Sustainability tends to conjure up images of green buildings contributing to a healthier global environment, and that is certainly one aspect of it. But we all know that money talks, and building owners and managers are going to justifiably expect to see a solid returns on their investments (ROIs) in sustainable building measures. Contractors who understand the importance of maximizing ROI will be positioned to better sell sustainability technologies, such as combined heat and power (CHP), thermal energy storage, and dedicated outdoor air systems (DOAS).
Benjamin Locke, CEO of Tecogen, said there are a number of factors that make CHP systems attractive to building owners, including power resiliency for times when the electrical grid goes down, high system efficiency, and a reduced greenhouse gas footprint. However, the most fundamental drivers for CHP are economics and ROI.