Quick wins for a faster PC:
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →
ThatPainter is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn More
Short answer: A 2009 Architectural Record report described Atlanta-based Energy Ace offering to refund its LEED administration fee if a project did not obtain certification. That was not a promise to reimburse every cost caused by a failed certification attempt. The report specifically distinguished the fee refund from losses such as missed tax credits, and it noted that subcontractor conduct and other factors could remain outside the consultant’s control. The article does not establish that the offer, its wording, or its availability continued after 2009.
What the reported guarantee was
The headline refers to a historical offer, not a verified current product. On August 27, 2009, Architectural Record reported that Energy Ace, an Atlanta-based consulting firm, would tie part of its compensation to a project’s LEED certification outcome. The described remedy was narrow: if certification was not obtained, the firm would refund its LEED administration fee.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
The report presented Energy Ace as supervising several parts of the certification effort:
- LEED administration from the beginning of the process through completion;
- fundamental commissioning; and
- energy modeling.
It also described the consultant as taking control of the LEED process while acknowledging that some conditions affecting certification could not be controlled by the consultant. The 2009 article is the evidence for the offer. It is not a current contract, a current service page, or proof of present-day eligibility, geography, pricing, or availability.
#1 Best Overall
- COMPLETE 5-PIECE BRUSH SET FOR EVERY PAINTING TASK — Includes 1 Inch Flat, 1.5 Inch Angle, 2 Inch Flat, 2 Inch Angle Stubby, and 2.5 Inch Angle brush giving you every size professional painters use daily. Get all 5 for less than the price of a single brush from hardware store brands — professional grade performance at a fraction of the cost. Perfect for walls, trim, cabinets, doors, furniture, and detailed cutting-in work on any project.
- ZERO BRISTLE LOSS — GUARANTEED BY PRECISION ADHESIVE BONDING — Every bristle is locked in place with precision-set adhesive that keeps them in the brush — not in your paint job. The coated steel ferrule provides structural support while the adhesive bond ensures clean performance on every stroke. Premium SRT synthetic filaments load more paint and release it evenly for a smooth streak-free finish on walls, ceilings, and trim. Works with latex, oil-based paint, primer, sealer, and wood stain.
- INCLUDES THE ANGLE STUBBY MOST SETS LEAVE OUT — Professional painters know the 2 Inch Angle Stubby is the go-to brush for tight cabinet interiors, window sashes, inside corners, and detailed trim where standard angle brushes are too long. Combined with the 1.5 and 2.5 inch angle sash brushes you have precision cutting-in covered at every scale — baseboards, crown molding, door casings, and ceiling lines.
- FLAT BRUSHES FOR BROAD SMOOTH COVERAGE ON ANY SURFACE — The 1 and 2 inch flat brushes deliver even coverage on walls, furniture, shelving, doors, fences, decks, and wood surfaces. Ideal for applying primers, stains, varnishes, polyurethane, and specialty coatings. Solid wood handles provide all-day comfort and control for both professional contractors and weekend DIY homeowners tackling interior or exterior painting projects.
- TRUSTED BY PROFESSIONAL PAINTERS AND CONTRACTORS NATIONWIDE — Pro Grade delivers professional-grade results at a price that makes sense for crews who go through brushes on every job. Ideal for property managers, remodeling contractors, apartment turnover crews, maintenance teams, and commercial painting operations. Backed by thousands of verified reviews from working painters. Washable and reusable for multiple projects.
What Energy Ace reportedly promised—and what it did not
| Question | What the 2009 report says | What the report does not establish |
|---|---|---|
| Who made the offer? | Energy Ace, described as an Atlanta-based firm. | Whether the firm still makes the offer or serves the same locations. |
| What work was included? | LEED administration, fundamental commissioning, and energy modeling, with the consultant supervising the process. | The exact modern scope, staffing, deliverables, or LEED edition. |
| What triggered payment back? | A refund of the consultant’s LEED administration fee if certification was not obtained. | A refund of construction costs, redesign costs, financing costs, incentives, or other project losses. |
| How broad was the protection? | Limited to the administration fee, according to the quoted statement. | An unconditional guarantee covering every reason a project might fail. |
| How long could certification take? | Energy Ace president Wayne Robertson said, “The process can take two to three years.” | A current schedule for any project or certification program. |
| How many projects were mentioned? | 97 projects complete or in progress at the time of the report. | A current portfolio count or present performance rate. |
How the reported contract process worked
The article described a sequence intended to make sustainability decisions part of the project agreement rather than an afterthought. It did not publish a full contract, so the sequence below reflects the report’s description, not a template you can assume applies today.
- Contract first. Energy Ace entered into a contractual agreement with clients before managing the certification effort. The contract was the place where the parties could define services, fees, responsibilities, and the proposed remedy.
- LEED charrettes. The parties then held charrettes focused on sustainability measures. These sessions were used to identify the measures the project would pursue.
- Agreement on the measures. The participants agreed on the selected sustainability measures. That agreement matters because a consultant can coordinate a plan, but the owner, design team, contractors, and trades still have to implement the work.
- Administration and technical support. Energy Ace supervised LEED administration and also provided or supervised fundamental commissioning and energy modeling. The report characterized this as control of the process from beginning to end, subject to outside factors.
A prospective client should therefore distinguish a promise to manage paperwork and coordination from a promise that every design, procurement, installation, and site decision will produce the required certification result.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
What “money back” meant in practice
Chris Cheatham, identified in the article as a LEED AP and construction law expert, stated: “Energy Ace has stated it would refund its LEED administration fee if certification is not obtained.” That sentence defines the reported economic remedy more precisely than the headline does.
The fee refund is a limited form of risk sharing. If certification failed, the client could recover the administration fee described in the arrangement. The client would not automatically recover every expense incurred while pursuing certification. The article used lost tax credits as an example of a loss for which Energy Ace would not be liable.
Rank #2
- Great Value Pack Artist Paint Brushes: Soucolor 20 brushes in 10 sizes professional paintbrushes set — no shedding, holds paint well, cleans easily, Acrylic, watercolor, oil, gouache, Halloween pumpkin decoration & face painting, rock painting, ceramics. Fantastic high quality gifts for creative, artistic siblings to share!
- Awesome Set of Paint brushes: Professional paint brushes can cover all of your needs. The multi-purposed brushes are ideal for Watercolor, Oil, Gouache, enamel, Acrylic Painting, Body, Nail, Face Painting, Miniature, Model, Wood, Glass, Cup, Ceramic, Fine work, Art class, Craft Art Painting, DIY Art Crafts etc.
- Soft and long-lasting: The bristles are soft and strong, with nickel metal ferrules and blue wooden handles. After cleaning, the bristles will become soft and fluffy again and will not fall off.
- Easy to clean: it’s very convenient to Wash well in soap and water. Retain shape after drying. the brushes hold up very well. Nice selection to beginners and professionals. Keep them clean and they last a long time.
- Halloween Pumpkin Ceramic Crafts Supplies: A Great painting gift for family, friends, kids, girls, women, student, classmate, teacher. For using in school, travel or used in the home and office.
That distinction is important because a certification decision can affect a project’s financing assumptions, incentives, leasing strategy, marketing plans, or schedule. A refund of one consulting fee may be useful, but it may be small compared with those downstream consequences. Unless a contract expressly says otherwise, a reader should not treat “money back” as insurance for consequential losses.
Why the guarantee was not unconditional
The report identified subcontractor conduct on the jobsite as one factor that could affect certification even when the consultant managed the process. A subcontractor may install a product differently from the approved design, fail to provide required documentation, or miss a commissioning-related obligation. Those events can interfere with a certification submission without proving that the consultant mishandled administration.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Cheatham explained the legal effect of limiting the remedy: capping the amount owed limits the firm’s potential liability and risk. In other words, the arrangement could make the consultant responsible for returning its fee while protecting it from a much larger claim for tax benefits or other project losses.
When reading any guarantee, separate three questions:
Rank #3
- 【All sizes of art brushes】: The 10 sizes of multi-functional brushes have various shapes, making the mixing color easier, which is very suitable for artists, students, teenagers, children and painters at all levels. Wonderful Present ideas for friends and family who like painting!
- 【general brush set】: Professional paint brush can meet all your needs. Multifunctional brush is very suitable for watercolor, oil, gouache, acrylic painting, body, nail, face painting, miniature, model, ceramics, arts and crafts painting, etc.
- 【high quality process】: It is designed with anti falling bristles, anti-rust nickel ferrule and solid wood handle. You can use the brush to focus on the painting and always be creative.
- 【easy to maintain】: After using the brush, it is very convenient to clean the brush with warm soapy water and reshape the tip of the brush. Air dry the brush and place it on top of the top for long use.
- 【100% satisfaction guarantee - buy now】1 packs of set brushes, you can also get friendly customer service, any questions feel free to contact us, within 24 hours to help you! There is no risk in buying our paint brush kit.
- Outcome: Is the promise certification at all, a particular rating or level, or only competent administration?
- Control: Which decisions must the consultant make, and which remain with the owner, designer, general contractor, subcontractors, suppliers, or occupants?
- Remedy: Is the remedy a fee refund, a capped credit, corrective work, or payment of broader damages?
A guarantee that does not answer all three questions can sound broader in marketing language than it is in the contract.
Timeline and project-count context from 2009
Wayne Robertson, identified as Energy Ace’s president, said, “The process can take two to three years.” That quotation describes the process in the article’s 2009 context. It should not be used as a universal timetable for a current project: duration depends on the project’s design and construction sequence, documentation, commissioning work, and the certification review itself.
The same report cited 97 LEED projects complete or in progress. That is a contemporaneous figure, not a current portfolio count. It can show the scale Energy Ace claimed or was reported to have reached at that time, but it cannot establish how many projects the firm has today, how many received certification, or what success rate a future client should expect.
How to evaluate a LEED guarantee today
The historical example is useful as a checklist, not as a current offer to buy. Before signing any modern consulting agreement, put the following items in writing. These are practical questions for evaluating a contract; they are not additional terms attributed to Energy Ace.
Rank #4
- Bates paint brushes come in a convenient 6 pieces with 3 flat and 3 angled bristle styles, including (1”, 1.5”, 2”) flat and (1.5”, 2”, 2.5”) angled bristles, perfect for tackling any surface painting or staining job.
- The sturdy natural bristles of each brush are designed to hold more paint, creating a smoother finish with fewer streaks and saving you time on the job.
- The lightweight wooden handles provide extra comfort and ease during long painting processes like walls, trims, cabinets, and doors.
- These versatile brushes are ready-to-use, easy to clean, and can be reused multiple times, making them economical as well as reliable tools for any painting project.
- Bates paint brushes can be used for both oil-based paints as well as latex stains and are ideal for home or commercial projects such as decks, fences or DIY painting jobs.
| Contract area | Questions to ask | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Certification outcome | What exactly is promised: submission, review support, certification, or a specified level? What counts as “not obtained”? | A consultant can complete an application without promising the reviewing body’s final decision. |
| Scope of services | Are administration, charrettes, commissioning, energy modeling, site visits, documentation, and responses to review comments included? | Unlisted tasks may become change orders or client responsibilities. |
| Project stages | Does the engagement run through design, construction, closeout, and final review? What happens if the schedule changes? | A gap between design and construction can leave nobody responsible for evidence or corrective action. |
| Exclusions | Which owner, designer, contractor, subcontractor, supplier, site, or occupant actions can void the promise? | Those conditions often determine whether the consultant can actually control the result. |
| Remedy and cap | Is the remedy a refund of the administration fee? Is there a dollar cap, and does it include other services? | “Money back” may cover only one line item rather than the full consulting fee. |
| Consequential losses | Does the agreement exclude tax credits, incentives, financing effects, delay costs, lost revenue, or redesign expense? | These losses may exceed the fee by a wide margin and were expressly distinguished in the historical report. |
| Evidence and notice | What records prove that the client met its obligations, and how quickly must a failed outcome be reported? | Clear records and deadlines reduce disputes over whether a condition was satisfied. |
Questions to ask before signing
For owners and developers
- Which certification target is written into the agreement, and is the target feasible under the approved budget and design?
- Who pays for additional modeling, testing, documentation, or corrective work if the first submission is unsuccessful?
- What happens to expected incentives or tax benefits if certification is delayed or denied?
- Can the consultant terminate or disclaim responsibility when another project participant changes a specified material or system?
For contractors and subcontractors
- Which submittals, product data, installation records, and commissioning activities are required?
- Who reviews documentation before it is submitted, and how are deficiencies corrected?
- Does the guarantee impose any flow-down duties or liability on trades that are not parties to the consultant’s contract?
For consultants
- Are the client’s responsibilities and the project’s assumptions stated with the same precision as the consultant’s promise?
- Is the fee refund the exclusive remedy, and is that limitation conspicuous in the signed agreement?
- How will changes in scope, schedule, LEED requirements, or ownership affect the guarantee?
Common misunderstandings to avoid
“Certification failed, so every project cost is refundable.”
No. The reported remedy was the LEED administration fee. The article specifically gave lost tax credits as an example of a loss outside Energy Ace’s liability.
“The consultant controlled every jobsite decision.”
No. The article said the firm took control of the LEED process while noting that subcontractor conduct and other factors could remain outside its control.
“The 2009 offer proves the service is still available.”
No. A trade-publication report from 2009 cannot verify current terms, service area, project eligibility, or whether the offer still exists. Obtain a current written proposal and contract directly from any consultant you are considering.
“Two to three years is a guaranteed schedule.”
No. Robertson’s statement was a description of how long the process could take in the article’s context, not a promised completion date for every project.
Best Value
- 2 Inch Angled Paint Brush for Precision Cutting-In – Designed for clean, sharp lines around trim, baseboards, ceilings, corners, and detailed edge work. The perfect size for control and coverage.
- Value 3-Pack for Pros & DIY Projects – Includes three professional 2-inch angled sash brushes — ideal for contractors, remodelers, and homeowners tackling multiple rooms or repeat paint jobs.
- Smooth Results on Walls, Trim & Cabinets – Great for interior wall painting, cabinet edges, furniture projects, and trim work where a smooth finish and crisp control matter most.
- Works with Latex Paint, Oil-Based Paint & Stains – Premium synthetic filaments hold more paint, reduce streaks, and provide a clean finish with latex paints, oil coatings, and wood stains.
- Works with Latex Paint, Oil-Based Paint & Stains – Premium synthetic filaments hold more paint, reduce streaks, and provide a clean finish with latex paints, oil coatings, and wood stains.
How to document responsibility during the project
A fee-refund guarantee is easier to administer when the project team keeps a single responsibility record. At each design and construction milestone, identify the sustainability measure, the person responsible for implementing it, the evidence required, and the date that evidence is due. Record substitutions, rejected submittals, field changes, and commissioning issues as they occur rather than waiting for final certification review.
This record does not expand a consultant’s guarantee. It helps determine whether a missed requirement resulted from administration, from a project participant’s decision, or from a condition the contract excluded. It also gives the owner a factual basis for deciding whether to pursue correction, a fee refund, or another contractual remedy.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Bottom line
The headline’s “money back” referred to a specific, limited promise reported in 2009: Energy Ace would refund its LEED administration fee if certification was not obtained. The reported services also included fundamental commissioning and energy modeling, but subcontractor conduct and other external factors could affect the result. The arrangement did not cover losses such as missed tax credits, and the article does not establish that the offer remains available. Treat it as a historical example of a capped consulting remedy, then require any current consultant to define the certification outcome, exclusions, responsibilities, and remedy in a signed contract.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
