Building Operating Management September 2011 - FacilitiesNet

uildingoperatingmanagement
SEPTEMBER 2011
103
PREVIEW
FACILITY DECISIONS
Tax Benefits for Efficiency Projects
From HVAC upgrades to LEED projects, federal tax
deductions may help justify energy investments
The summer of 2011 began much like any other,
with pockets of scorching temperatures affecting
states throughout the Midwest and Southwest and
heavy rains drenching others along the East Coast.
Across the country, facility managers continued
to pursue strategies that offered the most energyefficient
operation of HVAC systems, lighting, and
building controls. Some facility organizations
considered equipment upgrades,
while others planned a
retooling and recommissioning
of existing systems. As usual,
budget played a big factor
in determining next steps.
Then two extraordinary things
happened: the U.S. debt ceiling rose,
and the stock market plunged.
Facing an incredibly unpredictable
environment, many facility
operating budgets were suddenly
in peril. And those energy
efficiency initiatives? They were
in danger, too.
They don’t have to be, according
to Charles Goulding, president and
founder of Energy Tax Savers Inc., which
specializes in advising building owners, architects, engineers
and designers on tax benefits related to energy saving building
investments.
Last year’s updates to the Energy Policy Act (EPAct) have
ushered in “a whole new category of projects qualifying for
HVAC tax deductions,” says Goulding, who will be presenting
“Using EPAct to Make Energy Projects Possible” at next
Charles Goulding
will discuss the impact
of changes to the Energy
Policy Act (EPAct) at
next month’s Facility
Decisions conference
in Las Vegas.
Facility Decisions is free
to attend and will be held at
the Mirage Event Center in
Las Vegas. Hotel rooms are
also available at the Mirage.
Call 800-499-6311 to
reserve now.
FacilityDecisions.com
Facility Decisions Pre-Conference
Workshops Offer More Ways to Cut Costs
Two pre-conference workshops are available to Facility Decisions attendees on
Monday, Oct. 11 from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. The cost is $149 in advance, $249 on-site.
Learn more at www.nfmt.com/education
Workshop 1: Best Practices for
Energy Management
Presented by Richard G. Lubinski, CEM,
CDSM, CSDP, CEMSC, BEP, President,
Think Energy Management LLC, and
Bob Holesko, Vice President, Facilities,
HEI Hotel and Resorts
Workshop 2: Measure What You
Manage: How to Communicate
Performance vs. Goals
Presented by Michael B. Cowley,
CPMM, President, CE Maintenance
Solutions
EVENT HOURS
Monday, Oct. 10
Pre-conference Workshops
(fee applies): 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 11
Conference Sessions:
8 a.m. – noon
Exhibit Hall: noon – 4 p.m.
Opening Night Party:
3 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Solutions Exchange:
4 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 12
Conference Sessions:
8 a.m. – 11 a.m. & 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Exhibit Hall: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
month’s Facility Decisions Conference & Expo in Las Vegas.
“EPAct benefits are applicable to investments made to
reduce energy use,” says Goulding, adding that the current
push toward LEED certification is a natural fit for EPAct tax
deductions as well. “LEED buildings and EPAct integrate
almost perfectly. Any time you have a LEED building, you
should be thinking that you’re platformed for tax savings.”
Goulding points to 11 categories of HVAC equipment
that now fall under EPAct’s Section 179(D), noting that
many of them are becoming more
widely adopted throughout the facilities
management marketplace and
include thermal storage, demand
control ventilation, chilled beam ceilings,
magnetic bearing chillers and
VAV devices in buildings of less than
75,000 square feet.
For facility managers who develop
expertise in applying these deductions,
an unbeatable opportunity to recoup
upgrade investments and save energy
dollars for the long haul awaits. And
in a world where financial stability is a
long way off, these tax savings offer a
way forward for vital energy- and costsaving
projects. ■