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	<title>Energy Smart</title>
	<link>http://www.mnenergysmart.com</link>
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		<title>Hurry: Energy Efficiency Champion Nominations</title>
		<description><![CDATA[You’ll want to jump on this opportunity to be recognized for outstanding energy efficiency at your company. The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) has announced that nominations are open through May 24th for their 2013 Champion of Energy Efficiency in Industry Awards, recognizing leadership and accomplishment in the energy efficiency field. The ACEEE announcement says winners will be selected based on “demonstrated excellence” in the following categories: Research and Development (R&#38;D): Excellence in research and development including baseline or background research, as well as R&#38;D of products and practices. Energy Policy: Excellence in energy policy including writing, educating, promoting, and supporting energy efficiency in energy policy, at the federal, state, or local <a href="http://www.mnenergysmart.com/hurry-energy-efficiency-champion-nominations/">[more&#8230;]</a>]]></description>
		<link>http://www.mnenergysmart.com/hurry-energy-efficiency-champion-nominations/</link>
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		<title>Why Pay More? Upgrade Your HVAC</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Enjoying that spring weather at last? Now that your brain has thawed after our long winter you may want to put it to work investigating whether to upgrade to your HVAC system. A more efficient system can pay for itself in a relatively short period of time, while keeping people in your facility comfortable year-round. How much can we save with an HVAC upgrade? What energy savings can you expect with a more efficient HVAC system? Good question—one that is important to consider when setting energy efficiency priorities. The short answer is: Maybe quite a lot, depending on your current system. Arriving at a more specific answer is best determined through an onsite assessment conducted <a href="http://www.mnenergysmart.com/why-pay-more-upgrade-your-hvac/">[more&#8230;]</a>]]></description>
		<link>http://www.mnenergysmart.com/why-pay-more-upgrade-your-hvac/</link>
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		<title>Embrace Your Inner Green: Earth Day 2013</title>
		<description><![CDATA[In 2012, more than a billion people in 192 countries mobilized through the Earth Day Network to achieve “A Billion Acts of Green” in support of a sustainable planet. This year the event will have a global focus and encourage bold leadership by world leaders. Here at home, many companies in Minnesota practice energy efficiency and sustainability year-round, including many of our readers. Now is a great time to celebrate your energy efficiency advances, and engage with your community and staff on the 43rd annual Earth Day. Embrace your inner green with these ideas! Participate in Earth Day Events around Minnesota Earth Day is an excellent occasion to find strength in numbers. Thousands of your <a href="http://www.mnenergysmart.com/embrace-your-inner-green-earth-day-2013/">[more&#8230;]</a>]]></description>
		<link>http://www.mnenergysmart.com/embrace-your-inner-green-earth-day-2013/</link>
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		<title>4 Ways to Get Public Attention for Energy Efficiency</title>
		<description><![CDATA[You deserve a shout out! Your organization has made great strides in energy efficiency and conservation. Reducing energy use makes a difference to customers, employees, industry peers and neighbors. Now make sure the world knows! Here are four ideas to get you started. You may qualify for ENERGY STAR certification An ENERGY STAR certification tells your customers and community that your facility has achieved superior energy efficiency. The staff at Energy Smart finds that some organizations may already qualify for the prestigious award but have never thought about applying for certification. Others may be closer to qualifying than they think, and just need to complete an upgrade or two. This award will give you bragging <a href="http://www.mnenergysmart.com/4-ways-to-get-public-attention-for-energy-efficiency/">[more&#8230;]</a>]]></description>
		<link>http://www.mnenergysmart.com/4-ways-to-get-public-attention-for-energy-efficiency/</link>
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		<title>6 Tips for Attracting Customers through Energy Efficiency</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Pop quiz time. Word problem: Andrea’s Athletics and Skip’s Sporting Goods, located in the same neighborhood, both sell the same cross-trainer shoes at the same price. Both companies have upgraded their lighting to efficient LED lights Andrea’s sales associates wear buttons that say “Andrea’s Eco-team Associate/Ask me for details,” while Skip doesn’t tell customers about his company’s efforts. Q. Which retailer are consumers more likely to buy from? A. Andrea’s Eco-team. If you are like most environmentally-conscious consumers, Andrea will get your business. According to the 2011 Cone/Echo Global CR Opportunity Study, 94 percent of consumers surveyed would buy a product that has an environmental benefit and 76 percent have already purchased an environmental product <a href="http://www.mnenergysmart.com/6-tips-for-attracting-customers-through-energy-efficiency/">[more&#8230;]</a>]]></description>
		<link>http://www.mnenergysmart.com/6-tips-for-attracting-customers-through-energy-efficiency/</link>
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		<title>Stand Together for Energy Efficiency</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Cookies and milk. Bogie and Bacall. Hockey and duct tape. So many things are better together! Saving energy, too, is more fun when businesses reduce energy consumption together. That’s why Energy Smart launched its Community Focus Initiative locally targeting business communities with information, decision-making guidance, and connections to utility rebates and affordable financing options. It’s also why so many business owners in communities across Minnesota are seeing overhead costs go down and conservation benefits go up. With each additional organization that participates, Minnesota moves further away from being a net energy importer, and closer to an energy independent future. Communities that use energy efficiently foster a more competitive business environment for all. From New Ulm <a href="http://www.mnenergysmart.com/stand-together-for-energy-efficiency/">[more&#8230;]</a>]]></description>
		<link>http://www.mnenergysmart.com/stand-together-for-energy-efficiency/</link>
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		<title>Fueled by Utility Rebates, Energy Efficiency Projects May Double by 2025</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Electric and gas utility company rebates are proving to be a significant driver of consumer investment in energy efficiency—so much so that consumer spending on energy upgrades is projected to double by 2025 to $9.5 billion annually. This research finding was announced in report from Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory released in January. Three potential spending and energy savings scenarios were researched and detailed by scientists at Berkley Labs. One model projects spending as high as $15.6 billion, depending on factors such as wider adoption of such policies by state governments, the trajectory of natural gas prices, retirement of inefficient coal-fired power plants, and the overall strength of the economy. Policies in a number of states, <a href="http://www.mnenergysmart.com/fueled-by-utility-rebates-energy-efficiency-projects-may-double-by-2025/">[more&#8230;]</a>]]></description>
		<link>http://www.mnenergysmart.com/fueled-by-utility-rebates-energy-efficiency-projects-may-double-by-2025/</link>
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		<title>Getting to Great in 2013</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Hats and horns, it’s the New Year! Time to set goals—for better health, more family time, increased prosperity, or whatever changes you seek. Now, what about your 2013 goals for increased energy efficiency? January in Minnesota may be cold and dark, but with a forward-looking set of energy goals and a systematic process for energy management planning, your year can be warm and bright with energy savings. 25% goal to start; 10% goal to jump ahead If your organization is new to energy efficiency, you may be able to save 25% on your energy bills this year just by implementing a few low-cost or no-cost energy upgrades. Install some setback thermostats, work with your staff <a href="http://www.mnenergysmart.com/getting-to-great-in-2013/">[more&#8230;]</a>]]></description>
		<link>http://www.mnenergysmart.com/getting-to-great-in-2013/</link>
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		<title>Gadgets!</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The gadget meisters have been busy, especially in the arena of helping us support our ever-more-mobile lifestyles. The more we endeavor to do more work in more locations, the more we groan about too-short battery life and hassles with recharging. Never fear: Clever tech heads are coming to the rescue with Earth-friendly gizmos adapted to our mobile computing and communications needs. When we charge devices using these innovative alternatives, we reduce our energy use. We haven’t tested these, but they look like winners. Store energy while you walk According to Daily Nation, A Kenyan entrepreneur has developed a tiny chip made of thin crystals that fits in your shoe and “gathers and stores energy while <a href="http://www.mnenergysmart.com/gadgets/">[more&#8230;]</a>]]></description>
		<link>http://www.mnenergysmart.com/gadgets/</link>
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		<title>Creating Jobs through Energy Efficiency Retrofits</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Here’s the kind of idea for which the term “win-win” was coined: Reduce energy use through conservation retrofits while also creating skilled jobs for Minnesotans. Retrofitting older buildings for greater energy efficiency can significantly reduce energy expenses. It follows that inefficient public buildings—including hospitals, government offices, schools and university buildings—cost taxpayers more to operate than efficient ones. In Minnesota, any added costs of energy inefficiency drain money away from our state’s economy. Society also pays a price when health conditions such as respiratory ailments are at increased risk due to pollution resulting from energy generation. Okay, so with benefits to health, let’s make that a win-win-win. Investing in efficiency retrofits for public buildings would create <a href="http://www.mnenergysmart.com/creating-jobs-through-energy-efficiency-retrofits/">[more&#8230;]</a>]]></description>
		<link>http://www.mnenergysmart.com/creating-jobs-through-energy-efficiency-retrofits/</link>
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