1. PRICE
If you are collecting several quotes for your LED lighting upgrade or energy efficiency upgrade, price can be a good indicator of who not to choose when selecting an energy efficiency consultant in Sydney or NSW.
As a general rule, it is usually best to choose the quote that falls in the middle.
If you receive quotes for energy efficient lighting that are way too cheap or far too expensive then price alone can be an indicator of who not to choose, if you also consider the following points.
For an example, if you have a quote to upgrade your old existing fluorescent lights to energy efficient lights and the quote is much cheaper than the others then you may need to question the quality of the LED luminaires they are using, if there are going to be any surprise costs along the way, or the quality of their LED installations. You don’t want added hassles and burden on top of an already large project. Energy efficiency upgrades can be onerous unless you pay a company that will be reliable, accountable and responsible. Also consider the ease of warranty claims and the service the company offer in regard to the project management of the LED lighting installation and the support they provide throughout the process and post installation.
In regard to cost, it’s wise to check if you are comparing apples with apples before you start assessing the price from each energy efficiency consultant.
To start with, check if each company are quoting the same number of LED lights or the same sized commercial solar PV system.
Also check if each proposal is using the same electricity rate applied to their energy saving calculations as this one factor alone greatly affects the proposed return on investment (ROI) figure they are giving you.
Have a look at the existing operating hours that each company are assuming, this also will greatly affect your proposed ROI from the LED lighting upgrade or commercial solar installation.
Once you are comparing apples with apples and not apples with oranges, you can then start to assess why a proposal is much cheaper than the others. You may need to question the quality of LED lights proposed or commercial solar panels and PV system. Also consider that the level of service during and post installation may not be quite as thorough if the price is far cheaper than the alternative energy efficiency companies.
It may affect how much it saves you in the long run, even if it’s just a few grey hairs
If a quote is much more expensive than the others, and you are comparing apples with apples, if you trust the company and are confident in the quality of the LED lighting that they have proposed, then don’t be afraid to ask for a small discount. It may be that the other companies just simply don’t provide the level of service or quality of product. However in many cases, the lighting or solar quote just isn’t the best value for money.
In conclusion, the quote that is somewhere in the middle is usually your best bet. If a quote is much cheaper or far more expensive than the others, you need to ask why. Don’t be afraid to ask the energy efficiency company directly or just use the above tips as a starting point.
2. ESC SCHEME
The Government has an ESC scheme that allows a business to receive a discount if they undertake energy efficiency activities. For example, a commercial solar installation or an installation of energy efficient lighting in the form of LED luminaires, LED high bays, LED downlights or LED panels etc.
In NSW the ESC scheme is called the NSW Energy Savings Scheme (NSW ESS). An energy saving activity such as an LED lighting upgrade will produce varying numbers of ESCs (Energy Saving Certificates). Each ESC is a tradable commodity with a fluctuating value.
The higher amount of energy saved = higher number of ESCs generated on the job and the greater discount you will receive.
For example if you have existing 400W mercury vapour high bays in your factory in Sydney and you replace them with 110W LED high bays there are huge savings to be made in the wattage reduction alone. Therefore the number of ESCs produced will be very substantial, resulting in a big discount under the ESC scheme.
When looking for an energy efficiency consultant in Sydney, make sure the company is operating under the NSW Energy Savings Scheme. A commercial solar installation or an LED installation can be a big investment, so the ESC program (or STC equivalent for Solar PV) can significantly increase your return on your investment, making the lighting installation commercially viable, with ROIs of 2 years or under.
Our proposals on average see a reduction of the gross cost by 30%! When you consider the amount of money you will save, and therefore the return of investment that you will receive, the ESC Scheme is a very important factor when deciding who you will choose to install your energy efficient lights or commercial solar PV in Sydney or NSW.
If you choose one of these companies then they will recommend the ESC lighting that has been approved by IPART to be installed under the program in Sydney or NSW.
This is another way that you can trust the quality of the LED lamps proposed, as the ESC lighting has gone through the stringent statutory requirements of the government body IPART, to be eligible to be installed under the ESC scheme.
One thing to note is that not all energy efficiency consultants will operate the same way under the ESC scheme; therefore how you will benefit from the NSW ESS can vary greatly.
It is important to be aware that the company you choose is not obliged to give you the lighting discount upfront. This means that you need to be in a position to fork out the full investment amount and wait for your discount after the LED lighting installation is complete and the documentation.
Easily Green Energy Solutions only require the net cost to be paid by our customers upfront, giving the discount on the quote at point of sale. There is no requirement for our customers to pay the gross amount and therefore wait for their discount. As energy efficiency consultants in Sydney, we take on the risk ourselves of the fluctuating ESC value and give you the discount upfront. The ESC discount is guaranteed as soon as you sign the quote.
We take it on ourselves to undertake all of the statutory requirements on your behalf and all of the extensive paperwork that is required to receive the lighting discount.
Paying for the upgrade in full can take a hit on cash flow when you have to wait for your discount to be given to you. If you are happy with the company you have chosen and they don’t give you your discount upfront, make sure to ask them how long you should expect to wait until you will receive it. Ask them if the ESC rate is guaranteed meaning your discount won’t change.
It’s also wise to check if your discount is guaranteed based on the quote or if it will change after the installation based on the assumptions they made to produce the quote. For example if the discount will change after installation based on the existing lamps they have assumed.
There are many other factors that affect how many ESCs are generated under the scheme, so make sure to ask the question. It’s good to be fully equipped with this knowledge before you sign the quote, knowing what is guaranteed and what may change after installation.
3. TRUST
For large projects its best to do business with someone you trust. If you can meet the people behind the business, those that will be dealing with you along the way so that you can ask questions and gauge the character of the people you will be putting your trust in.
Ask about their experience, read reviews of the company, if they have case studies of previous jobs, request these and read through them.
Ask them questions to test their knowledge of energy efficiency and what will be best for your particular site. Ask about support after the upgrade and especially in regard to warranty claims. How long is the warranty? Is it claimable in Australia? Can I call you directly to redeem my warranty?
Gather a picture of the type of energy efficiency company you are dealing with and their motive. Does the expertise they are offering line up with what you need. Do you need lighting design, are you happy to have a large company come in do the job, do it well and leave or do you want a more hands on approach with direct access to one of the experts in the company and not just sales staff? Is it technical advice you are looking for? Or is it general energy efficiency advice about the best type of LED lights for your property from different brands and how each one will or will not perform best for your specific property.
Is their business model to simply offer you the cheapest possible light? If so, you may need to question the quality of the LED for example or the quality of the installation work.
In conclusion, there are several things to consider before selecting a company to perform an LED lighting upgrade under the ESC scheme or a commercial solar installation in Sydney. There are many different kinds of energy efficiency consultants in Sydney that can do the job for you and do it well. Use the above tips as a guide to equip you with some knowledge as to the type of questions you should be asking.