Charles Goulding’s Bright ‘Green’ Idea

The intersection where tax accounting meets green energy legislation – that's where you'll find Charles Goulding, an attorney and CPA whose education and experience were perfectly suited to launching a groundbreaking business.

In 2005, Goulding saw an opportunity in the Energy Policy Act (EPAct), a new law providing tax breaks to businesses that install energy efficient equipment. The result was his company, , which has since helped countless clients take advantage of the tax credit and in the process have a positive impact on the environment.

"I grew up in Smithtown, and as an undergrad I went to SUNY Stonybrook, then on to Brooklyn Law School," Goulding said. "I got my MBA in Accounting at Adelphi University."

After working in public accounting at Peat Marwick (now KPMG) and becoming a CPA, Goulding went on to an executive position with Dover Corporation, a multi-industry company with a large specialized HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) business, where he would build a 25-year career.

He then became the managing director of Cooper Industries, a $6 billion company with a $5 billion electrical and lighting business.

"As a tax attorney and a CPA I had a little bit atypical exposure to lighting and to HVAC because of the companies I worked for," Goulding explained. "And then our country enacted legislation that would incentive's on the installation of energy efficient lighting and energy efficient HVAC."

"When I read the law I thought about it, and I saw a business inside that law," he continued. "So back in 2005 – when it came out – I hired Jacob Goldman, who is an engineer, as the first employee… and since then we've just grown and grown."

In his two years with the company, employee Ken Wood has witnessed that growth. "When I first started it was kind of like a project... and a project... and a project," Wood said. "But we've built a larger client base and now we see a lot more institutional returning clients."

Energy Tax Savers currently employs nine people and there are plans for additional hiring this year. Goulding seeks out highly educated individuals with advanced Excel skills, as they analyze tremendous volumes of data – sometimes thousands of lines on a single project.

"They get lighting and electrical drawings, or mechanical drawings [from the client] that they then filter to see if it's efficient or not for tax savings," Goulding explained. "If it is, we assemble the documentation that's necessary for someone to get their tax credit."

Having majored in both financial economics and political science in college, Wood has a true appreciation for the work they do.

"You can see how good legislation, written and implemented correctly, can really effect a change," Wood said. "There are these giant buildings using a lot of energy and because of this legislation, companies are saving a lot of money and using the law for what it was intended."

For his part, Goulding is modest about his success.

"We probably just wound up in the right spot at the right time," Goulding said. "Because the country is increasingly focused on energy efficiency, and our tax work relates to investments being made in buildings to reduce their energy use."

For more information, visit Energy Tax Savers or call 516-364-2630.