Increasing awareness of environmental impact and sustainability is propelling the growth of development models that utilize renewable energy.
One example is the energy efficiency as a service market, which Bob Hinkle, president and CEO of Metrus Energy, calls “a comprehensive set of technical and financial solutions whereby customers can implement a wide range of energy efficiency improvements at their facilities.”
In a video interview with IREI, Hinkle said under this structure a third-party service provider develops the project, funds 100 percent of the upfront cost, and then pays for realized savings once the project is fully constructed and operational. Such projects involve a wide range of energy efficiency improvements relating to the retrofit of a building, such as new lighting systems, building controls and energy management systems.
This structure benefits from the renewable energy market by utilizing power-purchase agreements that involve a third p
