Inspiring Conversations with Eli Baier of Star Mountain Energy Consulting

Today we’d like to introduce you to Eli Baier.

Hi Eli, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I graduated from the Colorado School of Mines with a mechanical engineering degree with a dream to help as many people as possible. My professional career has been diverse and hands-on, ranging from my time as as an engineer in a startup solar panel company, to General Electric as a field engineer in power plant construction, and a brief time as a project manager for a commercial construction company, and eventually as a utilities manager for Anheuser-Busch brewery.

During my time with G.E. and A.B in particular I saw the amount of time, energy and money that were being spent on energy efficiency improvements. Many small to medium sized companies don’t have the resources to dedicated full-time employees to really dive deep into energy efficiency projects, so I decided to start doing energy audits for small, local companies. At first, I did several audits for free because I wanted to gain experience, see what kind of impact I could make and test my process.

Around this same time Colorado introduced their Building Performance Standards, and the City of Denver introduced their Energize Denver program – both with the intention of making buildings more energy efficient. Those changes confirmed for me that it was the right time to take the leap and become a full-time energy consultant.

At first, I joined a national company that does energy efficiency, but I wanted to keep my work more Colorado-focused, so I decided to start my own energy consulting business serving Colorado companies identify energy-saving opportunities and navigate the new energy regulations.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
One of the quotes that gave me the confidence to start my own company is, “Fear is a mile wide, but only an inch deep.” That really resonated with me, because so many of the barriers to starting a business look massive from the outside, but once you step into them, you realize they’re manageable.

There are certainly challenges to starting your own company, but they’re all solvable. There are countless unknowns, but you don’t need to identify or fix them all on day one. Still, walking away from the stability of a steady paycheck, a built-in customer base, and an established brand wasn’t easy.

The early days were filled with both legal and business hurdles. I completed a wide variety of tasks from forming the LLC, setting up insurance, and opening a business bank account, to learning sales, marketing, and accounting, all while actually completing energy audits and compliance planning work for clients.

Earlier this year, I was optimistic when Xcel Energy and Platte River Power Authority announced generous rebates for energy audits and compliance planning. I assumed these incentives would make selling my services easier. What I quickly realized, though, was that many business owners were fatigued by the constant stream of sales calls and empty promises around energy efficiency. It was discouraging at first, but after completing my first few projects, the results spoke for themselves and word-of-mouth referrals began to follow.

Another challenge has been managing my time effectively. When you’re wearing every hat in the business, it takes experience and discipline to know which activities are truly the most valuable. Over time, I’ve learned to focus on what moves the needle rather than what just keeps me busy.

Finally, one of the hardest parts of being a solo entrepreneur is maintaining quality control. There’s no built-in team to double-check your work. Thankfully, I’ve been able to connect with other independent consultants and small firms in the energy industry who are willing to collaborate and review my work. That peer network has been invaluable, because quality and trust are the foundation of my business.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Star Mountain Energy Consulting?
I’m deeply passionate about energy and helping others, and that’s really at the heart of my business. I founded Star Mountain Energy Consulting to help small and medium-sized businesses navigate the complex world of energy efficiency and building performance standards.

Right now there are generous rebates to help offset the cost (sometimes completely), but these won’t be here forever. Take advantage of them while they are here!

The new regulations in Colorado are designed to make buildings more efficient, but they can be overwhelming for business owners. That’s where I come in. I help clients understand what the rules actually mean, identify cost-effective paths to compliance, and uncover energy-saving opportunities that make financial sense.

As a solo consultant, I’m able to keep my prices affordable while still providing the kind of detailed, high-quality work that’s usually associated with much larger firms.

What sets Star Mountain Energy Consulting apart is a common-sense approach. I look for practical, impactful improvements that align with each client’s goals. My work is highly customized, and I care deeply about earning my clients’ trust through accuracy, honesty, and follow-through.

At the end of the day, I want readers to know that energy efficiency doesn’t have to be intimidating. With the right guidance, it’s a real opportunity to save money, strengthen local businesses, and contribute to a more resilient grid.

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
We are surrounded by so much natural beauty here in Colorado. I’ve had the pleasure of living in several different states and none of them compare with all that Colorado has to offer. All of the sunshine is what makes Colorado one of the friendliest places in the US (my personal experience).

My least favorite part is how bad the traffic can get at times.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.starmountainenergy.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eli-baier-cea-cem-31635185/