The phrase, “there’s no such thing as a free ride,” usually holds true. But there are exceptions from time to time. Right now, many small businesses can upgrade their energy infrastructure with zero capital outlay. That’s thanks to the Small Business Direct Install (SBDI) program,...
When it comes to energy efficiency for commercial buildings, there are a host of companies offering solutions, but they aren’t all created equal. Finding the right partner to guide you in making the best energy efficiency decisions for your facility is an extremely important business decision. It impacts energy expenses and building efficiency for years to come, the health and comfort of your building tenants and your company’s reputation for sustainability. That’s why it’s important to work with a Certified Energy Manager (CEM®).
In a rising interest-rate market, finding affordable capital to modernize infrastructure for energy savings can be a huge challenge for building owners. But not when you know how to tap the many incentives and financing options available. Whether you are upgrading lighting, replacing HVAC systems, looking for energy storage or resiliency, or just looking for major cost reductions, the key is working with an energy-efficiency company that is also an expert in financing.
For businesses, getting maximum incentives means less revenue to earn, less capital to find elsewhere. For nonprofits tapping incentives means less fundraising and more money to put towards operational budgets.
Each month, we highlight a different division helping Vanguard Building Solutions deliver high-caliber service to our clients. This month we’re looking at our engineering department. Our work as a renewable energy company is only possible with the talented team of engineers led by Director of Engineering Brian Theordor.
From the initial project stages of auditing and design through a project’s conclusion, including commissioning and measurement and verification, his team is actively involved in ensuring projects meet and exceed all of their objectives. For our latest blog, we talked to him about the engineering team and the processes they follow to deliver optimal results across a wide range of sectors in New York, New Jersey, and nationwide.
Unlike many energy consulting firms that offer a limited consultative role, Vanguard Building Solutions has stood above its competitors over the past decade for being a turn-key infrastructure and energy management solutions company. During the past ten years, we’ve developed design-build energy and infrastructure projects from New York, NY, to Seattle, WA, while serving organizations of all sizes.
As we look back at our first ten years, we wanted to highlight why we’ve become the go-to partners for various industries, from non-profits to elder care facilities.
Routine preventative maintenance, emergency service, and special renovation projects are often a big part of budgets for assisted living facilities. Any delays in service or maintenance affect not only your bottom line but also the quality of life of your clients and staff. Vanguard Building Solutions keeps your facility running smoothly and within budget.
At the helm of the company’s Facility Services division is Graydon Braley, who has almost four decades experience in the commercial and industrial construction industries. He’s worked with lighting, HVAC, indoor air quality, building automation, and more.
Along the way, he’s built great partnerships which Vanguard clients can leverage for optimal, cost effective facilities management. Below we outline what these services entail and hear from Braley how property managers from Houston, TX, to Chicago keep properties running efficiently with his help.
Vanguard Building Solutions President and CEO Mike Sherman has worked with some of the biggest names in the energy industry over the last three decades, including Honeywell, Sodexo, and ARAMARK Healthcare. He built up his experience in energy, project development, asset management and financing.
Throughout his career, Sherman has worked on commercial energy projects totaling an excess of $400 million and spanning the healthcare, education, manufacturing and non-profit sectors. And over the last few years, Vanguard has found that with their focused approach, any commercial entity over 25,000 square feet finds great success with them. In NJ, where Vanguard has numerous utility program certifications that building size could be as low as 10,000 square feet.
While all businesses need to be agile, it is particularly important in energy, with so many new programs, grants, and technology emerging daily. That is the reason Sherman started Vanguard in 2013, hoping to make energy efficiency projects a possibility for a wide range of industries across the country, from New York City to Los Angeles, CA.
“In larger companies, there’s a set way of doing things no matter what type of business you’re in,” said Sherman. “Now, instead of being a smaller division in a larger company, you can really focus the business. Our clients love doing business with us because we have a lot of resources, but we are small enough to be nimble and be able to pivot to what will be best for our client needs in the future.”
Does your company have an energy strategy in place? Do you have a way to shield your New York City property from rising energy costs or an unreliable energy grid? Energy shouldn’t become an afterthought in your overall business strategy. You should start thinking now about ways to reduce your general energy use.
A proactive strategy that incorporates green energy solutions and building renovations will make it easier for you to navigate a volatile energy market. This blog highlights why it’s important to develop a plan for immediate energy reduction, some common improvements to consider, and even some advice on how to fund these measures.
Vanguard Vice President Chris Morgan has worked in senior housing and skilled nursing for almost 25 years. During that time, he’s worked on almost every type of project, from small single-owner properties to companies spanning over 1,000 properties. He’s also developed industry standards for FFE (Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment), renovation protocols, and assisted living regulations documentation.
In all, he’s had a hand in nearly 25% of the nursing homes and assisted living properties in the country spanning from Seattle, Washington, to South Florida. For our latest blog, we spoke with him to discuss how Vanguard got involved in the assisted living world, our biggest success stories and how the industry has changed over the years.
Across the United States., there is a push to modernize infrastructure for efficiency and resiliency. In New York City, the need to refurbish and rebuild aging energy systems and transportation networks is evident. New York City is America’s most densely populated city and a nexus of technology, finance, healthcare, media, education, and more. As a result, everything in New York City is highly scrutinized in the U.S. and around the world. As the city has grappled with the consequences of climate change and extreme weather events, it has shown leadership creating a path for a more energy-efficient and carbon-neutral future. The Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (Climate Act) of 2019 was a landmark measure for setting a path to slow the impact of climate change.
Many companies, facilities, and organizations want to modernize and update energy installations for efficiency and sustainability. However, many lack the financial resources for the large capital outlays required to fund these projects. But there are alternatives to traditional financial approaches, such as debt and leasing. Energy-as-a-service or energy service agreements are innovative new models, allowing organizations more freedom to pursue these projects now. Keep reading below as we explore these flexible funding models for energy modernization projects.
As with many states across the country, New Jersey offers financial incentives to help meet the state’s clean energy goals. These include the NJ Clean Heat Program, Electric Vehicle Incentives and the NJ Clean Energy Program.
The NJ Clean Energy program is particularly useful since it’s aimed at helping small, women-owned and minority-owned businesses, who may otherwise not have the financial resources or experience, become more energy efficient by significantly improving their indoor air quality. Unfortunately, many companies aren’t aware of the program or don’t know how to navigate through the application process.
This is why working with a company like Vanguard Building Solutions and their Certified Energy Managers (CEM) is a critical step in the process. Our team (pictured) have helped clients in Princeton, Newark, and Fort Lee, receive the max threshold of 75% for complete replacement of aging, failing or obsolete HVAC systems of all types that serve these commercial buildings.
Below we provide additional details on the NJ Clean Energy Program and show you how our incentive management program ensures you maximize the savings you’re entitled to without dealing with complicated red tape. Our experts will walk you through the entire process.
Caring for the most vulnerable members in society shouldn’t be taken lightly, and it all starts with creating a nurturing environment. In all our renovation projects, the primary goal is to enhance the lives of everyone at these communities, which means not just for the residents but also for employees and guests.
There are many other reasons property renovations are vital. A renovated space with new paint, carpeting, lights, artwork, FF&E and more will help your property meet CMS guidelines during annual reviews and avoid home-like environment citations that could result in a lost license. Your refurbished property will also serve as a marketing piece to entice new residents and employees.
Interiors by Vanguard specializes in these renovation projects. Below we outline some must-have renovation options for your space and explain why we’re the go-to partners for long-term care properties in Broward County, FL, and throughout the United States.
Are you looking for energy-saving building solutions to address rising costs and a growing trend towards decarbonization? With inflation and fuel prices rising steeply, energy conservation is top of mind for building owners and managers looking to reduce their operational expenditures. Many properties are also looking to reduce carbon emissions to avoid imminent penalties or take advantage of federal and local municipality incentives – including grants, on-bill financing, and no-interest loans to offset the costs of the upgrades.
Whether your property is in Houston, NYC or anywhere in the US, Vanguard Building Solutions has many recommendations for cutting energy use across your portfolio. These energy conservation measures will deliver an immediate return on your investment, whether it’s something as simple as upgrading HVAC filters to implementing full-building electrification.
Throughout the United States, there has been a concerted effort toward decarbonization. Decarbonization aims to reduce carbon dioxide emissions to eventually create a net-zero environment.
Though there are a few reasons why decarbonization is a priority in the United States and around the world, creating greater resiliency and sustainability in the nation’s grid is the most immediate one. By using renewable energy and lowering reliance on fossil fuels, it’s easier for energy grids to adjust to changes in demand and avoid blackouts during major weather events.
To meet decarbonization goals, state and municipal governments have taken a carrot and stick approach–using a combination of rewards and punishments to increase compliance. On the one hand, carbon taxes are increasing with legislation like New York’s Law 97 punishing businesses for not reducing emissions. On the other hand, renewable energy incentives are available to companies ranging from hospitals in Trenton, NJ, to Miami Beach hotels.
It’s hard to know how to take advantage of these incentives. Below we highlight some of the types of incentives available, as well as the ways a renewable energy company like Vanguard helps you redeem them.
Vanguard Business Solutions has over 80 years of combined experience deploying complex energy infrastructure for hospitality, commercial, and medical environments. Our solar power generation and storage systems help businesses adapt to the changing energy environment.
The passage of the long-overdue national infrastructure bill shone a light on the advanced age and desperate need to modernize the infrastructure in the United States. In addition to discussions of modernizing bridges, tunnels, subways, and ports, New York is aiming to decarbonize and combat the effects of climate change through a raft of programs and laws designed to drive energy efficiency. New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (Climate Act) of 2019 enacted sweeping legislation to set aggressive goals for reducing carbon emissions and slowing the impact of climate change. But what does that mean for your New York City multifamily building?
If your building dates from the 1960s and 1970s or earlier, you are dealing with the effects of aging, inefficient infrastructure. Building electrification for systems like HVAC and domestic hot water (DHW) is a highly incentivized way to improve the comfort of your tenants and help build a more sustainable energy future for your community. Learn more about building electrification options for modernizing your New York building below.
