Rolling Meadows CEO: Small steps, big savings

Making energy-saving improvements to your business — both in the structure and in your employees’ habits — can net sizable overall costs savings, an energy expert told Arlington Heights business and community leaders Wednesday.

Greg Galanos, CEO of Rolling Meadows-based Energy360Solutions, spoke at the Arlington Economic Alliance breakfast held at the Daily Herald Office Center in Arlington Heights.

While the condition of the building structure, lighting system and heating/cooling system all contribute to a company’s high energy bills, Galanos said not having an energy policy is a major factor. He noted that employee behavior — such as constantly adjusting thermostats or opening windows and doors while the heating or cooling system is running — is especially tough on energy costs.

He also noted employees who use space heaters can really drive up energy costs.

“Each one takes 1,000 to 1,500 kilowatts to run, and that’s just one of them,” Galanos said. “If you walk around your office and see multiple ones, that’s really going to drive up the electric bill.”

He said that creating an energy policy is the first step to improving costs. By showing the commitment to saving energy and the environment and training your employees to do the same, you can realize savings with minimal investments. Appointing an employee to be your “green person” can also help in the effort.

Beyond that, Galanos recommended making energy improvements in the building structure, such as caulking walls and windows, and upgrading the heating/cooling system and lighting equipment. If the business leases space, he recommended using energy improvements as a bargaining chip with landlords when the lease is up for negotiation.

Galanos noted that there are many energy incentives and tax breaks being offered by governments and the utility companies, and he estimated that businesses can realize a return on their investment in a year to 18 months.

Groupon Account Executive E. Preston Scruggs also spoke to the business leaders about how small businesses can benefit from the Chicago-based online coupon company. Scruggs highlighted the company’s growth from a seven-person operation in 2008 to more than 3,300 employees today. The site has sold 36 million groupons since its inception, with $1.5 billion realized in savings.

He noted that Groupon’s focus is providing opportunities for brick-and-mortar businesses to get their goods and services into the online world, especially through social media where they have 2 millions followers on Facebook and Twitter.

The company’s newest initiative, Groupon Now, is a mobile-based app that can read a customer’s location from his smartphone and download deals based on the geography around him, Scruggs said. The app can also give the participating business information on the redemption of his deal, as well as who is buying the deal and where the buyers are located.