St. Cloud Community Focus campaign reaps results

Energy Smart last year partnered with the St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce to offer its more than 1,000 members no-cost energy efficiency assistance and help identifying energy-saving opportunities and incentives. The effort resulted in 15 Energy Smart business site visits and more than 10 lighting audits through the Center for Energy and Environment One-Stop Efficiency Shop program.

Since then, at least eight of the businesses Energy Smart worked with performed lighting or other types of energy upgrades, collectively saving them an estimated more than $100,000 annually on their energy bills.

“Energy Smart made it easy for us to give our members energy efficiency assistance at no charge,” says Teresa Bohnen, president of the St. Cloud-area chamber. “Most importantly, several of our members are now saving money on their energy costs as a result of Energy Smart’s assistance.“

As part of ongoing Community Focus campaigns, Energy Smart works with local business groups, such as chambers and economic development authorities, to help businesses in their communities identify energy-saving opportunities. Energy Smart also connects businesses with information about financial incentives, such as utility rebates or grants, and provides information on low- and no-cost energy-saving opportunities. Each participating business receives Energy Smart’s no-cost energy efficiency assistance tailored to its individual needs.

During a Community Focus campaign, Energy Smart will contact the local businesses directly and offer help, including a site visit. Each business that receives a site visit also receives a detailed follow-up action plan with energy saving opportunities for that business.

Energy Smart recently began partnering with the Greater Stillwater Chamber of Commerce and other business groups in that area and has already conducted more than 17 business site visits.

Want Energy Smart’s help in your community? Contact us at (651)292-4652 or info@mnenergysmart.com.

VendingMisers program helps Minnesota businesses save $130 a year on vending machine costs

Have a cold-beverage vending machine in your office? You may be able to save more than $100 a year on its operating costs.

Minnesota’s Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs), in collaboration with Energy Smart and EnergyMisers LLC, recently launched a new program to promote the energy- and money-saving benefits of installing VendingMisers in cold-drink vending machines. VendingMisers are small sensors that detect when space around the vending machine is occupied and automatically turns on and off the vending machine’s systems.

The new VendingMiser Bulk Buy Program hosted by CERTs is available to Minnesota businesses, schools and government agencies through May 31. CERTs intends to buy the VendingMisers in bulk, giving participants a $15 discount off the standard $179 retail price.

It’s estimated that a VendingMiser sensor will shave $130 annually off the machine’s electricity costs – effectively paying for themselves in less than 18 months. Many utilities also offer rebates for purchasing VendingMisers. Read more about the Bulk Buy Program and find utility rebate information here.

SMMPA wins EPA’s Energy Star promotion award

Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency (SMMPA) and its 18 member utility providers were recently awarded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Excellence in Energy Star Promotion Award. The award is given to a variety of organizations each year that do an exemplary job promoting Energy Star programs to consumers and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

“By creatively promoting ENERGY STAR, partners like SMMPA and its Members are making it easy for consumers to find energy-efficient products in the marketplace,” said Gina McCarthy, EPA Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation, in a news release.

SMMPA will be recognized in a March 18 ceremony in Washington D.C.