by Shawn McQuary, on November 8, 2024 at 7:00 AM
There’s a direct relationship between energy costs and profitability, but most managers are too busy to analyze how much energy their equipment uses. That’s why MidCo Power offers free energy audits.
When you know how much energy your equipment uses, you’ll gain clarity around:
- Total cost of ownership
- When to budget for new batteries
- Whether it’s “worth it” to convert from IC to electric forklifts
- Or invest in a lithium-powered fleet.
An energy audit can also help you uncover cost-saving opportunities elsewhere in your facility. Here’s how it works:
What does an energy audit entail?
We can do:
- A basic power study on your equipment,
- An in-depth assessment of your entire facility,
- Or anything in between.
How much data we collect and on what equipment is up to you. The service is 100% free.
Step One: Site Visit
An experienced energy expert will come to your location, walk around your facility and learn about your operation.
Step Two: Data Collection
For a basic power study, we’ll gather data on the equipment that gets used the most. Over 2-4 weeks, we’ll track your fleet’s:
- Run-time
- Idle time
- Available charge
- Amp hours
- Overall throughput (daily amps consumed)
If your operation has seasonal peaks and valleys, we can collect data at different times of year.
During a more in-depth audit, we can uncover cost-saving opportunities throughout your facility. For example:
Fueling and Charging Stations — Are the locations optimal? Could you have fewer chargers?
Battery Storage and Maintenance — How much room does it take up? Can you reclaim space without compromising safety?
Fleet Mix — If fuel or electricity prices go up, what is the impact? Can you reduce fleet costs by using tow tractors instead of forklifts?
Step Three: Analysis and Reporting
Our basic power study includes reporting on the use patterns and energy consumption of your equipment. We’ll also give you the estimated lifespan of your batteries (so you can budget for replacements) and ways to optimize equipment charging.
If you choose a more in-depth analysis, we’ll provide additional recommendations and help you calculate the ROI of any future investments. You can implement the ideas right away or use the report to budget for improvements down the road.
Both options are available at no charge. We want to help local businesses save money, reduce their energy use and live up to their potential.
What are the benefits of an energy audit?
An energy audit can help you decide whether to invest (or not invest) in new equipment. For example, a customer running two 10-hour shifts couldn’t get their lead acid batteries to last beyond three years. The fleet manager had a gut feeling lithium-ion batteries would save the company time and money, but hesitated because of the higher purchase price. Data from the energy audit results supported the manager’s assumption and they were able to buy with confidence.
In addition to informing purchase decisions, an energy audit can help you:
- Minimize energy bills
- Recover space currently used for storage or charging
- Calculate the impact of fuel cost fluctuations
Request a Free Energy Audit
If you’d like your business to become more energy-efficient and profitable, sign up for a free power study from MidCo Power. Our goal is to help local businesses in Washington and Idaho make data-driven decisions — not sell you equipment you don’t need.
Contact an energy expert online or by phone and let us know how we can help.
Auburn 253-854-5438
Pasco 509-547-7413
Wenatchee 509-663-9009
Yakima 509-457-5137
Further Reading
Energy Solutions for Maximum ROI (Whitepaper)
What to Expect When You Convert from IC to Electric Equipment
What to Expect When You Convert to a Lithium-Ion Fleet
