The TAC EnergyEdge program includes a professional energy audit and comprehensive facility analysis to discover energy saving opportunities. A trained energy engineer studies a building’s operations and energy use and devises targeted energy conservation measures (ECMs) that deliver tangible results with fast payback. The program includes a focus on areas to address business problems and high energy use, backed by monitoring and support services to ensure performance and sustain energy reductions. Typically, a return on investment is realized between two and five years, according to the company.
“The average building uses 20 percent more energy than needed,” said Jana Gerber, director of TAC Americas Marketing & Business Development. “TAC EnergyEdge leaves no stone unturned, looking at all opportunities to improve energy use, saving customers as much as 30 percent in utility costs.”
The most common and practical ECMs are grouped in six general categories: building automation, lighting, mechanical equipment, electrical, building envelope and water measures. The results of a thorough energy audit of a facility determine which ECMs are most applicable to a given building and the payback period for each. TAC also trains building operators and staff to run the facility in a more energy-efficient manner.
“A building’s environment can directly impact worker productivity and customer comfort,” said Gerber. “TAC EnergyEdge optimizes a building’s environmental controls for workforce productivity; maintains systems so as to provide the right customer experience; and improves indoor air quality, which can drive sick time down and productivity up. In fact, regaining from one percent to two percent in staff productivity could offset a company’s entire energy budget.”
Because aging, inefficient equipment costs companies worldwide billions of dollars a year in maintenance and energy, an important component of TAC EnergyEdge is to help building operators to upgrade their old equipment. TAC EnergyEdge projects often pay, or more than pay, for themselves with targeted energy savings. TAC also helps customers take advantage of incentives from government, utilities or other authorities for energy projects. In addition, the building operator becomes a “greener” company and projects a better public image.
The TAC LEED AP program is only available to TAC partners who are exclusively representing TAC’s building automation solutions. In order to receive the TAC EnergyEdge program, qualified partner companies must have a minimum of one LEED® Accredited Professional (AP) or CEM (Certified Energy Manager) on staff. To help TAC partners achieve this requirement, TAC previously extended training programs for partner employees that covered all the necessary fees and provided study materials, including a step-by-step guide to help participants prepare for and pass either the LEED AP or CEM exam. Partner companies are then required to submit a business plan and attend an introductory TAC EnergyEdge workshop.
For more information, visit www.tac.com and www.schneider-electric.com.
