Comments on: From Software to Energy Efficiency http://www.energysavvy.com/blog/2010/05/25/from-software-to-energy-efficiency/ Thu, 01 Dec 2011 18:04:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Brian Handly http://www.energysavvy.com/blog/2010/05/25/from-software-to-energy-efficiency/comment-page-1/#comment-177 Brian Handly Thu, 27 May 2010 17:11:13 +0000 http://www.energysavvy.com/blog/?p=610#comment-177 This is a great article. As we move further into this decade, we should see the intersection of software, cool, and green grow larger and offer more opportunies for sharp minds This is a great article. As we move further into this decade, we should see the intersection of software, cool, and green grow larger and offer more opportunies for sharp minds

]]> By: Stephanie Inglis http://www.energysavvy.com/blog/2010/05/25/from-software-to-energy-efficiency/comment-page-1/#comment-176 Stephanie Inglis Thu, 27 May 2010 14:32:47 +0000 http://www.energysavvy.com/blog/?p=610#comment-176 There is a huge challenge accurately predicting--and then measuring in real life--the ROI of energy efficiency improvements. We've made huge strides in developing better software for this app that is faster and easier for the energy auditor to use and provides better results. Still a long way to go, and a lot of great brains are applying themselves to the solution building. How about this for a challenge? Transfer that kind of software to mobile so the auditors can plug in their metrics right in the field and give homeowners a picture of their specific situation immediately. Now that would be cool! There is a huge challenge accurately predicting–and then measuring in real life–the ROI of energy efficiency improvements. We’ve made huge strides in developing better software for this app that is faster and easier for the energy auditor to use and provides better results. Still a long way to go, and a lot of great brains are applying themselves to the solution building.

How about this for a challenge? Transfer that kind of software to mobile so the auditors can plug in their metrics right in the field and give homeowners a picture of their specific situation immediately. Now that would be cool!

]]> By: Jimmy Hovey http://www.energysavvy.com/blog/2010/05/25/from-software-to-energy-efficiency/comment-page-1/#comment-174 Jimmy Hovey Thu, 27 May 2010 12:29:15 +0000 http://www.energysavvy.com/blog/?p=610#comment-174 Hey Aaron, We have been dealing with our own "software challenge" and maybe there is another angle for you to look at. I provide lead generation and a sales system for contractors or sales professionals to perform energy audits (we call them Energy Safety Needs Analysis). I created the system by actually developing the process for my own family business, Hovey Electric, Inc. in Midland MI to increase sales in the drooping economy. In our analysis, we act as consultants rather than the typical contractors who specify something and then tell you how much to install it. Our approach is fact based, business decision oriented. We only suggest improvements that make business sense based on energy savings, incentives and tax deductions. In order to make the suggestions, we have to analyze the facilities and then create reports to create overviews of the data. We have manipulated spreadsheets, used parts and pieces of manufacturers spreadsheets to get the job done, but there is nothing out there to tie everything together to provide a streamlined process. That is where software would be very handy and maybe that could be added to your list. I also just want to say your site is very cool. Is it geared mostly to residential or are you including commercial as well? We see a HUGE opportunity with the commercial market and have been selling retrofit jobs within our stagnant economy with little to no competition. I really liked how your site automatically identified incentives available in my area. Very cool! Jimmy Hovey President/CEO POWER4consulting.com Hey Aaron,

We have been dealing with our own “software challenge” and maybe there is another angle for you to look at.

I provide lead generation and a sales system for contractors or sales professionals to perform energy audits (we call them Energy Safety Needs Analysis). I created the system by actually developing the process for my own family business, Hovey Electric, Inc. in Midland MI to increase sales in the drooping economy.

In our analysis, we act as consultants rather than the typical contractors who specify something and then tell you how much to install it. Our approach is fact based, business decision oriented. We only suggest improvements that make business sense based on energy savings, incentives and tax deductions.

In order to make the suggestions, we have to analyze the facilities and then create reports to create overviews of the data. We have manipulated spreadsheets, used parts and pieces of manufacturers spreadsheets to get the job done, but there is nothing out there to tie everything together to provide a streamlined process. That is where software would be very handy and maybe that could be added to your list.

I also just want to say your site is very cool. Is it geared mostly to residential or are you including commercial as well? We see a HUGE opportunity with the commercial market and have been selling retrofit jobs within our stagnant economy with little to no competition. I really liked how your site automatically identified incentives available in my area. Very cool!

Jimmy Hovey
President/CEO
POWER4consulting.com

]]> By: Tom Harrison http://www.energysavvy.com/blog/2010/05/25/from-software-to-energy-efficiency/comment-page-1/#comment-165 Tom Harrison Wed, 26 May 2010 19:56:01 +0000 http://www.energysavvy.com/blog/?p=610#comment-165 Awesome post. I joined Energy Circle last year in a similar moment of realization after several decades in software, when I realized that Clean Tech was where I needed to apply my technical skills -- somehow consumer electronics e-commerce wasn't satisfying my need to do something good for the world :-) We're keenly watching your excellent company and others in our space develop -- I feel just like I did when I started in the software biz in my 20's -- excited to be part of something ... huge! I cannot agree more strongly with the need for interoperability and openness in all the data that is getting collected. It's pretty clear that the standards for our space will arise from companies like ours, hopefully with the help of utilities, larger companies and the government. But we're the ones that are tasked with gluing Part A to Piece B today. So let's keep the dialog and APIs open! BTW -- I have used PostgreSQL for the last 10 years or so and only recently was forced to deal with MySQL. PostgreSQL is better. Sigh. Regards, Tom Harrison CTO EnergyCircle.com Awesome post.

I joined Energy Circle last year in a similar moment of realization after several decades in software, when I realized that Clean Tech was where I needed to apply my technical skills — somehow consumer electronics e-commerce wasn’t satisfying my need to do something good for the world :-)

We’re keenly watching your excellent company and others in our space develop — I feel just like I did when I started in the software biz in my 20′s — excited to be part of something … huge!

I cannot agree more strongly with the need for interoperability and openness in all the data that is getting collected. It’s pretty clear that the standards for our space will arise from companies like ours, hopefully with the help of utilities, larger companies and the government.

But we’re the ones that are tasked with gluing Part A to Piece B today. So let’s keep the dialog and APIs open!

BTW — I have used PostgreSQL for the last 10 years or so and only recently was forced to deal with MySQL. PostgreSQL is better. Sigh.

Regards,

Tom Harrison
CTO
EnergyCircle.com

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