Commercial energy efficiency is one of those topics that's been over-discussed and under-executed. The dollars are real and the rebates are real — but they only show up when the upgrades are sequenced right and matched to how the building actually runs.
Lighting — still the easiest win
LED retrofit cuts lighting energy 50–70%. In a typical Sonoma County office or retail space, lighting is 25–40% of the electric bill. Add occupancy sensors, daylight harvesting on perimeter zones, and decent dimmable controls and the savings stack.
HVAC and the electrical infrastructure to support it
Heat pumps replacing gas-fired equipment is the biggest electrification trend in commercial. The catch: heat pumps add significant electrical load. We do the load study, panel review, and circuit design — usually paired with the mechanical contractor's heat-pump install.
Motors and variable-frequency drives
Constant-speed pumps and fans waste energy any time the load is below 100%. VFDs scale motor speed to demand and routinely cut motor energy 30–50%. Common targets: HVAC blowers, exhaust fans, well pumps, and process motors.
Sub-metering and visibility
You can't manage what you can't see. Branch-circuit metering on key panels (HVAC, lighting, kitchen, refrigeration) turns 'we use a lot of power' into specific kilowatt-hour numbers per zone. The first month of metering usually pays for the install in tweaks alone.
Power factor and demand
On commercial PG&E rates, demand and power factor charges add up. Power factor correction at the panel — capacitor banks or active correction — can move a building's bill noticeably. We measure first, recommend second.
The rebates that move ROI
Sonoma Clean Power, BayREN, PG&E, and CALeVIP between them cover most of the upgrades worth doing. We track current programs and apply credits at quote time.
Sonoma County · Since 1990
Talk to a licensed electrician about your commercial energy efficiency.
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