RALEIGH, N.C. - Piedmont Air Conditioning noted that it has seen a sharp increase in the demand for energy audits, energy engineering, and other efficiency-related services. Because of this, the company has rebranded itself as Piedmont Service Group to reflect its increased focus on energy efficiency and sustainability services. The company said its traditional HVAC design build and service remains a core part of its business.
“Energy efficiency and sustainability is no longer a luxury for companies. It is a requirement - an economic and environmental responsibility,” said Peter Williams, president of Piedmont Service Group. “That mindset led us to expand our core HVAC business to help companies reduce their energy consumption through smart energy planning and monitoring.”
Piedmont recently partnered with Shaw University in Raleigh to help the university secure a $350,000 grant from the State Energy Office to upgrade an outdated chiller plant that serves the student center and two campus dormitories. The grant money, provided by the North Carolina Department of Commerce through the Federal Recovery Act, is expected to help the university reduce its energy costs by $85,000 a year. Work on the project is currently underway.
Piedmont has worked with a number of companies across North Carolina to obtain Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. During the construction of Quintiles’ new 252,000-square-foot world headquarters in Research Triangle Park, Piedmont provided mechanical systems that lowered energy consumption and reduced Quintiles carbon footprint. Piedmont also installed an energy management system that allows Quintiles’ facilities staff to remotely monitor and control the building’s HVAC and lighting systems.
“The advances in smart building technologies have created enormous opportunity for companies to reduce their energy consumption through automated systems,” Williams said. “That technology, combined with mechanical systems designed to maximize energy efficiency, can save companies like Quintiles hundreds of thousands of dollars over the life of their building.”
Piedmont said the increased demand for energy efficiency and sustainability services has allowed it to successfully maintain its business during the slowdown of new construction projects seen over the last three years. Piedmont has increased its workforce by 10 percent over the past year, including five Certified Energy Managers, as well as professional engineers and mechanical engineers who provide special expertise in energy efficiency and mechanical/HVAC systems.
Piedmont Service Group is headquartered in Raleigh, N.C., and employs 150 people across six locations in North and South Carolina (Greensboro, Greenville, Hickory, Myrtle Beach, Raleigh, Wilmington). For more information, visit www.piedmontservicegroup.com.
Publication date:06/20/2011
