Energy Efficiency

Smart Home Energy Management System: An image of a modern home equipped with a smart energy management system. The scene includes a homeowner interacting with a digital interface that controls lighting, heating, and appliances, optimizing energy use. The background shows energy-efficient LED lighting, smart thermostats, and solar panels on the roof.

Here are some handy tips for improving energy efficiency:

Replace old appliances and lighting with energy-efficient models carrying ENERGY STAR ratings
Insulate your home properly including walls, ceilings, attics to reduce heating and cooling costs
Seal air leaks around doors, windows, outlets to minimize drafts and loss of cooled or heated air
Set thermostats a few degrees cooler in winter and warmer in summer to save on HVAC usage
Use energy-saving settings on appliances, utilities and activate sleep modes when not active
Replace old windows with better insulating low-emissivity double or triple pane glass
Improve efficiency of heating and cooling systems by upgrading ducts, maintenance, filters etc.

Simple no-cost actions like turning off lights or better utilization scheduling along with upgrades to equipment, building envelopes cumulatively achieve major efficiency gains.

In 2003, Vestaris contracted with Procter & Gamble to implement improvements at P&G's Family Care facility in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

The $960,000 energy efficiency project will include an HVAC retrofit as well as a compressed air system demand reduction and controls upgrade.

"Our experience is that Vestar is a very professional organization," explained Beth Emanuelson, Senior Purchasing Manager for P&G. "Based on our analysis, we expect these project upgrades will save the plant more than $367,000 annually in energy costs."

Vestar has assisted other large corporations such as General Motors by implementing similar projects to promote energy efficiency. With the successful design and execution of improvements at 13 automotive manufacturing facilities in six states, GM is expected to realize a savings of more than $4.5 million annually in energy costs.

"Vestar is pleased to work with P&G in this project to increase energy efficiency, which will also lower its emissions impact through the same energy avoidance," said Doug Woodward, Business Alliance Manager for Vestar. "This is one of the soundest operational investments a company like P&G can make during times of volatile energy prices."

Vestar is an energy service company specializing in facility and infrastructure solutions and the appropriate application of energy-related technology.

Vestar works to understand customer goals and apply them to develop and deliver facility infrastructure solutions that conserve resources and improve building performance. Vestar is an affiliate of Cinergy Corporation, one of the largest diversified energy companies in the U.S.