Pro Energy Consultants Now Offering Service to "Light" Commercial Buildings

CLEVELAND, OH, August 13, 2010 (Press-News.org) Pro Energy Consultants, the nation's first building performance franchise, has expanded its energy auditing services to now include "light" commercial buildings. By offering energy audits to this new market segment, Pro Energy Consultants gives small business owners a chance to assess and correct energy inefficiencies, as well as enhance their image within the green community.

Typically, light commercial buildings go unnoticed but are a fixture in neighborhoods because they usually are converted homes. Chief Technical Officer Mark Cannella said there are "thousands" of these buildings that energy auditing businesses have overlooked until now.

"These are businesses that look like a house. That's the best way to describe them," said Cannella. "Since many are converted to offices it's important that they perform well so that both the customers and the employees feel comfortable in those offices."

Light commercial building owners can benefit from an energy audit in several ways. Energy auditors can investigate comfort issues such as temperature differences between rooms, provide accurate information about energy usage and ideas to improve it, or assist in meeting environmental standards.

For now, the company will only offer commercial energy audits to properties less than 5,000 square feet and occupied by an owner who is conscious of employees' and clients' comfort. Doctors, dentists, attorneys, accountants, real estate companies and boutiques are examples of businesses that commonly operate out of such buildings. This service isn't currently available for restaurants, retail shops with refrigeration, warehouses or manufacturing facilities.

Business owners can take a one-minute online survey to see if an energy audit may be right for them at http://www.proenergyconsultants.com/commercial-survey. Commercial energy audits can be scheduled for after business hours or weekends.

The energy audit starts with the building owner explaining the specific performance issues he or she has been experiencing. Next, an electronic blower door is installed in an exterior door. Once activated, the blower door pulls air out of the building. As air comes back in from elsewhere, the energy auditor uses an infrared camera to in essence take an "X-ray" of the building and identify all the hidden air leaks and failed or missing insulation — the real causes for excessive energy usage and major comfort complaints. The entire process takes approximately two to three hours. A detailed commercial energy audit report is delivered to the business owner within days. It includes the technician's findings from electronic diagnostics and inspecting the business' mechanical, air distribution, air barrier, and thermal barrier systems; recommendations and correction strategies for increasing efficiency and comfort; and sections addressing lighting, water systems, electronics usage and exterior maintenance.

Pro Energy Consultants' system for conducting energy audits is backed by more than 15 years' experience and more than 11,000 energy audits. The company's mission is to provide customers energy audits that are customized, comprehensive and diagnostic. As an unbiased third party, Pro Energy uses the information from its energy audits to solve the top three building performance problems building owners face: discomfort, excessive energy usage and poor indoor air quality issues. The company also offers a guarantee. If, at the end of the test, building owners don't feel they've received valuable information about their business office, then the energy audit is free.

For more information, call 888-9PROENERGY (1-888-977-6363), or visit: http://www.proenergyconsultants.com

About Pro Energy Consultants
Pro Energy Consultants' proven system for conducting energy audits is backed by more than 15 years' experience and more than 11,000 energy audits. The company's mission is to provide customized, comprehensive and diagnostic energy audits designed to maximize the comfort and energy efficiency of homes and "light" commercial buildings while reducing energy costs. This mission not only sets the worldwide standard for energy audits but also established Pro Energy as the world's leading expert on the subject. In October 2008 Pro Energy began awarding franchises — making it the first national franchise in energy auditing. Being the ideal "green franchise" opportunity, it has quickly grown to more than 60 franchises nationwide. The company started in Cleveland, Ohio. For more information, call 888.9PROENERGY (1-888-977-6363) or visit http://www.proenergyconsultants.com.