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Energy program helps reduce greenhouse gases

BY JOHN D. HOMAN, THE SOUTHERN

Sunday, June 10, 2007 7:22 AM CDT

CARBONDALE - Haresh Thakkar with GMC Construction Group in Carbondale said the state's Small Business Smart Energy Program should definitely be an asset to his company.

The program, which is a partnership between the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and the School of Architecture at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, has already reached more than 650 small businesses in the state and has helped cut greenhouse gas pollutants, while creating new jobs and helping small businesses stay competitive.

As part of the SBSE program, the Smart Energy Design Assistance Center (SEDAC) at UIUC offers Illinois businesses no-cost energy audits, economic feasibility analyses and whole-building design assistance for new and existing structures to lower their energy costs. These improvements make the businesses more profitable and competitive.

"With rising utility costs, we must continue to step up to help small businesses lower their energy bills and implement effective green solutions," said Gov. Rod Blagojevich. "Many energy efficiency improvements are incredibly cost-effective, but businesses frequently are unaware of their opportunities in choosing an efficient and sustainable design."

Blagojevich said more small businesses across the state should take advantage of this program, which works to save money, protect the environment and create more jobs.

Thakkar said the GMC Construction Group has analyzed the energy savings and concurs that the company can save money through the SBSE program.

"It's been a benefit to us so far as we are working on a 20,000-square-foot federal building in Benton," Thakkar said. "It helps the customer and us build a more efficient building."

Thakkar said the SBSE program should also prove valuable in future projects in O'Fallon and Morganfield, Ky.

Commercial buildings are responsible for about 20 percent of the greenhouse gas emissions in Illinois. The SBSE program typically finds cost-effective energy efficiency investments for commercial buildings that reduce energy consumption in the range of 13 to 85 percent. To date, the program has identified combined annual savings of more than $4.5 million.

These savings translate into an average 28 percent rate of return for the recommended investments in energy conservation, or more than $22 million over the next 20 years. Technical assistance is provided for free, while business owners work with contractors for implementation of the recommended measures.

For more information and application material for the Small Business $mart Energy program, please visit www.sedac.org or call toll free at 1-800-214-7954. SEDAC will identify energy cost reduction measures and can help identify sources for grants, loans and other incentives, as well as equipment, vendors and contractors.

john.homan@thesouthern.com

351-5805