The Department of Environmental Protection will provide a free workshop in Chester County to help business owners find ways to reduce soaring energy costs on May 6 in Malvern.

The workshop will be held from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., at the Penn State - Great Valley Campus, 30 E. Swedesford Road, Malvern.

Although open to the public and businesses of all sizes, the workshops will focus on small- and medium-sized businesses—or those with fewer than 100 employees. Typically, these companies do not have the resources to employ or retain an energy management expert.

Business owners will receive information on energy-supply options, and learn how to identify energy-saving opportunities and develop an energy action plan.

The workshop will also offer attendees information on financial and technical resources that are available for energy-efficiency upgrades, including easily implemented, cost-effective changes for manufacturing facilities.

Registration for the workshops is free, and the session is open to the public.  Similar workshops are being held statewide this spring.

The workshop is sponsored by DEP’s Office of the Small Business Ombudsman in partnership with the Electrotechnology Application Center, the Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program and the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia. Funding for the Energy Management Workshop is provided through a U.S. Department of Energy grant.

DEP’s Office of the Small Business Ombudsman provides assistance to small businesses needing help with environmental issues and helps owners realize the potential cost savings of pollution-prevention and energy-conservation strategies.

For more information or to request a registration form, contact DEP at 717-783-8411 or visit the Ombudsman’s Events webpage.

5/2/2008