FCI Rolling Up Our Sleeves for US Bank Project

FCI is excited to announce that we are working with US Bank to make many of their California branches more energy efficient. US Bank has been assertive with their efforts to "invest in environmentally beneficial business opportunities". So far, FCI has done energy assessments on approximately 120 branches throughout California. Lighting efficiency is the primary focus of the project; however HVAC, Water, and Demand Response opportunities are also under consideration.We are elated to be working with a company that is committed to reducing their impact on energy consumption and carbon emissions. To read more on US Bank's conservation activities, visit USbancorp.

Demand Response Class at Edison's CTAC (FCI Employee Testimonial)

I was fortunate enough to be apart of Southern California Edison's Demand Response training today and the information was invaluable. The class instructor, David Wiley, did an excellent job at explaining the basics of Demand Response and even some of the more technical aspects. I was familiar with many of the concepts already, but he did a great job of giving a more complete understanding of the head knowledge I acquired beforehand. I learned interesting facts such as:

-20% of California's energy is imported on hot days
-When energy reserves are low, energy costs are high (sort of a no brainer, but it clicked for me in the class)
-When power plants/generators charge more than $.50 per kWh, this sends a red flag to the government
-Price Response deals with getting paid to not use higher priced energy
-When businesses shift load to off peak times, this allows them to lower their over head cost and in turn provide their customers with lower prices

This is just the tip of the iceberg of what I absorbed today. I even got a free water bottle! I want to thank FCI for sending me to such a great training and applaud Edison for providing an excellent learning experience. I am one happy employee. If you would like to attend an Edison CTAC seminar, visit: sce.com.

What State is Top Dog in Energy Efficiency???



According to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), the most energy efficient state is (drum roll please....) California. Massachusetts and Oregon followed behind in second and third place. Other states that filled the remaining top ten spots were New York, Vermont, Washington, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Minnesota, and Maine. California has held the number one spot in the ACEEE ranking for four years in a row. The golden state has proven itself to be a leader in energy efficiency over the last several years by modeling and implementing an energy efficiency plan that out performs other states as well as the expectations of the federal government. President Obama has stated that his goal is to have 1 million electric vehicles on American roads by 2015.



Nissan Leaf



Part of California's energy initiative is to have 1 million electric cars on California's roads by 2020. The plan also looks to generate 30 percent of the state's electric power from renewable energy sources (such as solar, wind, hydropower, etc.) by 2020 as well. Among the most improved states concerning energy efficiency were Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and Alaska. Texas, Alabama, North Dakota, Mississippi, and New Hampshire were at the bottom of the list.

FCI Announces NY Operations (Delivering A Sustainable Planet, Edition 2)

FCI Management is excited and proud to announce that it has extended its reach beyond California and has set up shop in the "Big Apple". FCI has joined forces with fellow energy solutions provider, Willdan Energy Services (WES) to implement Con Edison's direct install program. The Small Business Direct Install Program (SBDI) consists of an energy specialist conducting an evaluation and making a custom recommendation for a small buisness' lighting, ballasts, fixtures, HVAC (Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning) systems, and more. The purpose is for these systems to be retro-fitted with energy efficient equipment, allowing the customer to lower energy costs and increase their bottom line. For more information on this great program visit: fcimgt.com and coned.com.