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- BSI is not stuck in common or limiting paradigms. We see energy efficiency as very important, but only one of many ways to achieve the more important and inclusive goal of reducing fuel consumption at electricity generators — whether fossil or nuclear. We call our approach Primary Energy Conservation. Such observations focus BSI's research and design and generate novel solutions that are often decades ahead of our competition. In our work, BSI has found discrepancies in commonly-accepted building codes and construction practices, i.e., situations where they should be modified or replaced with better practices in order to optimize performance and reduce harm to buildings, their occupants, the economy or the environment. We have addressed this in our publications, presentations and client contracts.
- From its inception in 2004 until 2015, BSI's clients largely consisted of architects, engineers, and commercial and residential building owners who wanted assistance with lowering energy bills, remediating moisture problems and their health-related consequences, increasing overall building durability, and/or creating a more sustainable and improved lifestyle. Since then, BSI has added new services. In subsequent years, BSI has innovated new and exciting opportunities in the area of utility economics which will greatly enhance all three types of sustainability referred to above.
- Hurricane Katrina, in August 2005, was a turning point in the Southeastern U.S. and client concerns expanded to further embrace building durability, health, and safety, as well as, electricity reliability, power quality, and resilience against intermittent or prolonged power outages.
- BSI was a leader in the subsequently-formed New Orleans Energy Policy Task Force under the auspices of the New Orleans City Council. Recommendations, were released in a 2007 report entitled "The Energy Hawk.” One was adopted: Integrated Resource Planning (IRP).
- BSI continued to participate in promoting sound utility policy as an intervenor in the 2015 IRP process, suggesting solutions and, in 2015, made a major contribution:
- An electricity pricing and payment method, Customer Lowered Electricity Price (CLEP), was conceived, introduced and promoted as a general tool that could actually make IRP’s goal attainable. A year later, in the summer of 2016, BSI submitted three CLEP pilot programs for the consideration of regulators and Entergy. By Spring 2017, CLEP became applicable to all building types and customer classes and even provides a way to finance Community Solar.
- Thus, BSI now has a greatly expanded set of potential clients that include electric utilities, their regulators and customers, and the full complement of professionals within the building energy design industry, including architects, engineers, appliance manufacturers, and more.