Energy Efficiency Projects
The rate you pay matters. So does how much you're paying it on.
Energy efficiency projects reduce your baseline consumption — lowering your bills regardless of what happens to market prices. Alden Energy Consulting helps identify, scope, and implement efficiency improvements that make economic sense for your facility.
What This Service Is
Energy efficiency projects encompass physical improvements to a facility that reduce energy consumption: lighting retrofits, HVAC upgrades, building envelope improvements, power factor correction, motor and drive replacements, controls and automation, and more. We also help clients navigate utility rebate programs that can offset the capital cost of these improvements.
Unlike procurement, where savings come from the rate, efficiency savings come from consumption reduction — which means they're durable regardless of what energy prices do.
What Alden Brings to the Table
We approach efficiency from a procurement advisor's perspective: we're interested in projects that make clear economic sense, not projects that make us look busy. We'll scope what's realistic for your facility, identify applicable utility rebate programs, and give you an honest assessment of payback periods before you commit capital.
One practical note: thermostat management alone has a measurable impact. As a general rule of thumb, every degree above or below a comfortable baseline — approximately 68°F in winter, 78°F in summer — results in roughly a 7% change in overall energy costs, at least warmer climates like Texas. Small operational changes can produce meaningful savings before any capital investment is made.
We also look at efficiency in the context of your overall energy strategy. If you're considering a long-term contract, understanding your likely future consumption profile matters. If you're enrolled in a demand response program, efficiency improvements that reduce peak load can compound the benefit. We think about these things together.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do we know which efficiency projects are worth doing?
Payback period is the primary filter — we focus on projects where the energy savings recover the capital cost in a reasonable timeframe. We'll scope that out before recommending anything and know that IRR is king when it comes to moving forward.
What utility rebate programs are available in Texas?
It varies by utility and project type. Oncor, AEP, CenterPoint, and other Texas utilities offer commercial rebate programs for lighting, HVAC, and other qualifying improvements. We'll identify what's available for your facility and incorporate that into the economics.
Do you manage the installation process?
We work with vetted contractors and can manage the project process, or hand off to your preferred vendor — whichever you prefer.
Does efficiency work make sense if we're already on a good rate contract?
Yes — they address different parts of your bill. A good procurement contract lowers the rate; efficiency projects lower the consumption. Both matter.
What's the minimum project size you work with?
The economics work best for facilities with meaningful energy spend where there's a real consumption reduction opportunity. We'll tell you upfront if a project is too small to be worth the effort.