THE NCAT MISSION
Helping people build resilient communities through
local and sustainable solutions that reduce poverty,
strengthen self-reliance, and protect natural resources.

Welcome to the Energy Services Blog!

The Energy Program has been busy with a myriad of projects, represented by leaves on the tree. Energy Services is a large effort within the program and the team is witnessing positive and tangible results from their work. Energy Services is comprised of a team of energy engineers, energy analysts, and interns who help commercial businesses across Montana save energy and money by conducting audits and recommending energy-conservation measures, such as lighting controls and energy-efficient heating, ventilation, and cooling equipment.

When customers take our recommendations and retrofit or install new energy-efficient equipment, they could receive significant rebates from their utility company. Energy and dollar savings have soared since inception of this program. – Last year alone, the project team saved 128,872,032 kWh across Montana – that is equivalent to 644,360,160 bottles of beer! Cheers!

Need for Energy Assistance Programs During a Pandemic

Posted on July 20, 2020 by NCAT IT • 0 Comments

The COVID-19 pandemic has had deep impacts upon Americans. Mandatory closures and physical distancing put many people out of work and required them to stay home. The bills do not stop coming in though. And in the case of energy bills, staying home means using more energy, which results in higher bills. Because many Americans were furloughed or terminated from their jobs, paying those bills became a challenge, if not impossible. In some areas, threats of shutoffs were looming over many families, as well. This created an urgent need for assistance. Continue Reading

Earth Day Goes Virtual

Posted on April 22, 2020 by NCAT IT • 0 Comments

As we celebrate Earth Day 2020, the Earth looks and feels quite different than it normally does. This year marks the 50^th celebration of Earth Day and the COVID-19 pandemic, has drastically impacted our physical, social, and economic worlds. Even so, people are banding together and finding a “new normal,” — one that demonstrates resilience. We can still pursue our projects and initiatives, though; we just need to do it differently. And, at least for now, our communication must be virtual. Continue Reading

Show Us Your Bills – Red Lodge, Montana

Posted on April 20, 2020 by NCAT IT • 0 Comments

In Red Lodge, Montana, we asked the City’s Wastewater Treatment Facility to show us their energy bills to see just what kind of impact the installation of two Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) had on their energy consumption and, equally as important, their monetary savings. A VFD is used with AC electric motors that run pumps, water heaters, and other equipment in many different applications. They adjust the frequency of the motor to run at different speeds, allowing the motor to run as efficiently as possible. A very common application of VFDs is actually in water treatment facilities. Continue Reading

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