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Press Release – October 10, 2008Quick LinksPennsylvania Companies Claim Two of Ten National Small Business Energy Star Awards PHILADELPHIA, PA – This year, 10 Energy Star Awards were presented nationwide, two of which were in Pennsylvania. Both were clients of the Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers’ (SBDC) Environmental Management Assistance Program (EMAP), which provides small businesses in Pennsylvania with free regulatory, compliance and energy efficiency services. Energy Star, a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy, annually recognizes small businesses that are working to save energy and prevent pollution while serving as an example of financial and environmental stewardship. “Since our program started, we have helped hundreds of clients significantly improve their energy efficiency, reducing their energy costs while helping the environment,” EMAP Director Chris Lynch said. “Energy efficiency is the fastest-growing component of what we do. These two clients represent how broadly our services can help across the small business community.” Mickey Black, director of Pine Forest Camps, a family-run business located in Greely, Pa., was interested in bringing down the costs of the camp’s operations. Annual costs for electricity and propane were rising quickly, and he also felt they could be handling their water and food preparations more efficiently. Black worked with the University of Scranton SBDC and EMAP consultant Alison McKechie, who provided a full on-site energy audit, recommending efficiency improvements in lighting, water heating, pool heating and food refrigeration, and even a recycling program for cardboard boxes. Black has reported nearly $13,000 in savings in annual energy costs as a result of the first year of their energy efficiency program. According to Energy Star, the associated reduction in annual greenhouse gas emissions (CO2) is equivalent to the CO2 emissions from the electricity use of six homes. Black also reports they’ve also seen an unexpected benefit of the energy saving campaign: camp families and staff have expressed support and an ongoing increased awareness of energy saving issues. “We believe that some family's choice of Pine Forest Camp has been positively influenced by the energy efficiency program and it has increased business revenues,” Black said. The second awardee, Priority Communications in DuBois, Pa., is the home of NewsTalk Radio 1420 WCED. Talk show host Gary Stormer interviewed EMAP’s Heather Fennessey and Corry Riley of the Clarion University SBDC as guests on the show. After hearing about the energy efficiency opportunities for small businesses and the Energy Star Small Business website, Stormer requested an energy audit of the station’s building. Fennessey recommended simple changes in lighting and heating that owner Joe Philippone implemented, which have already resulted in an estimated $11,700 reduction in energy costs – the equivalent reduction in CO2 emissions of six homes. “Keeping energy costs as low as possible helps us remain competitive,” Philippone said. More about the Pennsylvania SBDCs and EMAP: Since its inception in 1980, the Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) has evolved into a network of 18 university-based centers and more than 100 outreach locations, operating under the guidance of the State Director located at the University of Pennsylvania. Funding support from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the U.S. Small Business Administration and the SBDC host institutions enables consulting services to be provided at no charge to the client. For more information on the Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers’ services and impact, visit www.pasbdc.org. More about Energy Star:
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