Posted by Chris Cutcliff 
On Fri Apr 4“Having routine internal audits helps to make sure that the company passes its external audits.” – Hendrith Vanlon Smith Jr., CEO of Mayflower-Plymouth
I really like Hendrith Smith’s quote.
Whether you’re a financial advisory firm like Mayflower-Plymouth, or an energy solutions company like Chateau Energy, the lessons and wisdom are applicable.
As a professional in the Energy industry focused on commercial & industrial buildings, it resonates with me in numerous ways.
Over my 30-year career (the last 9 and counting with Chateau Energy), I’ve had the opportunity to build, design, consult, and oversee energy and power projects of all shapes and sizes.
And through the diversity and variety of those projects I’ve been involved with, I’ll state this emphatically: everything starts with an audit.
In business and in life, we always need to know where we are now before we can make an intelligent and informed decision on where we’d like to go next. And between those 2 location points (now and next) stands something else of even greater importance:
“How do you get there?”
When it comes to developing an energy savings initiative for your Company, a comprehensive audit will point you in the right direction. Like a steady bow whose aim is true, energy audits do their job – directing executives and decision makers towards uncovering potential savings with regards to power usage.
When business owners weigh the costs and returns of an energy savings plan, they have 2 main ways to help light the path:
So, yes audits are critical, but decisions are what truly matter.
Decisions are the arrows that find their target when they’re properly supported by confidence and commitment.
Investing time and money to implement a comprehensive energy reduction plan is a true strategic objective. It takes a lot of analysis and understanding of future goals for you to know what requires attention now and how it should be solved.
It isn’t easy, but most executives agree that it’s necessary.
In 2025, I believe there are 5 ways that commercial and industrial buildings can reduce energy costs today:
Please note these are in no particular order of priority, and in this article I’d like to share some more thoughts on each of these energy saving tactics.
Businesses can achieve significant savings by upgrading to LED lighting and incorporating sensors that adjust brightness based on occupancy and daylight levels. What’s interesting to me is that even though LED has been around for some time, the upgrades in technology keep pushing them to new heights. In fact, many companies upgrade and retrofit in more frequent cycles in order to take advantage of the latest innovations taking place.
Many industrial facilities rely on motors, pumps, and fans that operate at a constant speed, consuming excess energy. Variable frequency drives adjust motor speeds based on actual demand to cut energy usage. Whether applied to HVAC units, processing pumps, industrial fans, or even commercial vacuums, VFDs offer a strong return on investment. When companies take time to evaluate the motors that power their capital equipment, as well as the newer capabilities available today, it often leads to significant savings.
Outdated HVAC systems can be a major source of energy waste. Modern units with higher efficiency ratings, combined with smart thermostats, allow companies to regulate temperatures dynamically based on occupancy.
Before getting to numbers 4 and 5 on my list, I’d like to share some recent work we’ve completed with an automotive client of ours with regards to HVAC solutions.
A national automotive retailer with operations that span the U.S., enlisted our services to help them with a multi-year energy savings program that would produce real financial results.
Chateau Energy helped them achieve this through 2 main initiatives:
These energy efficiency programs combined to help our client achieve over $1.7 Million annually in lighting savings and $363K annually in HVAC savings.
Finally, Chateau Energy consulted with the retailer to assist them in receiving over $350K in total rebates.
A Building Automation System (BAS) integrates data from various energy-consuming systems to optimize performance. Companies can monitor equipment, track real-time energy usage, and even automate processes to maximize savings.
As AI and predictive analytics continue to evolve, BAS technology is becoming increasingly vital in energy management. I believe that the innovation here, fueled by technological advancements will result in substantial improvements and growth for energy efficiency.
Reducing water consumption is another critical piece of the energy-efficiency puzzle. Companies can install low-flow mechanisms to cut down unnecessary water usage in commercial and industrial settings. Since water heating accounts for a significant portion of energy costs, optimizing water flow directly translates to financial savings.
Each of these strategies can be tailored to a company’s specific needs, and Chateau Energy specializes in helping businesses implement the right mix of efficiency upgrades for optimal results.
I always recommend that executives start with a solid audit and take time to understand the analysis and weigh the pros and cons of an energy solutions plan customized for your business.
It still takes a decisive marksman to let the arrows fly.
These days, businesses can’t afford to ignore energy efficiency; it’s key to staying ahead:
You’d be hard pressed to find a single executive who doesn’t agree that energy efficiency and sustainability are important.
The challenge is that long-term visions often compete with short-term goals. I never said it was easy, but I do believe it’s necessary.
If you’re ready to explore how your company can reduce energy costs while enhancing efficiency, schedule an audit, browse our success stories, or drop me a line.
Chris Cutcliff
Vice President, Operations
Mr. Cutcliff brings more than 30 years of experience in the energy industry in areas such as energy optimization, mechanical, direct building automation control, program management, oversight for utility programs, and business development and management. He leads all phases of design/build, electric vehicle infrastructure development, new construction, performance contracts, utility retro-commissioning programs, and other service and energy related projects. Mr. Cutcliff’s responsibilities include P&L, project development (electric vehicle infrastructure, lighting, mechanical, retro-commissioning, microgrid, and more) and execution of all projects within the Chateau Energy organization.
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