Frequently Asked Questions:
If I'm an ESCO, why do I need Helios Resources?
How can I trust that you'll do my work on time and correctly?
You say you turn work away. Why don't you add staff?
What about working confidentially?
If I prefer to bulk up my own engineering staff - what do have to offer me?
If I hire your firm to help develop projects won't you dilute my brand?
Are you objective? What I mean is, you do work for different companies, doesn't that influence your perspective?
My salespeople and construction managers know a lot about engineering. Do I even need more in-depth engineering resources?
Do you do lighting audits?
What about water?
Do you build projects?
Are you insured?
What is Green Building and LEED?
What kind of financial terms do you work under?
How much do you charge?
I'm an end user, not an ESCO so what can you do for me?
OK - so I know what I want to do as a first step. What next?
Isn't it better to use in-house staff to implement a program?
Where did you get that name anyway?
Doesn't most of our energy come from the sun anyway?
How do I contact you?
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
If I'm an ESCO, why do I need Helios Resources?"
If you're like most ESCOs you have more opportunities popping into view every week than you have resources to throw at them. To use the engineering parlance, we would expect you would want to baseload your engineering and construction resources, and then peak with us. No sense in having 10 engineers on board 52 weeks in the year if you only have full time work for 8 but occasionally you could use 2 additional people. That's where we think we fit in - as those additional competent energy engineers that don't need babysitting and who blend seamlessly in and out of your organization as needed. Additionally, perhaps we are geographically suited to your work, or perhaps we have more experience in certain arenas and you would like to tap into that knowledge.

How can I trust that you'll do my work on time and correctly?
There are certain tenets that Helios Resources abides by on all projects on which we are retained. One is that everything gets done on time - if it does not there must be very, very good reasons. We understand your market requirements - M&V reports must be delivered on time to mitigate guarantee risk with your customers and of course proposal responses are very time sensitive. We understand that you will require time to put together a great proposal for your customer once the engineering is done and of course that takes time too.

Further, we never take on too much work. Sometimes that makes us unpopular as you can imagine because we sometimes turn down work (sharp intake of breath...) if taking on another project would compromise any of our other projects. By limiting our clientele we can do a better job for those clients we do serve. That means fewer errors, more complete and thorough site investigations, higher quality analysis and reporting which translates into a better proposal for you and ultimately your customers.

And guess what? Our approach costs you less in the long run because we don't end up making costly detours around your project. But we are still human, so yes mistakes can and do still get made and when they do we accept criticism and try and work it out.

You say you turn work away. Why don't you add staff?
Maybe it's not the way the MBA schools teach it, but in a word it's about control. The Principal of Helios Resources is loathed to grow the company so large that he can't be actively and properly involved in each and every project. That's good for you because even though we turn down work, when you do get us, you get at least 120% effort, instead of the paltry effort that we see some companies give their clients. We'll likely never be extremely wealthy, but we'll be happy knowing that we have provided our clients with the best energy engineering and consulting that we possibly can.

What about working confidentially?
Working confidentially is very important to us. We value long-term relationships with our clients, so we will never do anything to jeopardize that. If you still don't believe us (:-) then ask us to sign your NDA or other agreements.
If I prefer to bulk up my own engineering staff - what do have to offer me?
Far be it from us to operate your business for you (though we can and do consult in that regard too), but I think we can still offer help as you bulk up your staffing. For instance, as mentioned above, there are few systems built for a peak load. Every manager has faced the dilemma (I have) of what projects to shortchange because there are just too many opportunities on the table to give 110% to each one (and we all know that giving just 100% does not ensure success). At those times perhaps you will relent and recruit some temporary additional senior energy engineering talent from Helios Resources Ltd. Keep our number handy!
If I hire your firm to help develop projects won't you dilute my brand?
Unless someone asks us directly our staff will appear as your staff. To that end, we highly recommend you equip us with your corporate identity package - business cards, perhaps an email box on your system, a photo ID card, and optionally clothing with your name and logo on it. If someone asks directly then of course we need to be completely truthful that we are subcontractors to the best energy services company currently out on their site. It's really not a big deal - most end user sites are accustomed to seeing subcontractors out there. With Helios, we simply won't telegraph the fact. In some cases, we have used the fact that we were subcontractors to actually help sell the credibility of our client company by our presence. After all, if you aren't seriously committed to a customer's project then you are unlikely to go to the time, trouble and expense to retain our services.

Are you objective? What I mean is, you do work for different companies, doesn't that influence your perspective?
What we subscribe to is a system of "Best Practices" that we obtain from attending trade shows and conferences, subscribing to trade publications and so on. We believe we are on the cutting edge of those best practices but if there is information or methods that you show us then no we will not use that anywhere other than on your projects. Our hope is that you will gain knowledge from us - after all that is why some companies use consultants, and rightly so.

My salespeople and construction managers know a lot about engineering. Do I even need more in-depth engineering resources?
Certainly you want technically savvy salespeople and of course your CMs should know the engineering principles behind what they are implementing but we are seeing more and more technically orientated end users and customers with high caliber engineers sitting across the table. These reviewing engineers need to be met on a peer to peer basis so they can be assured of the viability of the technical solutions proposed for their facilities. In our opinion you must ensure that you staff your projects with adequate engineering resources so that there are no holes in your response. Adding more engineering resources enables each engineer to fully explore all scenarios so that you can determine the optimal proposal offering. Helios Resources Ltd. can augment and, if desired, direct those engineering resources.

Do you do lighting audits?
Certainly, lighting is becoming more technically difficult and we excel in evaluating and implementing more involved conservation measures.
What about water?
Yes, we use water. Oh, and yes we know how to use a lot less of it in most institutions, and yes we will figure out how to incorporate the water project so you get a cost-effective solution that adds value to your customer.
Do you build projects?
We are not contractors - we don't swing wrenches or turn hammers (or something). But we do have a great deal of experience in construction project management so we can do the grunt work of keeping all parties working towards getting a successful project built and revenue in your door. And time management is a strongpoint so if you're tired of your projects going wayyyyyyy over time and money budgets then please talk to us.
Are you insured?
Yes, we have general liability, business auto and professional liability. We can provide certificates of insurance prior to engagement.
What is Green Building and LEED?
That's a subject that can (and does) take an entire website of its own. LEED(tm) is a method of scoring the environmental impact (both the occupants' indoor environment and the common exterior environment) of so-called "green" buildings. Green building is largely what people such as Helios Resources, who have been in the energy business for their entire careers, have been doing all along. The somewhat good news is that it is becoming more mainstream, which means that the big A/E firms are now finally paying more than just lip service to the concept. Helios Resources Ltd. has the necessary LEED accredited professional staff to ensure that if you or your customer decides they wish to pursue LEED certification for their building(s), that we stand ready to assist in that somewhat complex procedure. For more information we have a basic LEED/Green Building information page available to assist you. Or call us, we are happy to discuss the process with you prior to you making a commitment.
What kind of financial terms do you work under?
We work in a number of different scenarios. If you are an established energy services provider simply using our expertise as subcontractors, we can work in a number of ways but most usually on a simple fee for services basis so you know what your exposure is up front, and there are no unexpected and hidden costs to take away from your project performance.
How much do you charge?
We consider that we charge a fair fee for our services. We don't play games by lowballing hourly rates then coming back for change orders. We don't undercut on hourly rates only to charge for twice as many hours! Contract with some of the industry's top talent now and avoid the potential pitfalls of going with the lowest apparent first cost.
I'm an end user, not an ESCO so what can you do for me?
Well, reading this website is a great first step. Depending on your position within the organization there are different approaches to saving energy. We have a whole page devoted to simple low-cost/no-cost ideas that you and your facility can implement. Bear in mind, however, that as energy and resource professionals, some of our most frustrating moments have come from being called into facilities where in-house energy programs were implemented with somewhat detrimental results. Now when anyone in the entire facility hears the words "Energy Conservation" they run the other way! In our minds, it is better to sketch out a roadmap for a comprehensive resource strategy and implement piece by piece - ensuring that occupant environment is enhanced along the way. Of course, we can help you do that - on a review and consultation basis if you prefer. If you wish, we can establish an ESCO program for you that will get you a great performance contract, quickly and efficiently.
OK - so I know what I want to do as a first step. What next?
Before you implement a program you should develop an implementation plan, determine how to accomplish your goals with maximum buy-in from your management and publicize the effort within your facility. If you're at the stage of knowing what you want to do but perhaps being unclear as to the steps that facilities can take toward meeting their goals then again we can be of help.
Isn't it better to use in-house staff to implement a program?
There are several questions that should be asked when trying to figure out whether to use in-house staff. The first is whether your folks have the spare time to devote to something like this. If they do then you have to ask, would I prefer to have them learn the energy business inside out, or should I concentrate their time on core business functions and outsource this specialize area of engineering. We are only too happy to blend in as additional resources in your organization on an as-needed basis. You can still assign a program manager to oversee us and coordinate with us and we will report to that person as though we were employees under their direction.
Where did you get that name anyway?
Helios was the Greek god of the sun. In deference to the fact that all life on earth (including humans) is dependent on the sun, and the fact that most of our energy could and should come from the sun and other renewable resources we named our company to mark that fact.
Doesn't most of our energy come from the sun anyway?
Well, in a round about way, yes. Fossil fuels came from life that died millions of years ago. Some of the dead plant and animals were subjected to great pressures in the earth and were changed into the oil, coal and natural gas we extract from the earth today. In a way, these fossil fuels are stored solar energy from millions of years ago. The only exception that we can think of is nuclear energy - that has no relationship to the sun whatsoever. Of course wind and hydroelectric power come almost directly from the sun. Anyway, debating of philosophical issues like this could take a while. Let's set a lunch date and talk about it then.
How do I contact you?
Call 610-917-9111, email us at info@heliosltd.com



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