Energy is a top cost for small businesses, often ranking behind only labor and rent as a portion of annual expenses.

Energy efficiency means less money on utility bills and more for everything else. Recognizing this, the Small Business Energy Initiative provided local chambers of commerce and similar small business organizations across the U.S. with the necessary tools, knowledge, and guidance to help their members and communities make changes that are good for buildings, good for business, and good for the environment. The initiative was funded in part by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and built upon a two-year foundational partnership between Northeast Ohio’s Greater Cleveland Partnership/Council of Smaller Enterprises (GCP/COSE).

 

Watch more videos from our #SmallBizEnergy Changemaker Series.

About the Initiative

The Small Business Energy Initiative offered the following support to participating businesses:

  • Free building energy audits
  • Advice on energy management best practices & technology
  • Guidance on financing solutions
  • One-on-one consulting on green leasing and landlord-tenant collaboration

IMT’s Small Business Energy Initiative identified $4.5 million in potential energy savings by providing small businesses with free energy audits, and engaged more than 500 businesses in energy efficiency and sustainability activities to drive greater savings and performance. The resources developed through the initiative provide a robust and refined set of strategies that any chamber or small business association can adapt and deploy as part of its own energy efficiency program.

Learn more from chambers of commerce and associations that have successfully launched their own energy programs. Download our comprehensive Small Business Energy Initiative Action Guide and visit our Resource Library for a sample of resources currently available under the initiative.

 

 

Need more info? Get in touch!