Author: bldgcontrols

Margin, one of our team’s core leadership principles, is most commonly known as the space between the text and edges of a page. In a book, the margin’s purpose is to let the reader hold the book comfortably, give a feeling of openness and leave space for notes to be written.  In life, we need this same space to give room for reflection and openness. Having margin in your life means having breath left at the top of the staircase, money left at the end of the month and sanity left at the end of a work day. Contrarily, Margin-less living is being 30 minutes late to the doctor’s office because you were 20 minutes late getting out of the hairdresser’s because you were 10 minutes late dropping off the children at school because the car ran out of gas 2 blocks from the gas station and you forgot your purse. Many can identify with this type of living.

One goal of living with margin is being able to see the big picture. It is so easy to get caught in the weeds of the daily “to-do” list.   No one can give 110% at work while giving 110% to all other aspects of life. This leads to exhaustion, unhealthy habits and discontent. Something must give to create a balanced life. You should reflect and evaluate where you need balance in your life.  Life will still have tension every once in a while. However, like a bicycle wheel, tension should be balanced equally on either side.

Which chart represents the balance in your life? 

Our engineering team hears a lot of energy myths. We want to set the record straight. Today, we want to debunk a myth about lighting.

Union Station was awarded the Energy-Process Sustainability Award at the 2016 KCIC Sustainability Awards Breakfast. Union Station and their operations manager, MC Realty, partnered with BCS Performance Solutions to address an antiquated building automation system and greatly lower energy costs.  After construction, Union Station is on their way to a 16% decrease in electricity consumption, which will result in a total reduction of 4 million kWh.

Performance Solutions partners with organizations that place importance innovation and efficiency. Both MC Realty and Union Station share these values and know the crucial role leadership plays in creating lasting change. Through their Strategic Energy and Maintenance Program, they are working to connect the silos between capital planning, deferred maintenance, building data, and people. Director of Performance Solutions, Chadd Currier, shared, “Our clients have experienced the most success with our programs when the organization’s leaders create a culture that embraces change, are constantly striving to improve and are driven to reduce operating costs. Union Station and MC Realty exude these traits and we are proud of their leadership in the Kansas City community.”

Congratulations to Union Station and MC Realty.

Our engineering team hears a lot of energy myths. We want to set the record straight. Today, we want to debunk myths about energy consumed from standby power in household appliances.

As part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the Commercial Building or 179D Deduction encourages increased energy efficiency in new and remodeled buildings by providing an immediate tax reduction for costs incurred to increase the energy efficiency of the building. The deduction is $1.80 per square foot of building space.

To qualify, the building must achieve a reduction in energy cost of at least 50% in total annual energy and power costs. A partial deduction is also available up to $.60 per square foot that do not meet the 50% savings threshold overall. In these instances, the individual system for which the deduction was claimed must meet various reductions in energy use.

The energy savings are measured by interior lighting, heating, cooling, ventilation, hot water systems, or building envelope. Qualifying buildings include new construction commercial buildings, residential rental buildings of four stories or more, and renovations/retrofits built in the US.

The deduction is available to the building owner at the time it is constructed or when the renovation is made. Renovations placed in service after December 31, 2015 and before January 1, 2017 are available. For property placed in prior years, a taxpayer may take the deduction on an amended return or possibly using form 3115, Application for Change in Accounting Method.

These energy savings must be certified by a qualified engineer or contractor who is licensed in the jurisdiction where the property is located. These savings must be calculated using qualified computer software.

Interested in learning how your facility can qualify for this tax deduction? BCS Performance Solutions are the experts in energy efficiency and saving you money.

Contact us today: info@bcsperformancesolutions.com or call us at 316.267.5814.

Download Informational PDF

Source: http://energy.gov/eere/buildings/179d-commercial-buildings-energy-efficiency-tax-deduction