Shoreline Green Business Program

"Small businesses may be among the hardest hit victims of climate change."

"Tough government action to combat global warming is increasingly likely."

"Small Businesses consume half of all energy used for commercial and industrial purposes in the United States."

Source: Center for Small Business and the Environment

"Workers who moved from conventional office buildings to environmentally friendly "green" buildings said they called in sick less often and were more productive, according to a study by a team of Michigan State University researchers." Read more

"Energy-intensive companies are not the only ones concerned about managing an increasingly volatile future. Everyone needs an energy and climate strategy. Now." (From a 2007 conference attended by major corporations, Global Business Network (GBN), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's ENERGY STAR program. See Energy Strategy for the Road Ahead to read the complete report)

The final report from that conference had some interesting conclusions:

• Our relationship to the energy that drives our economies and societies is in the throes of a fundamental transformation.
• What had once been managed purely as a cost is increasingly being managed as a strategic risk-and even, intriguingly, as a source of new value and opportunities.
• The future of energy is still very uncertain territory.
• Small businesses that invest in energy efficiencies and technology will be better positioned to survive, compete and thrive in the face of energy cost uncertainties.

In the Pacific Northwest we have an abundance of electricity from hydro dams. Summer water levels for electricity and irrigation for farms are dependent on a healthy snowpack. Consequently our reliance on electricity from hydro dams could be at risk in future years as our local weather patterns fluctuate.

Resources:

Start with understanding current usage

Knowing what your energy usage is now will allow you to be able to measure the savings from each implemented change.

Use the Business Analyzer from Access Washington the official State Government website to conduct a self-guided energy-efficiency analysis of your small or medium sized business.

Proper maintenance

Small businesses can get a good start on cost control simply by proper maintenance of existing equipment.

Studies conducted by the Lawrence Berkeley Lab show small commercial buildings have duct leaks twice that of residential buildings. Preventive HVAC maintenance program is a must to any business interested in saving money. Read "Preventive HVAC Maintenance a Good Investment."

There have been many recent advances in energy efficiency design and technology that businesses can take advantage of. Some options can be as simple and inexpensive as installing screens in windows so they can be used for natural ventilation. Light Emiting Diode (LEDs) can save energy and improve the appearance of store windows, according to a field study conducted by the Lighting Research Center.

The US Department of Energy has created an "Industrial Technologies Program" (ITP).
"ITP is taking a targeted and return on investment (ROI) approach, advancing efficiency actions that result in the best British thermal unit (Btu) saved per dollar investment."

US Dept. of Energy Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy
Offers a vast array of energy calculators and software for business, industry and vehicles.
EERE.gov

ENERGY STAR for Small Business
Whether you own your building or are a tenant, you typically need lighting, heating, air conditioning, power for office equipment, and other services to stay in business. With free, unbiased information and technical support from ENERGY STAR, you can more easily improve your company's financial performance by reducing energy waste and energy costs, while protecting the earth's environment. EnergyStar.gov

Seattle City Light
Seattle City Light has a wide variety of services available to help your business reduce its electricity costs while enhancing productivity. 

Check out Seattle City Lights Lighting Design Lab website for commercial custgomers.
Located in Seattle, Washington, the Lighting Design Lab provides assistance to commercial lighting designers seeking the most efficient lighting technologies and strategies.

BetterBricks.com
BetterBricks is a service of the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, which also sponsors the Lighting Design Lab and the Energy Ideas Clearinghouse, as part of a comprehensive initiative to transform energy use in the Pacific Northwest.

Puget Sound Energy
Puget Sound Energy (PSE) has a broad array of programs, financial incentives (grants and rebates), and tools designed to offer customers the opportunity to participate in conserving energy. Log directly on to PSE.com or for more personalized service contact an Energy Advisor.

For Manufacturers:

UL Environment offers third party Energy Certification

Manufacturers are increasingly required to verify the energy efficiency of their products to validate performance claims and prove compliance with government requirements using an independent third party. Through UL Environment's Energy Efficiency Certification Program, manufacturers can show consumers, competitors, and regulators that their products are helping lower energy demand. UL Environment builds on UL's 116 years of engineering integrity, innovation, and unparalleled trust and is committed to helping manufacturers navigate this dynamic space.

Click Here to learn more about Energy Certification, Environmental Claims Validation and Sustainable Product Verification.

Training for Manufactuers:

UL Environment has partnered with UL University to create coursework to help manufacturers understand how to compete in a marketplace that is increasingly focused on the environmental characteristics of products.

These courses, available in classroom, online or at your site, are taught by qualified instructors and can even be customized to your company's needs. To learn more, visit the UL University Web site at www.uluniversity.us.