Energy Conservation for Small Business

ENERGY AND GREENHOUSE GAS (GHG) INFORMATION FOR YOUR BUSINESS

As the cost of energy continues to rise and impact on the environment becomes increasingly important, it’s important for businesses to have a ‘resource library’ where they can go to learn more. Please look through the list of resources below and don’t hesitate to call us at 1-800-578-8898 for assistance.

Conserving energy can significantly decrease a business’s energy use and costs. It can also extend equipment life, reduce maintenance costs, reduce risk to energy supply price spikes, provide the ability to sell carbon credits, and enhance a company’s public image[1]. Savings in energy allows a company to spend more money on the quality of their products and services, which allows them to be more competitive in the business market.

A reduction in energy reduces emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases to the environment too, which preserves air quality. If a company in Kansas saves just $1,000 a year in electricity, they will prevent nearly 17,000 lbs (8.442 tons) of carbon dioxide emissions[2]. Energy conservation is not specific to a few types of industries; any business or building is capable of find opportunities for energy conservation. The areas with the highest savings potential tend to be lighting, HVAC, water heating, office equipment, and refrigeration[3].

Resources


Energy efficiency calculators and tools

Energy Star for Buildings and Plants
This Web site contains a number of guidelines, links, calculators, and tools for businesses. Check out the left-hand side for specific industry sectors.
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=business.bus_index

Industrial Technologies Energy Reduction Program
This program works with U.S. industry to improve industrial energy efficiency and environmental performance. Check out this page to learn about energy best management practices and new, energy-saving technologies.
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/industry/

Building Technologies Program
Information about improving the energy efficiency of new and existing buildings, including residential and commercial buildings with specific information for industry sectors such as offices, retail, health care, lodging, education, and government.
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/

Your Carbon Calculator
https://www.greentagsusa.org/greentags/calculator_intro.cfm

Kansas State University Engineering Extension
Topics include: Energy conservation for homes and small businesses, renewable energies, building energy codes, and sustainability.
http://www.engext.ksu.edu/home.asp

Kansas Corporation Commission Energy Programs Division
This is a great Web site covering a variety of energy topics, mostly within Kansas.
http://www.kcc.state.ks.us/energy/


Energy efficiency guidebooks

Energy Efficiency Pays
This guidebook is designed to assist small businesses with identifying proven no-cost and low-cost energy saving techniques.
http://www.danville-va.gov/upload/images/Utilities/EEPays-Final.pdf

Putting Energy Into Profits
Energy Star Guide for Small Businesses
http://www.energystar.gov/ia/business/small_business/sb_guidebook/smallbizguide.pdf


Funding opportunities for energy efficiency projects

DSIRE – Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency
This Web site is a comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility, and federal incentives that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency.
http://www.dsire.usa.org/usda9006

Section 9006: Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Program
This Web site is a comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility, and federal incentives that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency.
http://www.dsire.usa.org/usda9006

Facility Conservation Improvement Program (FCIP)
FCIP is a program enabling public agencies (state, municipalities, counties and schools) to use a tool known as energy savings performance contracting (ESPC) to access financing for planning and implementing projects.
http://www.kcc.state.ks.us/energy/fcip/index.htm


Energy news

Energy news Web sites
http://kec.kansas.gov/


Greenhouse gas news

The Climate Registry
THE CLIMATE REGISTRY is a nonprofit organization that provides meaningful information to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.? The Climate Registry establishes consistent, transparent standards throughout North America for businesses and governments to calculate, verify, and publicly report their carbon footprints in a single, unified registry.
http://www.theclimateregistry.org

The Kansas Energy and Environmental Policy Advisory Group
Keep up-to-date on climate change actions within the state of Kansas. This group’s purpose is to identify opportunities for Kansas to respond to the challenge of global climate change, while becoming more energy efficient and energy independent and spurring economic growth.
http://www.ksclimatechange.us/index.cfm

The Climate Leaders
Climate Leaders is an EPA industry-government partnership that works with companies to develop comprehensive climate change strategies. Partner companies commit to reducing their impact on the global environment by completing a corporate-wide inventory of their greenhouse gas emissions based on a quality management system, setting aggressive reduction goals, and annually reporting their progress to EPA. Through program participation, companies create a credible record of their accomplishments and receive EPA recognition as corporate environmental leaders.
http://www.epa.gov/climateleaders/

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
The IPCC was established to provide the decision-makers and others interested in climate change with an objective source of information about climate change. The IPCC does not conduct any research nor does it monitor climate related data or parameters. Its role is to assess on a comprehensive, objective, open and transparent basis the latest scientific, technical and socio-economic literature produced worldwide relevant to the understanding of the risk of human-induced climate change, its observed and projected impacts, and options for adaptation and mitigation.
http://www.ipcc.ch/about/index.htm


Greenhouse gas calculators and tools

The Greenhouse Gas Protocol Initiative
The Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol) is a widely-used international accounting tool for government and business leaders to understand, quantify, and manage greenhouse gas emissions. The GHG Protocol, a decade-long partnership between the World Resources Institute and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, is working with businesses, governments, and environmental groups around the world to build a new generation of credible and effective programs for tackling climate change.
http://www.ghgprotocol.org

IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories
http://www.ipcc-nggip.iges.or.jp/public/2006gl/index.html

EPA Climate Leaders Technical Resources
This site offers several technical resources for government agencies and private businesses to prepare greenhouse gas inventories.
http://www.epa.gov/stateply/resources/index.html

EPA Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Calculator Webinar
This PowerPoint presentation includes a series of sample questions decided to assist the user in understanding how to use EPA's GHG calculator.
http://www.sbeap.org/ghg/GHG_Calculator_presentation-P2_Intern_Working_Group.ppt


Back to top

[1] http://www.industryweek.com/ReadArticle.aspx?ArticleID=15730
[2] www.carbonfootprint.com
[3] http://buildingsdatabook.eren.doe.gov/docs/1.3.3.pdf