At the end of May 2008, while at a seminar at the Wilkes University Small Business Development Center (SBDC), small business owner Christine Matirko was introduced to the SBDC’s Environmental Management Assistance Program (EMAP). A consultant at the conference informed her about the EMAP program and how small businesses could benefit from EMAP’s free and confidential environmental consulting services. Ms. Matirko, owner of a small town hardware store, had wanted to perform energy upgrades to her facility but had many questions involving interior and exterior lighting upgrades, alternative energy systems, geothermal heat pumps, and available grant opportunities to help subsidize these projects.
The consultants at EMAP contacted Ms. Matirko shortly thereafter requesting a year’s worth of utility bills and some background information about her building. After conducting a utility bill analysis, EMAP performed an onsite energy efficiency assessment where the consultants made practical and feasible recommendations that would improve the energy efficiency of the building and help reduce annual utility costs. EMAP then provided a detailed energy efficiency report, which included recommendations and estimates of potential savings and simple payback.
EMAP suggested that the store’s lighting systems be upgraded from inefficient T12 fluorescent lamps with magnetic ballasts to high efficiency T8 lamps with electronic ballasts. In addition, EMAP suggested the replacement of all incandescent lights with high efficiency compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) - a potential savings of over 5,000 kWh/$430 a year. EMAP also recommended the removal of the facility’s oil-fired burner and the installation of a geothermal unit, which would not only eliminate the facility’s use of high costing fuel oil, but also provide a more energy efficient means of heating and cooling the building.
To help offset capital costs for the project, EMAP suggested they apply for a Small Business Advantage Grant (SBAG). This grant program is offered by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and provides a 50% match, up to $7,500, to help cover the costs of energy efficiency and pollution prevention project upgrades. After Ms. Matirko obtained multiple contractor quotes to purchase and install a 7.5-ton Florida heat pump unit, the EMAP team assisted Matirko Hardware in submitting an Advantage Grant application.
On October 15th, 2008, the project was approved for the full $7,500 available from the Small Business Advantage Grant program. By June 2009, the geothermal unit was fully installed and running and Matirko Hardware was on its way to a more energy efficient future that included annual savings on its utility bills and the opportunity to finally “get off foreign oil.”
The newly installed geothermal unit has eliminated the use of 1,154 gallons of fuel oil a year saving Matirko Hardware just under $3,000 annually in energy costs. Excited about receiving the grant and with a better understanding on why it pays to become more energy efficient, Matirko Hardware has plans to move ahead with upgrading their lights. EMAP is continuing to work with this company to implement their efficiency recommendations and find additional funding opportunities for future projects.
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