Efficiency Maine offers to cut electricity cost for Caribou small businesses

    CARIBOU, Maine — “OK, Caribou, are you ready to reduce energy costs for your small business?”
This is the question Efficiency Maine is currently asking business owners in the Caribou area, who are looking to reduce or cut their energy costs.
Next week, Efficiency Maine is launching a special initiative to help Caribou’s business owners easily replace inefficient lighting in order to improve lighting quality and lower electricity costs. The high-efficiency replacement lights will significantly reduce electricity consumption and operating costs. For a limited time, Efficiency Maine is offering qualifying Caribou businesses incentives that cover 75 percent or more of project costs. Many businesses will see a payback in less than a year.
Earlier this year Efficiency Maine, in partnership with Maine Public Service and Bangor Hydro Electric Company, piloted this initiative in Presque Isle, East Machias, Machias, Machiasport, Jonesboro and Jonesport. Participants from the pilot program are averaging $100 a month in savings.
Pineo’s True Value Hardware in Machias was one of the first small businesses to sign on for the upgrades in the pilot. According to Steven Pineo, “They installed energy-efficient lights throughout the store, and they even disposed of all the old materials and paid for most of the project. We are already starting to see significant savings on our electricity bill each month. The lighting is very pleasant and bright throughout the entire store. I can’t speak highly enough about the way Efficiency Maine designed and executed this project. A huge success.”
The program is designed to reduce commercial customers’ utility costs by providing the opportunity to upgrade existing lighting to state-of-the-art, energy-efficient lighting — with incentives of up to 75 percent of the cost of the upgrade provided by Efficiency Maine. According to Rick Meinking, business program manager at Efficiency Maine, “Small businesses have significant efficiency opportunities, but the scale and cost of individual projects prevent some small businesses from upgrading lighting or other equipment. By focusing the program in a specific geographic region, Efficiency Maine is able to reduce administrative costs and pass those savings along to small business owners.”
Efficiency Maine will also be rolling out this initiative to small businesses located in Van Buren, Fort Kent and Madawaska.
Efficiency Maine is the independent administrator for energy efficiency programs in Maine. Efficiency Maine’s mission is to lower the cost and environmental impacts of energy in Maine by promoting cost-effective energy efficiency and alternative energy systems. Efficiency Maine does this primarily by delivering rebates on the purchase of high-efficiency lights and equipment to help customers save electricity, natural gas and heating fuels.
Efficiency Maine’s Business Program offers fixed or “prescriptive incentives” to reduce the cost of projects that help a business use energy more efficiently, from LEDs to HVAC to agricultural equipment. Eligible organizations (including businesses, municipalities, schools and other non-residential facilities) may be eligible for efficiency incentives.
Prescriptive Incentives are available for equipment that generates consistent energy savings over a wide range of applications, including: 1) Lighting/LED projects ranging from LED exit signs to high-efficiency outdoor lighting to refrigerated case fixtures to occupancy sensors. Incentives range between $18 and $175 per fixture. 2) Ductless mini-split heat pumps with equipment sizes ranging from 9,000 to 18,000 BTUs. Incentives are $1,000 per unit. 3) HVAC equipment projects including air conditioning systems, water source heat pump systems and demand control ventilation. Incentive amounts range from $75 to $200 per ton or unit. 4) Variable-speed drive projects ranging from variable air volume for air handlers to variable speed drives for chilled water distribution pumps. Incentives from $1,000 to $2,200 per unit. 5) Commercial refrigeration projects including ice makers, scroll compressors, and zero-energy freezer doors. Incentives range from $20 to $750 per unit. 6) Compressed air system projects ranging from air compressors to high-efficiency dryers to air-entraining nozzles. Incentives range from $10 to $1,600 per unit. 7) Agricultural equipment projects ranging from compressors to ventilation fans to vacuum pumps. Incentives amounts from $35 to $6,000.
Cash incentives from the Efficiency Maine Business Program are just one reason to upgrade the efficiency of lighting an industrial facility. Technological advancements and lighting design techniques provide a range of options for lighting in industrial settings. Long-standing lighting methods, such as daylighting, combined with modern technology, can improve productivity, security and safety, quality control and energy efficiency.
Businesses can now work with any of Efficiency Maine’s Qualified Partners to install energy-efficient equipment. A qualified partner will be able to provide program guidelines and eligibility requirements. Qualified partners in Caribou include Aroostook County Electric Supply, Gagnon and Sons Electric and R.L. Todd and Son. All three of these qualified partners can be consulted for assistance on any of Efficiency Maine’s program offers.
Businesses interested in lowering their energy costs are invited to join Efficiency Maine and the Caribou Chamber of Commerce for an informational event Wednesday, Sept. 10 at 5 p.m. at the Caribou Inn and Convention Center. Qualifying businesses can also call Efficiency Maine at 866-376-2463 to schedule a free, no-obligation lighting energy assessment.