With the abundance of databases to search, eligibility requirements to meet, and forms to fill out, applying for government programs can be complicated and time consuming. But when it comes to government programs for energy efficient products, getting into the green swing of things might be a little less complicated than it appears.
This summer President Barack Obama has invested $346 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) into expanding and accelerating the use of energy efficient technologies in commercial buildings as well as new and existing homes.
Joining the green revolution will not only help small businesses access those investments, but it can also help them generate positive publicity, improve employee morale, and differentiate the company’s products or services from its competitors.
There are many government programs that help businesses go green, but we’ve sifted through the “green tape†and found four programs that will put your sustainable practices in gear.
Join the Green Power Partnership
The ARRA alone included more than $60 billion in clean energy investments. When a company joins the Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Power Partnership it agrees to purchase a certain percentage of its energy needs through green power alternatives.
By buying renewable energy such as wind, geothermal, hydroelectric, and solar energy instead of traditional power, a company can reduce its environmental impact. Although green power may cost more than standard power sources, it is not subject to fuel instability and the accompanying rise and fall of prices.
Businesses can purchase green power by installing renewable systems such as solar panels; purchasing green-powered products from a utility company; or buying renewable energy certificates.
“A lot of people install [on-site renewable energy systems] because they want to have more control over their energy costs and bills,†says Maria Vargas, a spokesperson for the EPA.
For more information, visit The Guide to Purchasing Green Power at EPA.gov.
Add the Energy Star Label to Your Product
Customers consider products with the Energy Star label to be more
energy-efficient than other products and also more cost-effective. Companies can apply to have their merchandise qualify in more than 60 categories for residential and commercial use. Unlike some other energy-efficiency rating systems, adding the Energy Star label to your product is completely free.The labeling process differs from product to product. To begin, first review the specification requirements for the item you manufacture. If it meets the eligibility criteria, then send in a completed Energy Star partnership agreement and commitment form. For more specific information about the process of becoming an Energy Star partner visit the Energy Star Manufacturer’s Resource Page.
Buy Energy-Efficient Products in Bulk
If you are a member of the Quantity Quotes program through the U.S. Department of Energy you can begin buying Energy Star labeled products in bulk. Purchasing items such as light bulbs, light fixtures, refrigerators, and room air conditioners in bulk will help ensure that businesses meet their energy-efficiency goals, help reduce utility costs, and could possibly provide a cost savings over purchasing the items from retail stores.
This program could be especially beneficial for construction companies or firms that do home and business remodeling. Although some of the products are more expensive, such as florescent and LED lighting fixtures, each fixture can save $70 each year in energy costs. Qualified commercial lighting products use at least 75% less energy and last 35 times longer than incandescent lighting. Other Energy Star products provide similar cost savings.
Supply Energy-Efficient Products to Federal Agencies.
Federal agencies spend at least $10 billion per year on purchases of energy-using products, according to a Department of Energy report. They are buying everything from computers and other office equipment to lighting fixtures and commercial food service equipment. There are several ways that small businesses can get in on this action.
The General Services Administration’s Schedules Program connects businesses with government agencies that want to procure energy-efficient products. “If you make energy star qualified products then…you can get on a GSA schedule,†says Vargas.
The GSA will allow vendors to list their offerings on GSA Advantage, which publishes “Your Guide for How to Market to the Federal Government.†Finally, check each federal agency’s Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization where one can find information about purchasing programs for small businesses.RESOURCES
The Business Partner Network: A central source of vendor data for the federal government. Businesses can register, update their profile, and provide hyperlinks to their Websites from this database.
Federal Energy Management Program: A program of the U.S Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy that helps federal agencies meet energy goals.
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory: The nation’s primary laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development. This link provides information about technologies that are commercially available for small businesses.
Defense Logistics Agency-Business Systems Modernization: Businesses should register with the DLA-BSM, a Web-based application that allows entrepreneurs to search for, view, and submit secure proposals to government agencies.