Applied Mechanical rehiring workers

Company brings back laid-off employees

Dayton Business Journal - by Tom Demeropolis DBJ Staff Reporter

Michael Ayers said laying off employees for the first time in his company’s history was the hardest thing he has ever had to do. Ayers, president of Dayton-based Applied Mechanical Systems Inc., saw the backlog of projects drop after the economy hit the skids this past September. There were projects to finish, but nothing new was coming down the pike.

To handle the slowdown, Ayers had to lay off 78 employees between October and the start of the year, bringing total employment down to 165 from 243.

“Our employees are our greatest asset, and it hurts to lay them off,” Ayers said.

But, with a number of new contracts on the books for the year, Ayers is looking to return his company’s employment to previous levels.

  DP&L Rebate Program

The DP&L Rebate Program we introduced to you at the 2009 Chapel Electric Energy Luncheon is now open for enrolment. Below is information from DP&L on eligibility and how to enroll in the program.

For additional questions or assistance with enrolment, please speak to your Chapel Electric representative or contact David Roark at 222-2290.

INTRODUCING

DP&L's Rapid Rebates!

Over the past several months, we have been communicating with you about our business rebate programs. We are pleased to announce their online availability.
Our Rapid Rebate application and an up-to-date listing of eligible product rebates can be found at http://www.dpandl.com/bizrebates

The Tax Deduction at a Glance

A tax deduction up to $ 1.80/sf is available for buildings that achieve a 50% energy cost reduction compared to a standard reference building meeting ASHRAE/IESNA 90.1-2001.

System-specific deduction up to $ 0.60 are available for interior lighting, HVAC and building envelope that achieve a 16 2/3 % energy cost reduction compared to the standard reference building. 

Interior lighting systems that have substantially lower power density than the lighting requirements for the energy standard are eligible for the system-specific deduction under the interim rules for interior lighting systems.

            Deduction                    Power Density

            $ 0.30/sf                      25% below ASHRAE/IESNA 90.1-2001

                        Increasing up to

            $ 0.60/sf                      40% below ASHRAE/IESNA 90.1-2001

Lighting systems that result in a power density between 25% and 40% reduction qualify for a deduction determined on a sliding scale between $ 0.30/sf and $ 0.60/sf.

                Note: Warehouses must outperform the standard by 50% and qualify for a $ 0.60/sf deduction.

The tax deduction can apply to:

o       New construction or lighting renovations

o       Buildings located in the United States that are within the scope of ASHRAE/IESNA 90.1-   2001.

o       Buildings placed in service after December 31, 2005, and prior to January 1, 2008.

The deduction cannot exceed the capital expenditure for the energy-efficient lighting system and will reduce the cost basis of the equipment for depreciation purposes.

For Public entities such as public schools, hospitals or government offices, the deduction may be assigned to the person primarily responsible for designing the lighting.

Additional information about the commercial buildings tax deduction for interior lighting systems is available at: www.lightingtaxdeduction.org.

Certification and Compliance

Qualified Computer Software

Software approved by the Department of Energy must be used to briefly energy cost savings. However, when applying for the tax deduction using the interim rules for interior lighting systems, the requirement for using qualified software does not apply.

Qualified Individual

A “qualified individual” must inspect and certify that the building meets the requirements for the tax deduction.

A qualified individual is a professional who:

o       Is not employed by the taxpayer claiming the deduction.    

o       Is an engineer or contractor who is properly licensed as a professional engineer or contractor in the jurisdiction in which the building is located.

o       Has represented in writing to the taxpayer that he or she has the requisite qualifications             to provide the certification required under this notice and to perform the inspection and       testing described in this notice.

Certification

The qualified individual must provide the taxpayer with a certification statement that the building meets all the necessary requirements for the deduction under the requirements of the Code.

The certification must include:

o       A statement that a field inspection of the building has confirmed the building has met the             criteria for the deduction

o       A declaration, applicable to the certification and any accompanying documents, signed   by the qualified individual stating under penalty of perjury that the certification is true,   correct and complete.

The taxpayer is not required to attach the certification to the tax return, but all records pertaining to the energy efficient building installation and certification must be maintained by the tax payer.