Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) is an innovative economic development tool designed to allow commercial and industrial building owners to finance energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements through a voluntary special assessment attached to the property. The Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliancewww.greatercea.org in collaboration with the Port Authority of Greater Cincinnati brought this program to SW Ohio in 2013. Kentucky lawmakers voted to adopt legislation last year.
PACE financing is a potential WIN-WIN for building owners and tenants! Improvements can be implemented via long term fixed rates with little or no up- front capital required which preserves owner capital for other investments. Returns on investment provide an immediate return on investment through savings. Valuation and of the real estate is increased without impacting balance sheet. Annual costs can be passed along to tenants under some lease types. Tenants benefit through lower building utility and operating costs and improved work environment.
PACE funds can be applied to any number of building improvements, such as
HVAC and control systems
Lighting retrofit
Daylighting
Solar
Building envelope – insulation, roofing, doors/windows
Elevator upgrades
Kiesland is an approved GC-PACE partner providing Design/build and general contracting services. Kiesland is uniquely qualified to assess building needs, identify real opportunities and implement improvements through our BuildSmarterPlus group, for more information, see https://www.kiesland.com/buildsmarter/ Or call Andy Mauk a call at 513 554-1200 ext 3022 (amauk@kiesland.com)
We’re excited to share this very well-written article of where sustainability trends are headed in our industry. Our anecdotal experience “from the trenches” support that green building continues to evolve, especially in the private sector which Kiesland serves as our primary focus.
Whereas LEED certification was all the rage 5+ years ago it seems that rating scale recognition have taken a backseat to overall operating efficiency and health/well- being of building occupants. Overall client AWARENESs and interest in green building technologies has increased dramatically. Available technologies and applications to building operations are advancing rapidly as the cost of such improvements declines. All of our new project design/build projects begin with an extensive review of applicable technologies and cost feasibility assessment for that particular project.
As a result of this awareness we’re seeing tremendous interest in energy retrofits for existing buildings. Kiesland’s BuildSmarter Plus group is structured to cater to those customers who seek greater efficiency for existing properties. We offer a holistic approach that looks at the building as whole rather than individual. Our focus is on what makes financial sense for a given project; action plans look carefully at ROI and available incentives.
Whether it’s for new or existing projects, we’re excited to see the global interest in sustainability increasing.
“Smarter Thinking, Smarter Building™” is more than a slogan for us. It’s our culture. It influences everything we do. We’re constantly looking for innovative new ways to make your building work better for you.
That search for ever smarter ways to improve and build has resulted in our newest and most revolutionary initiative to date.
It’s called BuildSmarter+. It takes all the mystery away from the maze of confusing information related to “going green.” BuildSmarter+ takes a holistic approach to your entire property so you can maximize energy efficiency, improve the building environment and ADD EQUITY to your building investment . We’re able to provide these comprehensive services because we’ve done the research for you. We’ve sought out, sorted out, identified and partnered with the “best in class” service providers in the highest priority areas.
BuildSmarter+ Focal Areas • Electrical • Energy Costs • Walls, Roof, Windows & Doors • Daylighting • Mechanical Systems • Plumbing Fixtures • Solar • Storm Water: Parjana® drainage system
Paying for Energy Upgrades • Rebates/Grants • Financing Options
Getting Started
It’s as simple as contacting us! We will tour your property and meet with you to understand your specific needs and business goals. From there we mobilize our team of experts to provide a customized BuildSmarter+ evaluation with a set of recommendations. For more information please contact your Kiesland representative.
You’ve heard the terms; “LEED-Certified” – “Carbon-Neutral Design” – “Sustainable Design / Design for Sustainability (DfS) and Design for Environment (DfE)” to list just a few. We’re believers. We’re committed to sustainable building as well. While we’re General Contractors and Developers, we’re also business people. So we prefer to include more terms in our vocabulary. Terms like “Daylighting”, “Energy Efficient” and “Green Building / Sustainable Building Design”. We think that sometimes small steps lead to big improvements and yes, return on investment. Our goal is to help businesses improve the future of the planet while ensuring the future of their business. If that makes sense to you, we think we should talk Smarter Building.
