Energy Magazine December 2014 | Page 13

Ingersoll-Rand busts energy myths
and still use the same or less than we ’ ve used in the past . We don ’ t believe you have to compromise quality of life or comfort to achieve with that there all the time .”
Myth # 3 : Energy efficiency is expensive . “ This is probably the biggest myth that ’ s out there ,” Tew said . “ When you ask your neighbor or someone on the street why they haven ’ t done more , they typically say , ‘ Oh , it ’ s too expensive ’ or ‘ It ’ s not for me .’”
Tew said that of the three , this one is the purest myth , because “ never before have we seen the parity that we see now with efficiency and everything else .” He also explained that the differences between short and long term costs are factors that not everyone understands , but awareness is certainly growing .
“ I think leD lighting has helped homeowners and consumers begin to think about even long term cost of a bulb versus the short term cost of incandescent ,” he said . “ At least we ’ re all learning that . That goes for any scale , such as a commercial scale or at an industrial facility where you ’ re

“ The answer is , if you ’ re thinking long term — because efficiency is a long term asset — improvements and efficiencies pay back over the long term ”

– Scott Tew , Executive Director for the Center for Energy Efficiency and Sustainability at Ingersoll-Rand

trying to decide whether or not you should invest in it . The answer is , if you ’ re thinking long term — because efficiency is a long term asset — improvements and efficiencies pay back over the long term .”
Tew makes it clear that sometimes sustainability means playing the long game .
“ These are not only next-day pay backs ,” he noted . “ These are not only next month pay backs . We ’ re seeing more and more people understand that and when you understand that , the myth that efficiency is expensive goes away .”
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