details and will do all the work in processing the customer’s application for these rebate programs. There is no cost for this service and the rebate cheques go directly to the customer.

But even without these rebate incentives Mike insists that the investment is well worth the cost.

“They will begin saving money as soon as the work is completed.” He says, adding, “And they can have a sense of pride knowing that the benefits to the environment are real and represent something more than money saved.”

“Conservation and efficiency are the keys” Mike reiterates. “And all of us at Collective Energy Solutions are inspired to achieve optimal levels for both in every project we undertake, because the better we do our job, the healthier the planet.”

Learn more about Collective Energy Solutions by visiting their web site: collectiveenergysolutions.com or telephone: 519.817.3470 or e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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