Birkel Electric

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Birkel Electric Goes Green with Newly Installed Solar Panels

Tuesday, November 8th, 2011

Does ROI in less than four years sound appealing? It did to Birkel Electric. That is why the company has not only signed a partnership to install solar panels, they have installed a bank of 44 on the roof of the company’s headquarters in Chesterfield.

While solar energy has taken hold in other parts of the country, Missouri’s cheap power has lead to hesitancy among Missouri home and business owners to make the move. But the team at Birkel speaks in a language all can understand, the language of saving money.

By installing the new solar panels, Birkel became eligible for tax breaks from the federal government and credits from Ameren. After reducing the installation price from those credits, Birkel is already saving about $130 every month on their Ameren bill. And when there is no one in the building on Sunday’s, Birkel is actually making money in the form of credits from Ameren. That is because the newest generation of solar panels is actually connected to the electric grid, which has made solar much more affordable and easy to install.

When solar panels are installed, Ameren will also install a special meter. That meter has the ability to spin backwards when the building is feeding back into the power grid, as opposed to taking power out. Meaning that Birkel is literally generating electric for the electric company.

The solar panels at Birkel are capable of producing up to 10 kW of power and are all made in the USA, coming with an expected 25 year life cycle. And don’t worry about their durability, these solar panels are built to withstand extreme weather, including hail.

If you are interesting in the savings we are seeing at Birkel, keep a lookout for an upcoming meter on our website to show our savings at that very moment. We are always available to answer your questions about solar energy at Birkel.

Tags: Energy savings, projects, Solar
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Birkel Knows Business

Wednesday, May 11th, 2011

Birkel Knows Business

It’s easy to say you know business, but much harder to back it up. At Birkel Electric, we never leave you scratching your head wondering, what is really going on?

Part of knowing business is taking care of business – the right way. And nothing slows your business to a crawl more than a day without power. In our industry, we know that things happen, but it is the response that counts. You need an immediate solution, two or three days will not cut it.

We see many cases where installations have been done incorrectly or simply that time has taken its toll on a building. No matter the problem, the most important part is that an electrical contractor can be in your facility, fixing the problem as quickly as possible. Because, as we all know, candlelight is great for a romantic dinner, but terrible for a meeting.

That’s why when you call Birkel Electric, we can respond at a moment’s notice. We are centrally located in Chesterfield, MO and use the latest in GPS tracking software to dispatch our electricians. Like we said, it’s the quick response with a quick solution that counts.

Birkel doesn’t only respond when you have an emergency, we also handle many other complex installations. A situation we often are called into is office relocations or backup generators. Nothing is more stressful than moving an entire office, the details can be endless. While you may be concerned about moving your employees and keeping your business running, we guarantee Birkel will be the least of your worries. Our electricians will be there on time, in one of our vans, taking care of business without disrupting yours.

At Birkel Electric, we pride ourselves on our business sense. Even if that means working with a unique business situation, we have the flexibility and know how to get the job done right. If you are looking for a reliable commercial electrical contractor who knows business, look no further than Birkel. Give us a call, we guarantee you will not be disappointed. For more information visit www.BirkelElectric.com.

Tags: Commercial Business Electrician
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A Tool Box and Hammer Doesn’t Make a Professional Electric Contractor

Thursday, March 31st, 2011

A Tool Box and Hammer Doesn’t Make a Professional Electric Contractor

If your electric contractor asks if you have 220 or 221 volts, that’s a sign you might want to ask a few more background questions. Normally you wouldn’t let just anyone into your business, and an electric contractor should be no different. Because you aren’t an electrician you shouldn’t have to know about the industry to hire a trusted professional.

Unfortunately that is not always the case, but you should know you can trust the hiring of professional contractors to companies in the industry, like Birkel. When we hire new employees, we make sure they have the right training and are people we would trust working in our own homes. They are clean cut and represent the company well. Don’t expect to see Bubba in his 82 Ford Bronco.

When customers need our assistance, our presence will not cause a disruption to their business. Beyond from the greeting, explanation of the work, occasional bump during work and the farewell, you should not know one of our contractors’ is there.

And when you need your contractor there quickly, they should be able to respond. Because we are located in Chesterfield, we have seen how being able respond anywhere in the St. Louis metro area can make all the difference to our customers. By tracking our trucks with GPS, we are able to reroute them at a moments notice, giving us a much broader reach.

To keep your contractor working on your project, they need the right tools. When Bubba shows up, you can bet he also does not bring the right tools to get the job done right. That delay means extra time on your project, because he needs to “run and get something from the store.” At Birkel, we don’t subscribe to that thinking. When you see a Birkel truck, you can expect it is loaded with everything you will need.

We work on projects at commercial and industrial sites in every corner of the St. Louis area. Our expert electricians have decades of experience, consistently providing innovative and practical solutions. We guarantee our professionalism and would like the chance to prove it to you. If you ever feel that we have not performed at the highest level of professionalism, we invite customers to speak directly with Mike Birkel at 636-386-7000 or visit us at www.BirkelElectric.com.

Tags: Chesterfield Electrician, St. Louis Electrician
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