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Small Business Award Winners

Small Business Award Winners:

Speare Memorial Hospital

Speare Memorial Hospital’s facilities manager Lloyd Berry was interested, not simply in saving lives, but saving energy as well. After an energy audit identified potential energy savings, Berry began refinishing parts of the hospital, making them more energy efficient. He replaced old, inefficient lighting fixtures with modern T-8 lamps. Also, incandescent exit signs were replaced with highly efficient LED (light emitting diode) exit signs. The old heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) equipment was replaced with new, highly efficient HVAC systems. Such antiquated HVAC systems posed, not simply a financial threat, but a physical one, as the old system was inadequate for the hospital’s heating and cooling needs. Overall, Speare Memorial Hospital saves $8,603 annually improving, not simply energy costs, but the overall environment of the patients as well.

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The Williams Inn

For Carl Faulkner, owner of The Williams Inn, Williamstown, MA, energy efficiency is an integral part of everyday operation. When his utility company offered a free energy audit with rebates for a lighting upgrade, Faulkner committed to it. As a result, the cost of his project was just $830 and the payback occurred in only one month. To help regulate other energy costs, Faulkner installed hourly meters that determine when peak demand occurs. Furthermore, Faulkner sub-metered to compare the percentage of energy used by the laundry with the percentage used by the kitchen. This comparison allowed him to focus his efforts on researching new energy-efficient technologies in those areas where energy is used the most.

Inn at Wiccoppee

Rick Stein owned and operated the Inn at Wiccoppee, a well-known restaurant in the quaint Hudson River area of New York State. Stein’s biggest savings opportunity was as inexpensive as imaginable. He reduced his frozen food inventory from 5 to 2 freezers. And while this simple move didn’t affect the restaurant at all, Stein was saving almost $800 a year, money that went straight to his bottom line. Stein was also able to save by upgrading kitchen lighting. Even though this was a fairly small job, the electrician was able to do the work at prices competitive with large lighting projects.

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Petruccelli International

For Armando Petruccelli to remain competitive and profitable in the New York fashion products industry, he must look into all aspects of his business for savings. It is no surprise then that he responded positively to the recommendations of his electric utility, Consolidated Edison (Con Ed). Con Ed provided free energy savings recommendations for his facility including a full lighting upgrade, a heating system upgrade, and a few minor adjustments to seal the building’s envelope. Petruccelli now saves $1,163 per year from the lighting upgrade, $117 of which is from efficient exit signs. Petruccelli’s heating upgrade cut heating bills nearly 50 percent. To further increase savings, Petruccelli International’s 9.5 kW battery charger will be used at night when the lights and other equipment are off. This simple rescheduling of operation will save Petruccelli $2,394 in demand costs.

American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation

The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation is a healthcare pioneer of pollution prevention through energy efficiency. Energy-efficiency upgrades in the Foundation’s 3-story office building have resulted in annual savings of $7,680, the pollution-prevention equivalent of planting 26 acres of trees. The Foundation upgraded all office lighting, increased the efficiency of its roof, and installed a system to automate the heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) as well as lighting controls. The Foundation maintains peak efficiency by regularly checking windows and doors for leaks.

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GGS Information Services, Inc.

1999 ENERGY STAR AwardsAt its rented facility, GGS Information Services, Inc., a provider of printing and editing services for catalogs, magazines, and textbooks, was paying high energy and water bills. When management decided to relocate the company, its prime objective was to move into an environmentally sound facility that allowed for lower utility bills. Lynn Kilker, Facility Manager, had already upgraded lighting that save him $6,295 annually when he joined the ENERGY STAR Small Business program. Then all of the 14 heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) units at GGS were equipped with economizers, thermostats were calibrated, and Kilker sets back the thermostat down to 55 or 60 degrees Fahrenheit at night and on weekends. Kilker calculated HVAC-related savings to be $8,427 per year. Further, by using the latest technologies, such as water-recycling units, GGS saves 16,000 gallons of water annually.

Penn-Craft Community Association

“Do it!” Louis Orslene says when asked what advice he had for other small businesses considering energy efficiency upgrades. The Penn-Craft Community Association upgraded lighting, heating, and hot water systems, not to mention invested in low-e, argon filled windows and variable speed drives for their motors.

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Weatherbury Farm

Marcy Tudor, proprietor of the Weatherbury Farm Bed & Breakfast, had the difficult task of maintaining the elegance of this 19th century establishment while making it energy efficient. The upgrade project focused on insulation, window caulking, high efficiency heat pumps, and water measures. Tudor says that the insulation cut their heating bill in half, saving them approximately $1,000 a year. “The payback was less than one year on our insulation,” Tudor explains. Tudor saves an estimated $2,000 and conserves 4,000 gallons of water a year.

Gulf Coast Paper

To improve lighting and save energy, Tom Marler, President of Gulf Coast Paper, retrofitted existing 4-lamp fixtures that used standard lamps, replacing them with 2-lamp fixtures that use a more energy efficient type of lighting. He also changed both incandescent exit lights to light-emitting diodes (LED) at a cost of $35 each, while replacing the bathroom light switch with a timer. Marler looked next to insulation, increasing it in both the walls and the ceiling, which cost him $6,200 to initially install, but saves him $700 annually in energy spending. Finally, Marler examined his air conditioners, which had been there for more than 20 years. He replaced his three old units with three new units containing scroll compressors-a very efficient new system. With all the changes, the Gulf Coast Paper Company saves $4,200 annually and will have completely paid back their energy investment within 6.5 years.

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American Cat Emporium & Wood Products

Once a struggling small business, American Cat Emporium & Wood Products used energy efficient upgrades to increase revenue by bettering working conditions, cutting operating costs, and increasing output. Linda Brinkman, ACE’s owner, substituted modern T-12 fluorescent lamps for her more antiquated T-8 fluorescent lamps, which were costing a small fortune. To improve heating efficiency, Brinkman used insulation with an insulating factor of R-9 in the walls and ceilings, as well as installing six high-efficiency gas furnaces. Overall, Brinkman spent between $12,000 and $13,000 on energy-efficient technology and she estimates that she is saving $5,800 dollars per year in energy costs. The best part is that Linda’s results have been more than simply financial. She has noticed a vast improvement in her ability to attract and retain employees due to improved working conditions.

The Doorstep Homeless Shelter

This Detroit shelter provides medical treatment, food, and housing for the mentally ill. Judy Bugaiski, Controller of the shelter, explained, “Nonprofit organizations must look into all operational expenses to save money without sacrificing the valuable services they provide to people in crisis.” Shelters like Bugaiski’s rely heavily on donations, so more the more money saved, the more money that can be channeled to the cause. So Bugaiski hired Environmental Contract Services (ECS), an energy savings performance contracting company. ECS identified several low-risk, high-return, energy-efficient upgrades for the shelter that allowed the shelter to save $11,200 per year.

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Lagniappe Banquet Hall

Dan Wilczynski, owner of the Lagniappe Banquet Hall, learned about efficiency and “right sizing” by visiting ENERGY STAR’s award-winning Web site. Wilczynski learned enough about sizing air-conditioners to allow him to know which contractors were “on the mark.” This foresight enabled the Lagniappe Banquet Hall to receive a proper upgrade that included lighting, insulation, ceiling fans, and a high efficiency A/C - economizer system. Wilczynski estimates saving $2,000 a year because of his efforts.

River Run Bed & Breakfast

Ron Williamson and his wife, Jean decided on a new building, that would have the look and flavor of early Texas architecture while being extremely energy efficient for their new business, River Run Bed & Breakfast. Williamson calculated it would cost only $2,300 more to build an energy-efficient bed and breakfast. Kerrville Public Utility kicked in a $900 rebate, cutting the cost $1,400. Williamson was able to incorporate a number of energy-efficient features from the beginning. In addition to installing all the most efficient lighting, the Williamsons installed insulation in all areas, wrapped the water heaters with insulation, installed high-efficiency heat pump units, programmable thermostats, and lastly, installed variable speed drives on air circulating fans. Williamson’s initial investment of $1,400 saves $2,400 a year and helps ensure that his guests return for another journey into the Texas of yesterday.

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Subway Sandwiches and Salads

Twenty thousand dollars is what franchise owner Steve Kaplan is saving since he installed energy-efficient lighting, heating, ventilating, air-conditioning, ceiling fans, and icemakers throughout his seven Subway locations. With these improvements he’s reduced his energy costs by 40 percent and made his restaurants more attractive and comfortable for customers. Kaplan credits his upgrade success partially to EPA’s impartial technical information. Kaplan makes his energy-efficient equipment upgrades where he will get a 3-year simple payback or better. Because Kaplan leases the space for all seven of his Subway franchises, he only upgrades when he plans to renew a lease that is at least three to five years in length, ensuring a 3-year payback.

Metropolitan Manufacturers Association

“Education of the employees was the most basic factor in the success of the program,” states Schuchman, Executive Director of Metropolitan Manufacturers Association. Beyond changing employee behavior, Schuchman upgraded lighting fixtures, set effective maintenance schedules, and added insulation. Schuchman estimates a reduction in overall costs by approximately 12-15 percent.

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Boulder Book Store

When Boulder Bookstore Owner David Bolduc moved his 7,000-sq-ft bookstore to a facility three times its size, the electricity bill only increased by one-third. Why? Because Bolduc implemented several energy efficiency measures into the design of the new space that now save him almost $2,000 annually. Bolduc upgraded lights, which he says, are a must for a retail establishment where product merchandising is important, low-emissivity (Low-E), super-insulated, double-paned windows, and an energy-efficient evaporative cooler. In addition to energy conservation, Bolduc also implemented water conservation measures by installing efficient toilets and aerators in faucets. Overall, Bolduc’s annual savings from these measures are $4,800.

Sycamore Plaza Partnership

Mark Von Wodtke and his partners know that “to optimize savings you must design energy efficient buildings from the ground up.” The Sycamore Plaza Office Building maximized building performance by implementing a plethora of energy efficiency measures, practices, and procedures. Its outstanding work includes the implementation of passive solar heating, natural cooling, active solar space heating, solar water heating, and an effective indoor daylight design. Sycamore Plaza saves an estimated $5,000 annually on its electric bill and prevents the release of 40,000 pounds of CO2 each year.

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Paras, LLC

Anil Aggarawal, President of PARAS, LLC was looking for both energy cost savings and an increased sense of comfort and well being for his tenants. To achieve these goals, Aggarawal retrofitted his entire building with energy efficient lighting, air conditioning, and motion sensors. The motion sensors were not popular with his tenants at first, so Aggarawal negotiated a deal to pass all associated cost savings on to the tenants. With these upgrades, PARAS saved an estimated $28,000 in electricity costs and had a total of $62,000 in savings.

Larry’s Markets

1999 Small Business AwardsSince 1990, Larry’s Markets, a five-store, Seattle-based grocery market chain, has practiced energy conservation measures providing a total savings in the six figures. Larry’s Markets completed lighting and HVAC upgrades plus much more. In addition to the traditional upgrades of T-12s to T-8s, skylights were installed, HVAC is controlled digitally, and all systems are remotely controlled. Although utilities located near the stores financed some of these upgrades through demand-side management programs, Larry’s Markets paid for the rest. One study estimates the total utility savings in one store will be near $750,000 for the years between 1990 and 2000. According to Environmental Director Brant Rogers, “One percent of my gross sales is spent on utility costs and my net profit is also one percent. By implementing energy upgrades that cut my utility costs by 20 percent I am essentially achieving a 20 percent increase in net profit.” Rogers would have to experience a $20 million increase in gross sales to match those savings.

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Centerplex

1999 Small Business AwardsThis 2-building, 26,500-sq.-ft. commercial office facility has benefited from installing energy-efficient lighting and controls, window films, insulated windows, programmable thermostats, insulating paneling, water-efficient toilet fixtures, and water-conscious landscaping. As a result of these changes, Owner Jonathan Pool has saved more than 50 percent on its electric bill annually. The energy cost savings have allowed the office complex’s owner, Jonathan Pool, to focus resources on maintaining the facility and continuing to seek energy-efficient ways to save money.