Someone took my business idea! A few years ago, I had written a business plan for “Green Squad” — a company I wanted to start to help homeowners green up their homes. The reason I wrote the plan was that I felt there was a great need for a more comprehensive service than was currently available — particularly in the area of energy conservation. So, a big part of the service would have been to help navigate the energy audit services offered by utility companies. Having gone through energy audits in the past, my experience had not been that great.
First, you had to figure out which utility offered what; that by itself was confusing and turned people away. I felt that the gas and electric companies should COMBINE efforts, since they have the same ultimate goals in helping the homeowner conserve energy. Well, now, they have combined efforts! Today, I received an email today from Centerpoint Energy, our gas company, promoting their “Home Energy Squad” services. (Tomorrow, June 9th, they are promoting a 50% off the premium service — so it’s only $40 instead of $80. A great deal either way.) The only restriction here is that you have to be both an Xcel and CenterPoint Energy customer — which pertains to most Twin Citians.
The second issue had been the follow-through. In a typical energy audit, someone would come over, make a few helpful recommendations, and then leave. You are on your own to go figure out what to do next, even with a list of priorities and potential sub-contractors. I remember standing in the light bulb aisle at Home Depot, totally confused about which CFL bulb would work in my recessed cans; nobody there could help me. I left empty handed and feeling a little down, because even I — a motivated, educated homeowner — could not figure out what to do to lower my energy bills. Well now, this Home Energy Squad service comes with CFLs, low-flow aerators, programmable thermostats, and a plethora of other services from an a la carte menu! The follow-through issue seems to have been taken care of as well. Nice job!
I am so thankful there is finally a Home Energy Squad, and strongly encourage anyone in the Twin Cities to sign up. The financial savings are real and continue every month in the future. It’s an annuity that pays you forever. Why wouldn’t you do it? Now that it has been made easier, I can finally recommend this to friends…and can shelve that business plan once and for all!