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In this Issue:
A Bright Idea for Business: Invest in New Lighting Technologies
 Lighting improvements are among the simplest and most affordable ways a business can
decrease energy use and save money. In recent years, EMAP clients saved from $325 to $4,374
per year by upgrading their lighting. However, lighting options can be overwhelming and the
terminology confusing. Spending time to work with a professional to design a lighting system can
save money in the long run. EMAP asked Kevin McGroarty, Vice President of Suburban Electric in
Delaware County, to help make sense of current trends in lighting.
Q: What new lighting technologies are on the horizon?
A: The newest advances are in cold cathode, induction, and LED (light emitting diode) sources that
reduce energy consumption and use electronic ballasts as their power supplies. In my opinion, LED
lighting is the most exciting technology available today. Long life, energy efficiency, and the flexibility
to dim, mix, and change color are some of the advantages of LED. It can replace incandescent as
well as linear fluorescent lamp sources, and the technology is improving in color and light output
on a daily basis. LED systems operate well in cold temperatures and produce far less heat than traditional
light sources, which can reduce air conditioning use and translate into measurable savings.
Q: Do compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) really save energy?
A: Absolutely! CFLs use about 75 percent less energy than an equivalent incandescent light bulb
and last up to 10 times longer. The easiest and most inexpensive way to start saving is to replace
incandescent bulbs with CFLs.
Q: What advice can you give to a small business in choosing a lighting system?
A: Choose the light source based on the task performed, not just on projected savings. Measuring
the impact of a lighting system on the work environment aesthetic and the electrical distribution
infrastructure are critical and often overlooked steps.
Q: Are certain types of lighting technologies suited to particular business activities?
A: Color, efficiency, temperature, and deferred maintenance must be taken into consideration when
choosing lighting for industries such as textile, printing, manufacturing, and food processing. For
example, although high pressure sodium lighting is an efficient choice, the color rendition index is
poor and the light produced could never be used to inspect fruit, fabric, or printed material.
Q: What are some common mistakes you see businesses make in regards to their lighting?
A: Poor planning. Each facility has a unique energy profile. Understanding how the lighting affects
a facility’s total energy model is the key component in selecting the right system. Time and money
spent for a lighting audit and engineering model will easily pay for themselves with savings over
the life of the system.
EMAP thanks Kevin McGroarty for his contributions. He can be reached at 610-872-4048 or at his website: www.subelectric.com.
If you have questions about what lighting will best work for your facility, EMAP can help.
Call 877-ASK-EMAP to speak with a consultant who can answer your questions and schedule a free energy
efficiency assessment.
Upgrading Your Lighting? Be Sure to Properly Manage Old Bulbs
Traditional linear fluorescent light bulbs as well as newer compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs)
contain mercury. Most fluorescents—including CFLs with more than 6mg of mercury—
are considered hazardous waste and are regulated by the Universal Waste Rule (40 CFR 273
and 25 PA Code 266(b)). This rule dictates that businesses dispose of fluorescent bulbs at a
hazardous waste site or via a fluorescent recycler. In addition, businesses must:
- Contain bulbs to prevent breakage, leaks, and other damage.
- Immediately clean up broken or damaged bulbs and place them in a container.
- Keep containers closed, structurally sound, and without any evidence of leaks,
spills, or damage that could cause releases of mercury.
- Store burned out fluorescent bulbs on-site for no more than one year.
To obtain a list of fluorescent bulb recyclers that serve Pennsylvania, visit www.askemap.org/regulatory/waste_univer.asp. |
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Success Story: Lighting Upgrade Pays Off for EMAP Client
Located in downtown Scranton, Kevin’s Wholesale
is a family-owned print screening and embroidery
business that doubles as a clothing wholesaler
and retail dealer. Kevin’s has served the
northeastern Pennsylvania business community
for over 30 years.
In May 2005, owner Larry Tinkelman contacted
the Environmental Management Assistance
Program (EMAP) seeking to lower his energy
bills. EMAP consultant Jeremy Hancher performed
a free energy efficiency assessment at the facility
and provided a follow-up report providing suggestions
to improve daily operations and help cut
energy costs. These included the replacement of
over 100 light fixtures and a furnace upgrade.
The company began with lighting system improvements, replacing inefficient T-12 fluorescent
bulb and magnetic ballast fixtures with energy efficient T-8 bulbs powered by electronic ballasts.
In addition, Mr. Tinkelman installed occupancy sensors to eliminate lighting energy usage in
unoccupied areas. To help offset project costs, Kevin’s Wholesale applied for and received a
Small Business Advantage Grant. This grant program is offered by the Pennsylvania Department
of Environmental Protection (DEP) and provides a 50 percent match, up to $7,500, to fund energy
efficiency and pollution prevention projects. |
The warehouse at Kevin's Wholesale prior to lighting upgrades that reduced electricity costs.
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Eight months after completing the lighting upgrade, Kevin’s Wholesale had already reduced its
electricity consumption by 21,684 kwh—saving $1,728 on utility bills—despite significant growth
during the same period. Encouraged by the success of the lighting project, Mr. Tinkelman
decided to pursue a furnace replacement as well. He was able to secure a second DEP
Advantage Grant of $7,500. When complete, the furnace upgrade is projected to yield annual
savings of $1,885 in natural gas costs. Combined, the energy efficiency upgrades will save
Kevin’s Wholesale approximately 15 percent of energy consumption. The projects also will reduce
carbon dioxide emissions, a key contributor to global warming, by 850 tons annually.
Mr. Tinkelman’s willingness and desire to achieve energy efficiency helped decrease his
company’s environmental footprint while increasing its bottom line, once again proving that
sound environmental decisions make good economic and business sense.
Kevin’s Wholesale was recently featured in Business Week’s Small Biz Magazine.
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| REGULATORY NEWS |
| EPA Finalizes Regulations for
Surface Coating & Paint
Stripping Operations
On January 9, 2008 the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency finalized the “National
Emission Standards for Hazardous Air
Pollutants: Paint Stripping and Miscellaneous
Surface Coating Operations at Area Sources”
(40 CFR 63, subpart HHHHHH). This new
regulation will affect paint stripping operations,
motor vehicle and mobile equipment spray-applied
surface coating operations, and
miscellaneous surface coating operations.
Businesses performing the following activities
could be subject to the rule:
- paint stripping operations that use
Methylene Chloride (MeCl) to remove dried
paint from wood, plastic, or metal;
- operations that spray-apply surface coatings
to motor vehicle and mobile equipment; and
- miscellaneous surface coating operations
using spray application of coatings
containing any target Hazardous Air
Pollutants (i.e. Chromium, Lead, Manganese,
Nickel, or Cadmium) to any metal or plastic
parts or products that are not motor vehicles
or mobile equipment.
While specific to the type of operation, the
requirements can include training of operators,
notification, reporting, recordkeeping, and
minimization plans (for MeCl). As of the date
of this rule, new sources must comply with
the requirements upon startup of operations.
Existing sources must comply by January 9,
2011. To view the new rule, visit:
http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-AIR/2008/January/Day-09/a24718.htm.
For more information or help determining if this
new rule applies to your operations, call us at
877-ASK-EMAP
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MEET OUR STAFF: Lee Ann Briggs
 When asked about her work assisting small businesses, EMAP
Consultant Lee Ann Briggs sums it up simply, “I love my job!” And
it shows in the excellent assistance she offers to her clients.
Business owners who work with Lee Ann can be assured that she
will provide them a wealth of environmental knowledge. Lee Ann
has over 20 years of experience in the private sector in consulting
and industrial capacities, and is a Registered Environmental
Manager (REM). Whether it is a start-up or an existing business
needing to address current operations or potential expansion, Lee Ann can answer questions
and provide on-site consulting in areas including environmental compliance and permitting,
energy efficiency, pollution prevention, and financing for environmental projects.
Her clients appreciate her dedication and expertise. As one pleased client says, “Lee Ann
Briggs is very helpful and a great asset to your company. She did a wonderful job.” The
results are evident – recently, EMAP clients working with Lee Ann have won local, state,
and national awards for their environmental efforts.
Working out of Duquesne University Small Business Development Center, Lee Ann offers
environmental consulting to small businesses in southwestern Pennsylvania. She can be
reached at briggs@duq.edu or (412) 396-6233.
“Meet Our Staff” is a recurring feature that introduces you to EMAP’s team of
environmental consultants.
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| Energy Tip #5: Take Advantage of Utility Tax Exemptions
Did you know that Pennsylvania manufacturers and certain other businesses are eligible
for an exemption from sales tax on certain portions of their energy consumption? As
stated in Section 32.25 of the Pennsylvania Tax Code (Title 61), businesses engaged in
“manufacturing, processing, farming, dairying, printing, mining, rendering a public utility
service, photography or photofinishing” are exempt from taxation on the energy directly
used for those operations.
Energy used for offices, shipping and receiving areas, storage areas and warehouses,
security systems, and lighting for access roads, entrances, exits and parking lots is subject
to the sales tax. Unless it has a separate account for administrative needs, each business
is responsible for apportioning energy usage to determine the percentage eligible for tax
exemption.
To receive the exemption, businesses must submit a Pennsylvania Exemption Certificate
to their utility provider(s). The form, REV-1220, can be obtained from www.revenue.state.pa.us or by calling 1-888-PATAXES. The process may vary by provider, so check with each
utility company to see what is required. You may also wish to consult with a qualified tax
representative.
For more energy tips and information, or to request a free energy assessment at your
facility, call 877-ASK-EMAP or visit www.askemap.org and click on “Energy Efficiency."
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| FUNDING NEWS |
EMAP Clients Receive 30 Percent of Small Business Advantage Grant Funding
The Pennsylvania DEP’s Small Business
Advantage Grant program is always in high
demand. In 2007, the Department was forced
to stop accepting applications on September 4,
just three weeks after the annual grant program
opened. During those three weeks, EMAP
consultants worked quickly to help their clients
submit applications for the first-come, first-served program. Their efforts paid off, as businesses
working with EMAP garnered more than 30
percent of the total $1 million in available
funding.
DEP Small Business Advantage Grants of up to
$7,500, provided on a 50 percent cost-share
basis, are awarded to small businesses in the Commonwealth to implement equipment
or process changes that result in energy
efficiency or pollution prevention. In the
2007 cycle, 51 EMAP clients were awarded
$300,195 for projects as diverse as heating
and cooling system upgrades, energy
efficient lighting installations, and a
solar power system.
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| MATERIAL AND MANURE EXCHANGES |
Online Materials Exchanges
Pennsylvania Material Trader provides an opportunity for businesses to connect with each other to save money on waste disposal and raw material costs.
Pennsylvania Manure Trader is an online resource for farmers and others looking to buy, sell, or give away manure.
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Winner of the 2007 EPA ENERGY STAR Award and 2007 ASBDC State Star Award