Small Business $mart Energy Program Helps Reduce Greenhouse Gases;
Governor Encourages More Firms Across Illinois to Take Part
CHICAGO – Delivering on his commitment to help Illinois small businesses reduce their energy costs and promote greener practices, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today highlighted the success of the Small Business $mart Energy (SB$E) program, which is a partnership between the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and the School of Architecture at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). The program has already reached more than 650 Illinois small businesses and has helped cut greenhouse gas pollutants, while creating new jobs and helping small businesses stay competitive.
“With rising utility costs, we must continue to step up to help small businesses lower their energy bills and implement effective green solutions. We are proud of the success of this partnership with the University of Illinois that is helping business owners get the information they need to make the right energy choices. Many energy efficiency improvements are incredibly cost-effective, but businesses frequently are unaware of their opportunities in choosing an efficient and sustainable design. More small businesses across the state should take advantage of this program, which works to save money, protect the environment and create more jobs,” Gov. Blagojevich said.
As part of the SB$E Program, the $mart Energy Design Assistance Center (SEDAC) at UIUC offers Illinois businesses no-cost energy audits, economic feasibility analyses and whole-building design assistance for new and existing structures to lower their energy costs. These improvements make the businesses more profitable and competitive. The services include assistance with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), ENERGY STAR® and Energy Policy Act 2005 tax incentive certifications. SEDAC is available to provide any business with advice on energy systems, including lighting, heating, ventilating, air conditioning, building envelope, controls, and operations and maintenance activities. Gov. Blagojevich has provided $3.3 million in Opportunity Returns support to date towards the program at SEDAC.
Since 2004, SEDAC has provided basic technical assistance to more than 650 businesses, conducted energy audits for more than 170 businesses and provided detailed design assistance to 89 of those businesses. To date, the program has identified combined annual savings of more than $4.5 million. These savings translate into an average 28 percent rate of return for the recommended investments in energy conservation, or more than $22 million over the next 20 years. Technical assistance is provided for free, while business owners work with contractors for implementation of the recommended measures.
Commercial buildings are responsible for about 20 percent of the greenhouse gas emissions in Illinois. The SB$E program typically finds cost-effective energy efficiency investments for commercial buildings that reduce energy consumption in the range of 13 to 85 percent. The program has already prevented or avoided emissions totaling more than 29 million pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2), 100,000 pounds of sulfur dioxide (SO2), 63,000 pounds of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and 4,600 pounds of carbon monoxide (CO). As more program participants implement the recommended energy-saving measures, these emissions reductions can triple what has already been achieved.
“Through this partnership with Gov. Blagojevich and DCEO, the $mart Energy Design Assistance Center has been able to make meaningful changes for Illinois small businesses. The average potential energy use reduction for a SB$E Program participant is about 39 percent with an internal rate of return on that investment of about 28 percent. The SB$E program’s proven successes show the tremendous potential in energy efficient upgrades as an economical way of reducing greenhouse gases and operating costs,” said Donald Fournier, SEDAC Program Manager.
Companies who have implemented SB$E recommendations include:
The Centralia Home Center, which recently moved into a former Kmart store, adopted high efficiency roof top units, attic insulation, lighting systems upgrade, low-e windows, and painted their walls white for reflectance. These upgrades reaped an energy cost savings of more than $24,000 per year.
Country Inn and Suites in Tinley Park is a new construction project receiving design assistance, which included high efficiency packaged terminal air-conditioners and low-e windows. These design modifications will save about 49,000 kWh, reduce peak electric demand by about 19 kW, and save about $5,500 per year in energy costs.
Commercial printer/mailer Letterkraft Creative Services (LKCS), based in Peru, installed 120 tons of geothermal providing forced-air heating, cooling, and radiant floor heat, as well as ice melt capability for sidewalk and loading docks. Additionally, LKCS installed in-floor temperature sensors, energy recovery ventilators, fluorescent lighting and daylighting to increase the energy efficiency savings. The upgrades are estimated to save the company about $17,000 per year.
SEDAC also offers face-to-face and online training for key stakeholders in the design and construction industry; most trainings offer continuing education units. Some trainings are project-oriented and designed to help individuals gain requisite knowledge in energy efficient design and new regulations and codes, while others are for the more advanced professional looking to catch up on new industry developments. One course, “Energy Basics for Small Business,” is targeted specifically to the small business owner who wants to improve his or her understanding of energy efficiency.
SEDAC is a resource for all businesses to contact for unbiased, free energy advice. For more information and application material for the Small Business $mart Energy program, please visit www.sedac.org or call toll free at 1-800-214-7954. SEDAC will identify energy cost reduction measures and can help identify sources for grants, loans and other incentives, as well as equipment, vendors and contractors. SEDAC publishes an informative newsletter on a monthly basis and maintains its Web site as a reference for business, architects and engineers. SEDAC staff is also available for energy efficiency workshops, is a resource for anyone wishing to know more about energy efficiency in Illinois and can provide technical expertise to all Illinois for-profit businesses.
“Gov. Blagojevich is committed to helping businesses reduce the cost of doing business in Illinois, and one of the best ways of doing that is to reduce energy costs. During a time when every dollar counts, the Small Business $mart Energy program is a great tool that companies across Illinois can use to truly help their bottom line,” said DCEO Director Jack Lavin.
Gov. Blagojevich’s Opportunity Returns regional economic development strategy is the most aggressive, comprehensive approach to creating jobs in Illinois’ history. Since a one-size-fits-all approach to economic development just doesn’t work, the Governor has divided the state into 10 regions – each with a regional team that is empowered and expected to rapidly respond to opportunities and challenges. Opportunity Returns is about tangible, specific actions to make each region more accessible, more marketable, more entrepreneurial and more attractive to businesses. It is about upgrading the skills of the local workforce, increasing the access to capital, opening new markets, improving infrastructure, and creating and retaining jobs. Opportunity Returns is about successfully partnering with companies and communities, both large and small, to help all of Illinois reach its economic potential.