Workshop: How to Make Your Office Equipment Greener
Office technologies – think computers, monitors, printers, external hard drives and copiers – are among the fastest-growing energy sappers at U.S. businesses, according to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. And that’s just a piece of their carbon footprint: What happens to all that bulky equipment after a business gets rid of it? And what about the huge data centers that support the information technology? Minnesota Waste Wise, the nonprofit that oversees Energy Smart, is hosting a workshop on Jan. 26 to help businesses make eco-conscious decisions when it comes [...]
Minnesota Unveils New Grant Program for Energy-Efficiency Projects
Minnesota businesses planning significant energy-efficiency or renewable-energy projects in the next two years may be eligible for some big financial help. But they must act quickly. As part of the federal-stimulus package, states received money to spend on energy-conservation projects. Minnesota recently unveiled plans to spend $4.1 million of its stimulus funds providing grants to commercial and industrial property owners looking to make energy upgrades before mid-2011. The grants are intended for large-scale improvement projects, and can include anything from lighting, heating [...]
5 Energy-Saving New Year’s Resolutions for 2010
Energy prices appear to be on the upswing, meaning cutting energy use may generate even bigger savings in the months ahead. What’s more, utility companies and federal and state governments are unveiling more-lucrative financial incentives for energy-efficiency in 2010, including federal-stimulus-funded grants, “cash for appliances” programs, and other new rebate programs for businesses. (We’ll detail these new incentives in the weeks ahead.) Now's the time to develop a game plan for the next 12 months. Here, then, are five energy-saving New Year’s resolutions to get you [...]
How to Claim Rebates for 2009 Energy Upgrades
If you made energy-saving upgrades to your business or home in 2009, you likely qualify for a rebate from your utility company. But don’t wait too long to find out – time may be running out to submit your application. Many utilities offer rebates to business and residential customers for upgrades made in 2009, such as installing more-efficient lighting or heating and cooling systems and other energy-efficient equipment. The utilities often require that eligible customers fill out an application (usually available electronically on their web sites) that describes the upgrade, the make [...]
Minnesota Utilities Facing New Energy Conservation Law
Minnesota utility companies are facing an ambitious challenge: Under new state law, they will be required to reduce their energy retail sales by 1.5% annually starting in 2010. A policy forum held last week by the Minnesota Environmental Initiative looked at how this new state law – called the Next Generation Energy Act– will bring both great potential and some hurdles. "People are starting to get it,” said panelist Dan York, acting director of utilities programs from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. (View York's slide presentation here.) With much of the [...]
7 Energy-Saving Holiday Gift Ideas
Christmas is a’ knocking, and you may need to rush to the store for some last-minute gifts. Why not make at least one of your holiday gifts eco-friendly? We found many terrific green gift guides across the Internet, which you can find here,here and here. So we thought we’d focus specifically on gifts to help people cut their energy bills in the years ahead. (And hey, they’re great for the environment, too.) You can find most of these at stores in any area. Here are seven energy-savings gift ideas: 1. Pressure cooker. These pots – great for preparing rice, beans, soups, [...]
LED Holiday Lights Offer Cool Savings
Most people know by now that using energy-efficient lights, such as compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), will produce dramatic energy savings. But you may not realize how much can be saved by decorating with efficient lights for the holidays. LED holiday lights – sold by most big-box retailers these days – use far less energy than the traditional incandescent holiday bulbs still widely used. According to the Department of Energy, decorating with LED holiday lights in place of traditional lights can cut energy costs for holiday lighting by up to 90%. But what’s the real-world [...]
Welcome to Our Blog
Energy Smart is moving into its second year, and getting bigger and better. In celebration, we are launching a blog with energy-saving tips and information, leading research on energy efficiency and news about energy and green initiatives across Minnesota and beyond. But before we jump in, you might wonder who we are and what we do. Here’s a quick FAQ about us: What is Energy Smart? Energy Smart is a nonprofit run through the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce’sWaste Wise program. Launched in 2008, we work with businesses and other organizations across the state to help them take [...]
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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