The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has selected two Pennsylvania organizations to receive one of the 13 2008 Energy Star Awards for Small Businesses for cutting utility costs significantly and making energy efficiency improvements that help make our nation's air cleaner.

The organizations are: Pine Forest Camp of Greely, Pa and Priority Communications of DuBois, Pa.

Pine Forest Camp is a third-generation family-run business. “As a business devoted to children and young adults there is a special motivation to set a good example in energy efficiency,” says Mickey Black, grandson of the original founder.

"The Pine Forest Camp is demonstrating the environmental and financial rewards of going green. We hope that small businesses across the country will realize that getting the most from their energy dollars just makes sense," said Donald S. Welsh, mid-Atlantic EPA regional administrator.

Black's initial motivation for making changes was financial and was just “good business.” Pine Forest Camp saved nearly $13,000 in energy costs in the first year of its energy efficiency program. The camp's reductions of electricity and propane represent a reduction in annual greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to the CO2 emissions from electricity use of six homes.

To get advice, Pine Forest Camp contacted the Environmental Management Assistance Program of the Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers. EMAP is a no-cost, confidential service assisting small business with environmental compliance and environmental improvements.

There are centers statewide, Pine Forest worked with the center at the University of Scranton. As a result of its audit, in the 2007 camping season Pine Forest started with efficiency improvements in lighting, water heating, pool heating and food refrigeration.

“The goodwill generated by this campaign can not be overestimated,” Black adds.

So, in 2008 guided again by EMAP, the camp stepped up its energy savings efforts.

Pine Forest is one of 10 small businesses and three congregations to be recognized with the 2008 Energy Star Award for Small Business and Congregations.

Priority Communications was chosen because it cut its utility costs significantly and made energy efficiency improvements that help make our nation's air cleaner.

"Priority Communications is demonstrating the environmental and financial rewards of going green. We hope that small businesses across the country will realize that getting the most from their energy dollars just makes sense," said Donald S. Welsh, mid-Atlantic EPA regional administrator.

After hearing an interview about energy efficiency on one of its radio stations, the staff at WCED in DuBois decided to launch its own energy efficiency program that has saved it nearly $12,000 a year in energy costs. WCED is one of several stations run by Priority in Dubois and nearby Weirton, WVa.

WCED talk host Gary Stormer challenged his guests from the Clarion University Small Business Development Center to perform an energy efficiency assessment of station WCED's building.

Based on the assessment done by the SBDC Environmental Management Assistance Program, Joe Philippone, president of Priority Communications, was quick to begin making the changes recommended for the building envelope, lighting, and HVAC system. “Keeping energy costs as low as possible helps us remain competitive,” he says.

Following the EMAP recommendations, remaining incandescent bulbs were upgraded to compact fluorescent lights and a programmable thermostat was installed. The transition to energy-efficient 34 watt fluorescent bulbs also began. The success of the initial assessment led Philippone to ask for a more in-depth assessment which was performed in early 2007.

The 2007 assessment resulted in upgrading the boilers in the former old bank building. The boiler is expected to pay for itself in a little more than a year. The company is now also transitioning to T8 fluorescent lighting.

The upgrades have added up to real cost savings. The Clarion SBDC EMAP estimates that Priority Communications is saving $11,000 annually in fuel costs by reducing fuel oil demand by 4,050 gallons from the HVAC upgrades and $775 annually in electric costs by cutting back 9,200 kWh per year from the lighting upgrades alone.

In total, this represents a reduction in annual greenhouse gas emissions of over 52 tons, the equivalent of the CO2 emissions from the electricity use of more than six homes.

For more information, visit the 2008 Energy Star Awards for Small Businesses webpage and the 2008 Energy Star Congregations Award Winners.

9/19/2008