About Labrador Services

Brief History of the Company:

In 2003, Matthew Conway recognized a need for integrated energy conservation and founded Labrador Services. He utilized his ten years of experience working on large energy projects in Boston, to focus on energy audit work, and heating and air conditioning for small and medium sized buildings on the South Shore. His company has developed a mechanical and electrical team to help you find the best and most efficient solution. Installation of high efficiency equipment is the integration of plumbing, electrical and computerized controls, but most tradespeople are not trained across multiple disciplines. This problem is widely recognized. Trade journals describe it as the difficulty of finding plumbers who can troubleshoot electrical circuits. Installing high-efficiency options is no longer a problem of finding available equipment; rather, the challenge lies in finding skilled tradespeople who are interested in working with the technology. In 2004, Labrador Services decided that the best way to address this difficulty was to develop a mechanical and electrical team.

Company Offerings:

Labrador Services is the leading south shore, single source provider for energy audits and energy saving upgrades. What is different about Labrador Services is that the company not only identifies problems, but also prescribes solutions. Our energy audit reports include detailed specifications on what needs to be upgraded, anticipated payback periods, and an order of priorities on what to address first. Customers can use the energy audit report as a specification for subcontracting the work themselves, but in most cases they opt for the superior service and skill set of Labrador Services for all or part of the work.

Products and Services:

• Energy Audits: Performing audits for home and small building owners is one of the most important priorities for the company. Upgrading insulation is often the most cost effective means to both increase comfort and reduce energy consumption. Additionally, audits keep the company focused on the systems or “whole-building” approach to reducing energy demand.

• Heating Equipment: The Association of Appliance and Equipment Manufacturers reports that less than 40% of the heating equipment sold in 2006 is characterized as high efficiency. Labrador Services is demonstrating that by selecting the correct equipment, reducing installation time and working with utility rebates, these percentages can be changed. The hot water gas boilers that we install turn a minimum of 96% of the consumed energy into heat. The company has been a leader in promoting the high efficiency benefits of multistage hot air furnaces. Presently, Labrador Services is leading the push towards utilizing hybrid heat pump/gas furnaces that can achieve greater than 100% efficiency in the cold conditions of the northeast.

• Solar Domestic Hot Water: The solar hot water systems that we install can be used in most homes in the Northeast.

• Controls and Automation Equipment: The most recent addition to our services is control systems that monitor fire/security and also offer energy saving features. The pricing for this equipment has dropped dramatically over the past five years and the systems offer many advantages compared to programmable thermostats.

• Insulation Subcontracting: The importance and impact of insulation is something that is often underestimated. Labrador Services offers the installation of insulation as part of a package integrated with upgrading heating or air conditioning projects. This approach not only increases comfort, it also facilitates greater reductions in energy consumption.