13. Projected Simple Payback Period
(Total Installed Cost/Total Annual Cost Savings at commercialization) (Limit 1000 characters)
Open Energy turns Drupal into an energy conservation measure (ECM). [i] It does this by layering Drupal on top of the existing building automation system. Up to now lighting upgrades has been considered the ‘lowest hanging fruit’ of energy savings programs. The GPG program itself lists 7 separate lighting related projects.[ii] Compared to lighting as an ECM, Open Energy should be a ‘no brainer’ and implemented immediately by everybody.
Open Energy is free to download and can plug into existing websites automatically. With proper coordination between existing IT and Facility personnel an institution such as Penn State or the White House can embed energy dashboard components into their existing web sites now at no cost. By empowering occupants to become active participants in energy management programs savings of 10 to 30% can be realized. Therefore, Open Energy can be implemented as an ECM at no cost to facilitate dramatic savings.
The simple payback period can be immediate and profound.