Let There Be LED
By Contributor
By Contributor
When John Glennon and Steve Malin, longtime Lake Forest residents and longstanding community friends, reconnected two years ago at a memorial fundraiser, they did not foresee the business partnership that would be forged after “catching up” at Lake Forest’s Malin Baseball Field that brisk fall day in 2017.
Divine intervention? Perhaps. A field of dreams? More like a field of possibilities waiting to happen as Malin asked Glennon, a regarded attorney and banker long specializing in the finance industry and projects involving energy efficiency and environmental awareness components, to “take a look” at a business opportunity he’d recently been presented.
A thorough review detailed how LED lighting improvements, funded by groups of investors providing the upfront capital, would offer small and large businesses alike the chance for green energy improvements at virtually no cost. Through a unique equipment lease-back model combined with utility provider rebates and long-term energy savings, this financially advantageous and environmentally conscious idea was, in Glennon’s mind, a clear win-win for both the funding partners as well as today’s business owner who needs to upgrade to LED lighting but may not be able to afford it. A welcome phone call from Glennon to Malin included two powerful words, “I’m in.” Glennon wanted to partner with Malin on this cutting-edge approach to energy
improvement, and Cap4Energy LLC was born.
Malin, a 25 year veteran of the commodities industry and 15 year merchant processing broker, loved the idea of joining forces with Glennon. “John and I have always gotten along great and align when it comes to the importance of relationships,” explains Malin. Indeed, some of the first businesses that utilized their no-cost LED lighting improvement were friends and colleagues who they’d known for years.
“The LED funding model works well for countless types of businesses, and we’ve been working with everyone from country clubs, schools, apartment buildings, manufacturing plants, warehouses, and office buildings,” adds Glennon.
The steps to converting to LED with Cap4Energy are simple but far-reaching, making it high-impact for a company’s bottom line, but low-to-no impact as far as business disruption. A no-cost on-site walkthrough at the location inspects current systems and assesses energy improvement needs. After completing a brief financial questionnaire, a complementary energy audit is created, specifically tailored to the needs of that organization and prioritizing specific updates that will generate maximum savings. A formal proposal, including terms from the funding partners, utility company incentives, and specifics regarding the equipment, is then presented with a 30-day window to opt-in.
And the savings from switching to LED are substantial. Cap4Energy has seen lighting costs go down anywhere from 40 to 70 percent. On the flip side, the cost of waiting can top $40,000 a year. “There have been truly enlightening moments when we illustrate the cost of waiting to implement the LED,” says Malin. “It’s often more impactful than detailing the savings.”
“We’ve gotten great testimonials from business owners who couldn’t believe how seamless the process was to install the new lighting,” adds Glennon. “We’re armed with a team of professionals from the audit and funding through the LED implementation and follow-up so that no-cost lighting improvement with Cap4Energy is simply a win on all fronts.”
For more information on Cap4Energy, visit cap4energyllc.com.
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