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Press Aikido Pro Gets his Kicks by Learning Energy Ropes NYSERDA Gives him Contractor Control As the proud holder of a fifth-degree black belt in aikido, Sensei Robert Waltzer is anything but defenseless. But as a businessman looking to hire a heating, ventilation and air-conditioning contractor, that is exactly how he felt. His problem arose after he bought the building in Little Neck, Queens, where for years he had rented space for his Aikido school of Self Defense. As the owner of the property, he wanted to quickly put in a new HVAC system. "I knew I was going to be talking to people who might not know a front kick from a side kick but could take advantage of my lack of knowledge in heating and AC systems," says Mr.Waltzer. "I didn't want them to be able to pull a fast one on me." To prevent that, he turned to a trainer himself, looking to the Industrial Buildings Program operated by the New York State Research and Development Authority. The program helps businesses pay for energy audits and energy-efficient machinery and construction. Under this program, NYSERDA has committed approximately $173 million to more than 1,300 projects in the New York area since 1998. In addition, the agency runs education programs for firms interested in saving money by improving efficiency and reducing waste, and it sponsors research to develop energy-conserving products. "We show people how to evaluate costs over the life of their investment," says Brian Henderson, director for energy efficiency services. "Better lighting and more efficient machinery will pay for themselves in terms of increased productivity as well as Lower utility costs." NYSERDA addressed Mr.Waltzer's needs by putting him in touch with an engineer who assessed his building and assisted him in determining exactly what needed to be done and how much he could expect to pay. As the work went on, the engineer helped Mr. Waltzer make sure the contractors weren't taking unauthorized shortcuts and aided him in spotting errors before he cut any checks. To ease the burden of the $20,000 loan that the instructor had taken out to pay for the renovations, NYSERDA helped him find a way to cut the interest rate to 3.1 % from 4%. These days, not only can Mr.Waltzer teach people about the art of self-defense; he can also throw in a few tips about getting the upper hand with contractors. Ende, Jean. Crain's New York Business, SPECIAL REPORT: GROWING A BUSINESS GUIDE, "Aikido Pro Gets his Kicks by Learning Energy Ropes NYSERDA Gives him Contractor Control," November 8-14, 2004. |