Six ways to lead your business to an optimal energy solution

For years, a company’s energy approach was defined by its energy plan and the rate it negotiated. Today, that’s just one part of the equation. Technology and data have come together to elevate energy in all types of organizations. From schools and hospitals, to small business offices, manufacturing plants and data centers, energy plays a more prominent role in business plans.

Navigating things like costs, supply type, and reliability can be daunting. Here are six ways our team helps customers define their priorities and find optimal solutions:

Slashing waste and cutting bills requires a deep knowledge of your current energy profile. Start with an energy efficiency audit, which will equip you with a detailed view of your consumption, identify areas of waste, and lead to initial recommendations.

A quick target is lighting. For example, if a 600-bed hospital replaced 300 lights with LEDs, it could save upwards of $14,000 annually.

For large businesses and power consumers, a demand response (DR) program and energy curtailment can lower bills at the same time as generating revenue by paying you to reduce or shift electricity usage during peak times. Our programs are tailored to each business in ways that minimize disruption and maximize revenue.

These initial measures are readily attainable and easy-to-measure. Early successes can pave the way and help gain buy-in, internally, for more far-reaching energy solutions. Plus, the energy-usage knowledge necessary to implement a demand response program, for example, can be further leveraged to develop even more impactful energy strategies.

Our team will often lead a customer from an energy efficiency measure, to a tailored DR program, and eventually to the added control and resiliency of a distributed energy solution. 

Climate change, regulation, pressure on natural resources and rising consumer expectations, is pushing sustainability to the top of many company agendas. Plunging clean power prices and the corporate sustainability landscape are making renewables and energy efficiency attractive options for business owners in every industry.

Renewable Select is an easy way to add renewables to your portfolio without a major infrastructure investment. By supporting new solar, wind, or regional renewable projects, businesses can secure a fixed price for their power purchases and facilitate new renewable energy development.

This and other sustainable energy solutions are taking hold in many ways for companies worldwide.

The aging U.S. power grid is becoming increasingly susceptible to outages, especially as extreme weather events become more frequent. For businesses such as hospitals or chemical plants, being left in the dark isn’t an option.

This makes backup power generation a must. Delivery can range from fixed to onsite generators that provide power when needed to mobile systems that can be deployed on request.

Distributed generation facilities also provide onsite power. They can be quick to install, increase your power security, and are efficient and environmentally friendly.

The changing social, economic, and environmental landscape has made the energy industry a hotbed of entrepreneurial activity among energy suppliers, technology companies, and others. If you’re a pioneer, motivated to showcase your vision, energy is a natural place to target your efforts.

When we think of renewable energy like wind and solar, we typically imagine large fields of turbines and panels, yet there are many integrated less intrusive alternatives. Some companies utilize mini rooftop turbines, for example, while others have solar arrays that match their property design. Renewable-sourced energy plans can also deliver clean energy seamlessly with no onsite infrastructure required.

If you’re driven to take control of your energy use, access to timely insights are key. Armed with data on your company’s energy patterns, you’ll quickly be able to identify efficiency and savings opportunities.

A smart energy system can connect all your facilities to a personalized dashboard, allowing you to monitor energy use in real-time. These dashboards let you analyze patterns across sites, share relevant information with team members, and make informed decisions.

The idea of a more integrated, active energy approach also extends beyond your company’s walls. Our Network Operations Center (NOC) is a command hub that tracks grid conditions, weather patterns, stock market fluctuations, and other factors that challenge electric supply across the country. Customers benefit from our ability to monitor and adjust to changes in supply and demand driven by weather conditions and other factors. The NOC is standing by to facilitate a two-way energy dialogue between energy customers and the grid itself.

Finally, it’s important to have a clear understanding of where your company is heading – both short and long term – to ensure you implement an energy solution that can scale with your business.

As your company changes, can your energy approach change accordingly? Can your strategy accommodate new technologies and advancements?

The right approach now might not be the right approach later. While you can’t predict the future, you can ensure that you’re able to adapt. Flexibility can and should be part of your energy approach.

Energy can sometimes feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to be an energy expert to find the right energy approach for your business. If you can identify your company’s needs, an energy partner like NRG can help you find a solution to achieve your goals. To see how, contact us today.