Note: era is now providing complimentary Small Business Program Qualification Checks for all PEPCO-territory businesses. To see if your business qualifies for special Small Business Program incentives and financing from local utility incentive programs, simply click the link below and email us your 12-digit account number or a copy of your bill. Have questions? Please contact us any time.
Make no mistake, US "small" businesses aren't small on impact: It's no secret that they are the lifeblood of our society--our 30-million+ American small businesses employ nearly 50% of the workforce in the US, and many successfully fight far above their weight classes, taking on Fortune 500 (even Fortune 50) companies on a daily basis. They represent an entrepreneurial spirit that is so deep-rooted in our culture that "small business success" has become synonymous with "the American Dream", and with their intelligence and agility they can take on operational and go-to-market strategies that the "big boys/girls" haven't even dreamed of.
As a deep-rooted local business ourselves, era wants to do our part by raising awareness of the special programs which are available only to these important contributors to our local economy. Thank you to our local small businesses for all that you do.
Most major businesses have realized that having an energy strategy is good for not only their brand, but also their bottom line. By leveraging the numerous available incentives, grant programs, and funding tools that are available to small businesses, you can develop a Master Energy Strategy just like the Big Girls/Boys or—better yet—one that puts theirs to shame.
Controlling Operating Costs through Efficiency
Any small business owner knows that "a dollar saved is a dollar earned" and that every dollar counts. Small business owners often focus their efforts on controlling payroll, shrink, cost-of-goods-sold and other important factors affecting their businesses' bottom line, but operating expenses don't stop there. As most small businesses are on Triple-Net Leases (in which they are responsible for the energy consumption, operation, maintenance, and repair of their business spaces), controlling Repair, Operation, and Maintenance (ROM) Costs are just as important as effective staff scheduling & training. For many small businesses, ROM+energy costs may represent the largest controllable operating expense outside of payroll.
Energy Consumption by End Use
Energy Strategy doesn't just mean saving energy, it can also mean...
- Reducing the cost of the energy you consume (no matter how much you use)
- Replacing outdated mechanical equipment to not only save money on difficult-to-plan-for repairs, but also prevent costly down-time to your business
- Incorporating energy & sustainability strategies into marketing and social responsibility campaigns that will drive like-minded consumers to your business
- Training and engaging with employees for better retention and morale
Small Business/Building Grants & Energy Incentives
Large businesses and buildings are always trying to find ways to stay just small enough that they can leverage local small business incentives (and there is good reason why). Small Building Energy Efficiency Incentives from local utility providers are typically double those for large buildings (or more) and in this definition "small" doesn't have to mean "tiny". Look at your last electricity bill for a line that says "kW" (not kWh). If it isn't preceded by a number greater than 60, then you very likely qualify (especially if it is from a high-demand month like July or August). Even if your demand does exceed 60kW, there are a multitude of other options out there for smart entrepreneurs and building operators looking to make the most of the available funding.
Is your business in the PEPCO service territory and you want to find out if you qualify the easy way? Send us an email with your 12-digit account number or a copy of your bill and we'll let you know.
The above information is for all buildings (not just Small Buildings/Businesses). Incentive availability and Payback Periods for most small businesses will be equal to or better than those shown.
Incentives can cover anything from basic maintenance (if you have reason to believe that your equipment has been neglected for some time) to major upgrades, including but not limited to...
- Equipment and Small Building Check-Up & Tune-Up
- Lighting Retrofits / Replacement
- Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Upgrades / Replacement
- Energy Efficient Controls for lighting, HVAC, and more
- Renewable (or "Distributed") Energy Systems like solar, microgeneration, and more.
- Commercial Kitchen & Refrigeration Equipment Upgrades
- ...and many more
For more information, Google your Utility Company's Name and "Small Business Energy Efficiency Incentives" or—if you are local to the Washington-Baltimore Region—reach out to era for more detail.
Know your Financial Options
With the right financial strategy, upgrades like those listed above can be leveraged and turned from medium-to-long-term-return capital expenses to Day 1 cash flow. Not only that, but many infrastructural upgrades can generate major tax incentives for your business through early depreciation, energy efficiency tax credits, and even local property tax benefits in some areas.
Look into local options such as On-Bill Financing, Green Banks, Property-Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Financing, Lease Purchasing, Power Purchase Agreements (PPA), Shared Savings Agreements (SSA), Conventional Financing, and more to determine which (if any) is the best fit for your business.
How to Get Started
Talk to other local business owners or speak to your local utility program provider for references to find a contractor/consultant you can trust to build your Energy Strategy like a pro. Small business has its benefits and many of these professionals will help you to merge your agility with numerous energy strategies to leave the "big boys/girls" in the dust.
Any questions? Please feel free to contact our era building solutions team to learn more about effective energy strategies for your business.