It Pays to Be Energy Efficient:
Financing Energy Efficiency
How can you gain a competitive
edge in your industry, save money, reduce operating costs
and enhance customer satisfaction?
Energy efficiency. Investing in energy efficiency can help
your bottom line and save you hundreds on your utility bills
each year. Energy-efficient products use less energy to operate,
reducing your small business’ total energy use by as
much as 30%. Within a short time period, these savings often
pay back the initial cost, turning a small investment into
huge savings.
Here is a list of how you can begin to make energy efficiency
pay off for you:
- Determine what equipment is draining your profits through
a FREE energy assessment. Programs throughout the state offer
free on-site, over the phone, and on-line energy assessments
to help you learn about what equipment is consuming the most
energy and dollars in your facility - and what actions you
can take to start saving. An energy professional will inspect
your facility and identify no- and low-cost energy saving
tips you can use immediately. They will also provide a report
that outlines the benefits of the recommended tips, showing
you how much energy and money you will save. Lastly, the professional
will provide you with information on incentive programs to
help you pay for recommended energy equipment improvements
and replacements.
- Take advantage of rebates and loans. Rebates are free money
- available when you purchase and install eligible energy-efficient
equipment. Some rebates can help you save up to 100% of the
cost! For example, the EnergySmart Grocer Program offers rebates
that can cover between 20% and 100% of the cost of more than
50 energy-saving measures. There are also lending institutions
that provide financial assistance, low-interest rates and
consulting services - to help you pay for larger energy improvements,
like the installation of ENERGY STARâ products.
- Talk with your landlord. Nearly half of California’s
small business owners rent or lease space and the majority
pay the utility bills. If you are a tenant, you may have concerns
about making energy efficiency improvements in a building
owned by another person. Talk with your landlord about how
you can work together to improve the value of the property
and lower your utility bills through energy efficiency.
To start saving money and energy, contact Flex Your Power
at info@fypower.org or visit our website at www.FYPower.org
for a list of regional, statewide, and industry specific energy
efficiency programs, and financial lenders that provide the
services listed above. You can also contact your utility company
for small business information at PG&E (800) 468-4743,
SCE (800) 736-4777, SoCal Gas (800) 427-2000, or SDG&E
(800) 644-6133. Ask about the Express Efficiency Program and
your eligibility of up to $200,000 in rebates!
With more than 1,000 incentive and technical assistance programs
in California, everyone can find opportunities to finance
energy efficiency at Flex Your Power.
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