The Value of Zero

We all know the value of zero right?  Nothing?  Nada?  Zilch?

When it comes to energy, zero is actually really valuable.  You may have seen the article we shared in the Saratoga Business Journal a few month ago on Zero Energy Buildings.   This concept – buildings that consume no more energy than they produce – isn’t some futuristic or high cost unattainable approach to real estate.  It’s actually right within our grasp.  When new projects are designed and built, taking just a few deliberate steps can result in an enormous impact.  ReWire looks at advanced efficiency technologies and onsite generation systems such as solar power and geothermal energy to help achieve these results.

Barriers to Zero Energy

So, since it’s relatively simple and should save money, Zero Energy (ZE) Buildings should be all over the place, right?  Unfortunately, in real estate development, energy usage and efficiency is all too often considered a cost center – and a really big one.  Fortunately we’re able to work with developers that take the time to consider how a ZE goal can drive long-term value for their building. Many commercial real estate developers have such significant cost challenges, they don’t look into ZE as a valuable investment.

The Value of ZE Buildings

How valuable?  ZE buildings can provide big returns to developers and landlords, including 3 to 7 % higher occupancy rates, 3.5 percent higher rental rates and 13 percent higher sales prices.  The value of ZE amounts to a 30-50 percent energy and cost reduction savings over the course of a building’s useful lifetime.

That’s the Value of Zero.

How to Save Money Building Affordable Zero Net Carbon Apartments

Project Open
Project Open in Salt Lake City

Chris Parker just finished construction of a zero carbon apartment building, with 70% of the units considered affordable housing, for less than the cost of building a similar traditional apartment building, and he is on his way to completing a second phase. Now, he’s ready to share what he learned so others can do it, too.

Parker, executive director and founder of Giv Development, is the creator of Project Open, a $16 million, 112-unit, 5-story, zero carbon apartment building in Salt Lake City. His vision was to create a development that is both a solution to global carbon emissions and local air pollution, – an issue especially problematic for residents in the Salt Lake City area – and to make this housing available to low income residents. This project addresses both air quality and affordable housing challenges by reducing the building’s energy use, saving building costs so rents can be low, and making it easy for residents to live without fossil fuel-powered vehicles.

Read More

ReWire Energy in the Albany Business Review

Lee and Al Evans

Lee and Al Evans at Saratoga CoWorks Broadway

Alan and Lee Evans of ReWire Energy want to make it easier and cheaper for businesses, developers and municipalities to lower energy bills while adopting renewable energy technologies.

The Evans brothers started ReWire Energy in 2015 with their father, Milton, and three other brothers.

“If you’re running a business, your energy bill is one of those things you get and pay and forget about. Everyone always wants to reduce their energy costs,” Lee Evans said. “They also want to be green. We do an analysis to say ‘hey, here is how much kilowatt hours you’re using and how much its costing you.’ It’s a surprise for people.”

ReWire Energy focuses on the planning and analysis, figuring out ways to lower clients’ energy bill while bringing in new technologies like solar, smart thermostats and other net-zero energy technologies. The firm has strategic partners to implement the plans, including solar installers and energy companies.

See More in the Albany Business Review

ReWire Joins SEDC Initiative To Focus On High-End Design Aspects Driving Local Digital Economy

SoBro, South Broadway Saratoga Project
SoBro Project Building Rendering

The Saratoga Economic Development Corporation  announced in June a major new initiative it said will empower world-leading integrated circuit and electronic system design in Saratoga County and New York’s Capital Region. 

The Electronic Design and Innovation Initiative (EDI² Saratoga) founding partners feature a cross-section of international, national, regional, and local leaders including SEDC, the U.S. Small Business Administration, Clarkson University, National Grid, Siemens, Center for Economic Growth, New York State Electric & Gas, SUNY Adirondack and locally based ReWire Energy. 

SEDC President Dennis Brobston estimated that the initiative will create over 100 jobs over the next five years.

Brobston said that, in order to fully leverage the successes of the last 40 years in the region, the semi-conductor industry must focus on developing cutting-edge integrated circuit design to keep up with the rapid pace of the chip manufacturing industry. 

“We worked for more than a year with some of the top technology minds in Tech Valley and Silicon Valley to develop EDI² Saratoga and recruit a robust mix of founding partners. We are confident this model and our expanding partners will cement our region as a global leader in advanced electronics systems. Fostering front end design and workforce skills to boost applied next generation technologies will drive most sectors of economic growth and high paying wage opportunities,” he said.

Brobston said there are four key elements driving the growth of the semi-conductor industry: research and development, design, manufacturing and packaging implementation. As integrated chip circuity continues to become smaller and more sophisticated, the design component is the only one of those components that has lagged behind. 

 EDI² Saratoga will be housed in a building being constructed in what is being called SoBro, on South Broadway at the site of the former Saratoga Diner.

Read More about EDI2 Saratoga

Saratoga Economic Development Corp. Announces the Electronic Design and Innovation Initiative EDI2 Saratoga

ReWire Named Founding EDI2 Partner with National Grid, NYSEG, Siemens, the Center for Economic Growth, and the U.S. Small Business Administration

The Saratoga Economic Development Corp. (SEDC) wants to change the region’s ability to attract computer chip design firms with a new program called the Electronic Design and Innovation Initiative, or EDI2 Saratoga.

The $10 million program will create a chip design “accelerator” program that will offer access to electronic design automation software that normally costs millions of dollars to license. The idea is that by offering the software and other business support services, existing chip design companies and startups will want to cluster in Saratoga County.

As part of its role with EDI2, SEDC helped ReWire put together an initial project plan and product strategy to develop a new smart grid monitoring system to gather data on energy usage and provide actionable updates to municipal users.  This black box technology solution, currently in the development phase in conjunction with SEDC, has already helped our team in seeking funding through the Jeff Lawrence Innovation Fund.  We look forward to partnering with the incredible team SEDC has assembled on EDI2 and think this new initiative will drive major technology outcomes for the region.

For more information please see SEDC launches program to support chip design work in the Times Union.

ReWire Energy Announces Certification as a New York State Minority Owned Business Enterprise

Energy Advisory firm seeks access to larger partners and opportunities for participation in energy related government and utility procurement programs

August 10, 2017

Saratoga Springs, NY… ReWire Energy – an upstate New York-based energy advisory firm, provides energy consulting and analytical services to its residential, commercial, municipal and multifamily customers, helping them to achieve greater energy efficiency and access to renewable energy resources – announced today that the company has been certified as a New York State Minority Owned Business Enterprise (MBE).

ReWire is a family-owned business seeking to expand its energy advisory and consulting operations through strategic relationships and new service offerings. ReWire has recently begun initiatives in Utility Asset Management and Digital Services. The firm is also pursuing Affordable Multifamily Housing programs that combine energy efficiency services with solar energy producing assets. This lowers operational costs for property owners and gives lower income households access to solar energy. ReWire Energy President Lee Evans stated that “being recognized as a certified MBE provides a boost to our efforts to gain access to larger partners. This certification also offers opportunities for participation in energy related government procurement programs.”

Many corporations and government entities have supplier diversity initiatives requiring that a certain percentage of their procurement dollars be spent with MBEs. Firms seeking MBE certification must be independently owned, operated and controlled by minority members.

About ReWire Energy: 

ReWire is an Energy Advisory Company that provides energy efficiency and distributed energy strategies. The company’s solutions are designed to add value through smarter energy management decisions. This lowers overall energy costs for ReWire’s residential, commercial, multifamily property owners and municipal clients.

ReWire strives to empower its customers to economically and efficiently choose clean, independent and renewable energy sources. The ability to maintain choice and control over their energy situation is the primary goal for its customers.

For more information visit rewireenergy.com or call us at 518.290.3130

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ReWire Group Announces ReWire Energy

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. >> The ReWire Group hosted an open house on April 27 at Saratoga Co-Works on Regent Street to announce the formal launch of ReWire Energy. The company plans to provide residential, commercial and municipal clients with the tools and services to enable access to solar power, distributed energy, energy efficiency and ultimately lower-cost energy solutions.

The company is a collaborative effort of the Evans brothers and their father, Milton Evans, all of whom bring a diverse set of skills and expertise to the business. The idea of going into the energy business came from Warren Evans, a former nuclear engineer who is a graduate of RPI and Stevens Institute of Technology. Warren had “gone solar,” as another brother describes it, and he had a vision of developing a consulting company that would benefit from each brother’s unique talents and background, offering holistic solutions to energy problems for small businesses, as well as homeowners. Read More in the Saratogian

Energy Brothers and ARM Brothers
From left: Ken Evans, Shawn Jorgensen, Todd Jorgensen, Lee Evans

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Evans Family Builds Company That Provides Businesses With Renewable Energy Solutions

There are a lot of reasons why people decide to open a business. For the Evans brothers and their father, ReWire Energy Group is the result of a strong love of family combined with a commitment to develop renewable and sustainable energy solutions for homes, businesses, and municipalities.

In 2012, Milton Evans, a former technology, and product development professional lost his wife, Corella Brown Evans, and his five sons lost their mother. The lessons she taught about the importance of family stuck with them.

“We vowed to support each other and stay in touch,” said son Lee Evans. They started holding weekly phone calls and during one of them, the idea of starting a business together began to form.

Each brother had already amassed an impressive business portfolio, working for companies such as GE, Albany Nanotech, Deutsche Bank, YMCA, Motorola, Glaxo-Smith-Kline, and others. They brought their combined skill sets to each phone conference, discussing how best to leverage their talents and incorporate them into a viable business model.

By 2015, their business model was ready and ReWire Energy opened for business.

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