Energy Grant Opportunity for St. Paul Non-Profits
St. Paul-based non-profit organizations can apply for grants of up to $5,000 to fund energy efficiency-related campaigns. But they must act soon. Applications for the grants are due by June 14. For-profit organizations are not eligible. Eligible organizations must intend to use the grant money to help St. Paul residents or businesses save energy by using and promoting energy-efficiency and conservation programs, such as the Center for Energy and Environment’s One Stop Efficiency Shop program. The grants are being made with federal stimulus funds received by the city to [...]
Survey: Lots of Businesses Investing in Energy Efficiency
New survey results suggest businesses are quickly coming around to energy efficiency. The main reason: Many expect energy prices are going to rise substantially in coming years. The survey was conducted of 2,882 firms worldwide by Johnson Controls, a supplier of energy efficient building systems. According to the survey, 56% have made some sort of energy upgrade in the past 12 months. The most common upgrades were “low-hanging fruit,” according to an article by Reuters: 73% surveyed had switched to more-efficient lighting, while one-third had made larger investments such as [...]
How Much Phantom Energy Do Your Electronics Use?
In our last post, we featured the electrical watts used by various office and home electronics when they’re in use. What’s less apparent is how much electricity is consumed by all these gadgets when they’re turned off. So-called phantom energy (or “vampire power”) is the electricity drawn from outlets when equipment is off but still plugged in. Many types of electronics and office equipment, including computers, stereos and printers, continue to draw electricity when they’re plugged in and off. And it’s not a negligible amount: Phantom energy can account for 15% or [...]
What Electronics Use the Most Energy?
Recently, we covered preliminary findings of an Energy Center of Wisconsin study examining the significant cost-and energy-savings benefits of enabling computer sleep mode settings. The final report was released this week and has some interesting and useful insights about how to minimize electricity consumption of common electronics and save money on energy bills. (Electronics and office equipment account for at least 15% of home electricity use, the study notes, and probably more in many businesses.) Among the most fascinating parts of the report is a chart comparing the average [...]
Pushing the Brakes on Parking Lot Energy Use
Many businesses ask us how to make their outdoor parking lot lights more efficient, and for good reason: Parking lot lights use a lot of electricity and stay on hours at a time every day, costing a lot of money. So what can you do to make them more energy efficient? Most businesses these days have high-pressure sodium or metal halide lamps in their lots. These types of lights are typically replaced with more-efficient alternative fluorescent lights, but using fluorescents outdoors unfortunately isn’t practical in colder climes like Minnesota. Very cold temps cause [...]
New Federal Grants Available for Rural Energy Upgrades
Small rural businesses and farms in Minnesota interested in energy efficiency upgrades or renewable energy production should know about a new federal grant opportunity. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) is providing up to $51.5 million in 2010 to rural businesses seeking to lower their energy use. The USDA recently opened the 2010 grant application period; applications are due by June 30. Eligible projects include purchasing energy-efficient equipment, adding insulation and improving heating and cooling systems, as well as installing [...]
Conference Highlights How Energy Efficiency Helps Business
Energy efficiency is getting spotlighted in a national conference this week. And there’s an overarching theme emerging: Reducing energy use is now a major priority at many big companies and will continue to be for years to come. The Energy Efficiency Global Forum & Exposition, hosted by the Alliance to Save Energy in Washington D.C., is convening executives from U.S. corporations, including Whirlpool and Intel, along with researchers and energy industry experts. Topics featured at the conference include national climate legislation, emerging technologies to bolster efficiency, [...]
U of M Energy Blitz: Making Power Strips Easy to Use
Energy Smart recently participated in a neat energy-saving event at the University of Minnesota, called Energy Blitz, that is helping the university meet its energy-saving goals. How it works: Student members of several sustainability and energy-focused groups on campus install power strips and appliance timers in campus buildings. Each Energy Blitz is one-day long and focuses on a particular campus building. Before the event, the student organizers invite faculty and other staff with desks or offices in the building to sign up for a visit from the “Power Police.” On the day of [...]
Xcel Energy Offering Up to 100% Funding for Steam-Trap Audits
Many businesses use steam to heat their facilities. But leaky steam traps – the valves that control the release and containment of steam throughout the system -- can cost a business more than $50 a month per trap. The Department of Energy estimates that 15% to 30% of the traps on steam systems that have not been maintained for three to five years will have failed. Having the systems regularly checked and faulty traps repaired or replaced, then, can potentially save a business quite a bit of money. Xcel Energy is offering a new promotion to help businesses ensure their steam [...]
Save the Date! April 30 is Energy Efficiency Day in Dinkytown
Free on April 30? Come to Dinkytown and support energy efficiency! Energy Smart is hosting an event in Dinkytown on April 30 to celebrate local businesses that have committed to finding ways to save energy. In honor of Energy Efficiency Day, businesses in Dinkytown will be offering discounts and special promotions to shoppers that day, and prizes and contests will be available. The event is being co-organized with a group of University of Minnesota students. Check out our Facebook event page to see the participating Dinkytown businesses and to keep updated on the promotions being [...]
About Us
Energy Smart is a program run through Minnesota Waste Wise, a non-profit affiliate of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce. We help businesses and organizations get the resources and information they need to make energy upgrades. Our assistance is available to any business in Minnesota at no cost. Contact us at info@mnenergysmart.com or at 651-292-4652.
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