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.

But when all seemed right with the world, the unthinkable happened, bringing the worst storm St. Louis has seen in 44 years. Dubbed the “Good Friday Tornado”, the National Weather Service rated the tornado an EF4, the second highest rating on the Fujita Scale.

Leaving a 22 mile path of destruction from Maryland Heights to the metro east, The St. Louis Post Dispatch estimated that 2,700 buildings were damaged in St. Louis County alone.
While many heard about the damage at the airport, the real victims are those who lost their homes in North County. Assisting those in need, a member of the Birkel office staff volunteered with the clean up in a neighborhood just east of the airport.

We’d like to thank anyone who participated and recognize our staff member.

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.

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.

1) Midwest Veterinary Referral

2) Chaminade Preparatory School

3) River City Internet Group

The release from St. Patrick’s Center:

St. Patrick’s Irish Open raises $773,000 to build permanent, positive change for the homeless and poor

St. Patrick Center announced today that the 26th Annual St. Patrick’s Irish Open raised $773,000 in revenue and contributed goods and services to benefit St. Patrick Center clients.

The dinner auction June 5 and golf tournament June 7 would not have been possible without the support of Lead Sponsor Major Brands and dozens of other corporate sponsors and individual donors. “The leadership and community support of the Irish Open is very humbling to witness year after year,” says St. Patrick Center CEO Dan Buck. “Even in these tough economic times, local companies and individuals continue to make incredible gifts to support the rising number of people who are struggling throughout St. Louis.” According to Buck, St. Patrick Center is serving a record number of people this year and the agency has created new programs to serve those who are newly unemployed.

Major Brands, Missouri’s largest wine and spirits distributor, was the Irish Open Lead Sponsor for the fourth year in a row.Honorary Chairman was Todd Epsten, CEO and owner; Event Chairman was Patrick Quinn, Chief Operating Officer. “We are honored to be able to witness such an outpouring of support from our community,” says Epsten. “For four years, we’ve watched so many new friends connect with the important mission of St. Patrick Center and it made leading such an awesome event a true privilege.”

The Irish Open originated from the “Swing & Swear” event, which took place at the Lake of the Ozarks in 1984. When it was decided that the “Swing & Swear” would permanently move to St. Louis and proceeds from the event would benefit the efforts of St. Patrick Center, it was later renamed the St. Patrick’s Irish Open.

At this year’s dinner auction on June 5 at the five-star Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis, the sold-out ballroom of 460 guests generated one of the most successful silent and live auctions in the events 26-year history. “Auctioneer” Dan Buck sold 29 incredible live auction items, including two Napa Valley Experiences that sold for $9,700 each. Two generous families bought these trips, knowing the money they spent will help end homelessness for ten St. Patrick Center clients/families.

The contributions and generosity continued on June 7 with the Irish Open golf tournament at Norwood Hills Country Club.Nearly 310 golfers hit the links to help end homelessness and compete on the beautiful Norwood Hills courses. Morning winners of the 1st place “A” flight were Mike Hopson, Dean Pilcher, Carson Baur, Don Davis and Dave Naret. Afternoon West Course winners of the 1st place “A” flight were Jeff Pea, Mark Reeds, Mike Zuke, Terry Yake, Peter Kim and Ben Bishop. Afternoon East Course winners of the 1st place “A” flight were Zach Pranger, Drew Pranger, Marty Pranger, Steve Benz and Stephen Benz.

After golf, participants took part in the St. Patrick’s Shootout, a chipping contest using the new Cleveland wedges that were distributed to each golfer as a gift. Meg Fisher took home the title for closest to the pin for the women, while Rob Leitner won the men’s shootout.

The Irish Open could not have operated without the many volunteers and sponsors who made the event an enormous success. “This is how a community responds to address a social wrong,” says Event Chair Patrick Quinn. Hundreds of people come together to help an innovative successful organization like St. Patrick Center with new resources to end homelessness for more and more people. If this event does not give you faith in all that’s good about St. Louis, I don’t know what else would.”

The 27th Annual St. Patrick’s Irish Open will be held June 4 (dinner auction) and June 6 (golf tournament), 2011.

St. Patrick Center salutes these businesses and individuals for their support of the 26th Annual St. Patrick’s Irish Open!

July 28, 2009: ST. LOUIS, MO. – Birkel Electric, a corporate sponsor for the 25th Annual St. Patrick’s Irish Open, helped the organization raise $715,000 for programs to serve the homeless and poor throughout the St. Louis region.

The charitable event, held May 30 and June 1, included a dinner auction at the Four Seasons Hotel in downtown St. Louis and a golf tournament at Norwood Hills Country Club in North St. Louis County.

“As a locally based company, we believe in helping those in need right here in our community and making St. Louis a better place to live and work,” Mike Birkel, Vice President of Birkel Electric, said. “The money raised at this event will go to providing services for the homeless in Missouri.”

Since its inception 25 years ago, the charity event has seen tremendous growth. The proceeds of this year’s event will go to building permanent and positive change for the homeless of St. Louis.

Birkel Electric, based in Chesterfield, Mo., provides commercial and electrical contracting services throughout St. Louis. Birkel works closely with the lead sponsor of St. Patrick’s Irish Open, Major Brands, Missouri’s largest wine and spirits distributor.

St. Patrick Center provides opportunities for self-sufficiency and dignity to persons who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Individuals achieve permanent, positive changes in their lives through affordable housing, sound mental health, employment and financial stability. More information is available at www.stpatrickcenter.org

About Birkel Electric

Birkel Electric specializes in providing commercial and industrial electrical contracting services throughout St. Louis.  Founded in 1967, Birkel Electric offers a number of contracting services including value-based engineering, design/build projects, backup generators, and power solutions for critical facilities and telecommunications systems for data and communication companies. Birkel Electric is located at 652 Trade Center Blvd., in Chesterfield, Mo. Birkel Electric has an additional office at the Fort Leonard Wood military base. Birkel Electric is a proud member of the Association of General Contractors St. Louis. More information may be accessed by visiting www.birkelelectric.com

June 1, 2009: ST. LOUIS, MO. – Birkel Electric, commercial and industrial electrical contractor, recently launched a new company website at www.birkelelectric.com, which demonstrates the company’s rich history, affiliations and commitment to the latest in electrical technology. The new site focuses on Birkel Electric’s distinct capabilities, which include design/build electrical contracting, telecommunications, mission-critical applications, diagnostics and emergency services.

According to Mike Birkel, Vice President of Birkel Electric, “Increasing our web presence is the first in a series of steps to bring Birkel Electric customers improved communication of what we offer and how our services differ from others in the market.  By demonstrating our commitment to technological advances and the type of work we’re known for consistently providing, our new website will help us reach out to current and future Birkel Electric customers.”

The new website also includes an interactive Google map, which provides visitors with directions to Birkel Electric’s headquarters in Chesterfield, Mo. and the company’s satellite office at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. , which specializes in government and military projects.

About Birkel Electric
Birkel Electric specializes in providing commercial and industrial electrical contracting services throughout St. Louis.  Founded in 1967, Birkel Electric offers a number of contracting services including value-based engineering, design/build projects, backup generators, and power solutions for critical facilities and telecommunications systems for data and communication companies. Birkel Electric is located at 178 Chesterfield Blvd., in Chesterfield, Mo.  Birkel Electric has an additional office at the Fort Leonard Wood military base.  More information may be accessed by visiting www.birkelelectric.com

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April 30, 2009: ST. LOUIS, MO. – Birkel Electric of St. Louis has recently been selected as the electrical contractor for the upcoming construction of the $10-million St. Louis Community College Harrison Northside Education Center project, a 30-000 square foot facility that is the result of a long term vision, giving St. Louis Community College a definitive presence in North St. Louis City.

Birkel Electric will be responsible for the construction and installation of a fully integrated electrical system, including surveillance components, audio and visual equipment and a ten gigabyte telecommunications backbone.

The new Harrison Education Center will house four general-purpose classrooms, laboratory space, administrative offices, common areas and a multipurpose community center as well as parking. Academic offerings will concentrate on computers/technology, child care, environmental sciences and allied health.

According to Mike Birkel, Vice President of Birkel Electric, “For a project of this complexity, a team of electricians, engineers and telecommunications specialists will be working together and implementing the latest in modern electrical innovation to bring students at the Harrison Education Center a state-of-the art learning facility for years to come.”

Construction of the two-story building is expected to begin late in 2009, with expected completion in 2010. Managing the overall construction efforts for the Harrison Education Center project is St. Louis-based KWAME Building Group. Kennedy Associates Inc. is the college’s architectural design partner for the project.

About Birkel Electric
Birkel Electric specializes in providing commercial and industrial electrical contracting services throughout St. Louis.  Founded in 1967, Birkel Electric offers a number of contracting services including value-based engineering, design/build projects, backup generators, and power solutions for critical facilities and telecommunications systems for data and communication companies. Birkel Electric is located at 178 Chesterfield Blvd., in Chesterfield, Mo.  Birkel Electric has an additional office at the Fort Leonard Wood military base.  More information may be accessed by visiting www.birkelelectric.com