Energy Grant Filed With WMECO

Study Hopes to Help Drive Sustainability in SFABA Businesses

(9/1/09) The SFABA has filed a grant application with the Western Mass Electric Company to pilot a sustainability assessment and planning services project for SFABA members. If successful, the grant funds will be used to partner with Environmental Compliance Services, Inc (ECS) to evaluate business and energy practices, the cost associated with those practices, and their carbon footprint. The ultimate goal of the grant is help members plan for and develop sustainable businesses by finding ways to reduce operating costs and increase profitability. The grant targets businesses in the SFABA service area.

The funds will be used to pilot a sustainability assessment and planning service for SFABA members.  Six diverse businesses (retail, restaurant, manufacturing, service provider, and government) will be selected to work collaboratively with Environmental Compliance Services. The cost for the study of each business is approximately $1500 and the SFABA will receive additional funds for administering the grant.

Outputs include a better understanding of energy saving opportunities that may be funded in the future through WMECO's C&LM programs, identification of opportunities to reduce waste streams through recycling, reduction, and reuse, process improvements, and environmentally preferred purchasing.  ECS will also investigate renewable energy opportunities and provide each business a greenhouse gas assessment using The Climate Registry's General Reporting Protocol.  Each business will receive a baseline of current operations and will be able to establish metrics for improving/reducing their operating costs associated with energy consumption, waste disposal, and purchasing. Each business will receive a report detailing the findings of the baseline audit as well as recommendations for moving in a more sustainable direction as it relates to energy consumption, waste reduction, and environmentally friendly purchasing opportunities.

The SFABA will share study information with members about techniques that can be implemented to reduce their carbon footprint, to encourage and assist other businesses to implement changes to make them more sustainable.