Michael and Susan Tripp opened their 1,400 square foot restaurant and grill in North Bend, PA in 2002, knowing that restaurants are among the most energy intensive businesses for their size and sales. They contacted the Environmental Management Assistance Program (EMAP) at the Lock Haven University Small Business Development Center to request an energy audit, hoping to decrease their energy costs and improve their bottom line.

Some recommendations included switching to the GS1 (Small General Service) electric rate, replace the freezers throughout the kitchen area, and to join Energy Star. Another EMAP recommendation was to invest in one six-door walk-in cooler to replace four inefficient beverage coolers in the dining area of the Six Pack Shop. Seals on the older cooler were allowing chilled air to escape, and even worse, compressors from the coolers exhausted heat into the room, making it harder and more expensive to cool the space in summer. The Tripps worked with EMAP to apply for a Small Business Advantage Grant from the PA Department of Environmental Protection, and they were awarded the full amount requested. This allowed them to partially subsidize the cost of a new ENERGY STAR qualified freezer to replace older freezers in the Six Pack Shop. The change resulted in a $150 savings in the first month alone, while also improving employee and customer comfort in the summer months.

Annually, Tripp's Grill & Six Pack is saving more than $1,900 in electricity costs due to reducing usage by more than 31,700 kWh, which is also preventing nearly 50,800 pounds of CO2 emissions.

In recognition for their commitment to energy efficiency, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded Tripp's Grill with a 2006 Energy Star Small Business Award.

To read more about the 2006 EPA Energy Star awardees (six out of eight were EMAP clients!), click here to visit the Energy Star website.

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