Overview
Energyficient Systems, Inc. is a nationwide provider of turnkey lighting and electrical solutions, specializing in design-build services for energy services companies (ESCOs) and public-sector clients. Headquartered in Burlington, Iowa, Energyficient combines the capabilities of a professional lighting distributor with in-house expertise in investment-grade auditing, precision lighting design, engineering, and construction management.
As both a supplier and service provider, Energyficient streamlines the project lifecycle—from product specification and procurement to installation and commissioning—ensuring seamless delivery and performance. With a focus on retrofit and renovation environments, their team delivers scalable, repeatable solutions that reduce energy consumption, lower operating costs, and enhance occupant comfort across a wide range of facilities.
Byers Wolf, Vice President and Director of Engineering, plays a strategic leadership role in guiding Energyficient toward operational excellence and scalable success. He oversees engineering activities, software tool sets, and the execution of lighting designs—ensuring projects are delivered with precision, consistency, and a high level of client satisfaction."
Challenges
Energyficient’s previous site review process often relied on rushed manual notes and unstructured photo documentation. Given the time constraints and volume of observations during these visits, it was difficult to capture every important detail in a consistent, retrievable way. Byers explains:
"In the past, we used OneNote or similar tools to collect notes during site reviews, and photos were taken separately. But unless we manually built out a project in another software platform, there was no direct link between those photos and our data, which really slowed us down."
Important insights were not always captured in a structured or consistent way, which occasionally affected the clarity of project documentation and client communications.
Solution
To overcome these challenges, Energyficient adopted Cogram’s AI-driven field reporting software. With Cogram, team members verbally record observations via mobile phone during on-site reviews:
"Upon entering a building, we would launch Cogram, state the building number, and I would provide any relevant details—such as the construction year, usage type, or other pertinent information." – Byers Wolf
Cogram automatically transcribes and organizes these voice recordings into structured site reports, formatted in Energyficient’s customized templates. While this process is separate from formal audits conducted in Retrolux, it significantly improves early-stage data capture and internal communication.
Implementation and Immediate Impact
Energyficient implemented Cogram during a fast-paced, high-volume site review effort conducted over the course of a single week. Despite the broader project encompassing nearly 200 buildings, the review team focused on a targeted subset. Field personnel adopted the tool with minimal training and were up and running within a day. Byers highlights how quickly it became part of the workflow:
"I was able to begin using it the very next day without any difficulties. Deployment in the field was seamless and trouble-free."
Cogram’s intuitive interface allowed users to document observations efficiently and comprehensively. Rather than relying on handwritten notes or isolated photos, team members captured rich verbal insights in real time. Byers recalls:
"We visited forty to fifty buildings during that four or five-day span and have far more information than we ever could have collected just by hand typing notes or taking pictures."
Results and Benefits
Four to Five Times More Detail Captured
Byers reported that using Cogram enabled the team to capture significantly more information during site reviews:
"We captured four to five times the amount of information compared to traditional methods."
This comprehensive data collection substantially increased the quality and clarity of information provided to clients.
Improved Customer Communication and Confidence
Cogram’s structured site reporting allowed field staff to access detailed, organized observations in real time—transforming on-site conversations with customers:
"If I think about it from a customer perspective, I'm providing my customer something far more valuable and substantive. Previously, it was just me giving them my opinion. Now, I can pull up my notes and pictures right there on-site, making it accurate and meaningful." – Byers Wolf
Future Outlook
Energyficient plans to expand its use of Cogram across the audit, construction, and operations teams to drive greater consistency, efficiency, and transparency throughout the project lifecycle. While formal lighting audits will continue to be performed in a separate software, Cogram will play a key role in standardizing field data capture, improving inter-team communication, and enhancing the quality of client deliverables. By demonstrating the real-world value of this integrated approach, Energyficient continues to reinforce its commitment to delivering high-quality, repeatable results on every project.
“All of these tools push us toward repeatability. Our customers should expect consistent, high-quality results every time—whether the project is in North Carolina, California, or anywhere in between.” – Byers Wolf
Testimonial
"We captured four to five times the amount of information compared to traditional methods. Cogram made our site reviews more efficient and significantly enhanced the quality and clarity of the information we deliver to clients. It’s now central to how we operate in the field." – Byers Wolf, Vice President and Director of Engineering, Energyficient
Conclusion
By adopting Cogram, Energyficient has transformed its field data collection process—boosting productivity, increasing the level of detail captured, and strengthening client communication.
"It's a huge benefit to our customers to have this information quickly and accurately." – Byers Wolf
Cogram’s AI platform has established a new standard for structured site reviews and project documentation, reinforcing Energyficient’s leadership in delivering precise, actionable insights across the entire lighting efficiency project lifecycle.
