In partnership with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), the Small Business Development Center, is facilitating energy reviews for small business owners interested in improving energy efficiency for their operations and securing financing for implementation.

If you have a small business with an electric bill less than $75,000 per year, NYSERDA will perform an energy efficiency audit which covers lighting fixtures and bulbs, HVAC systems, sensors, controls, insulation, windows and other items. NYSERDA and the SBDC will work with businesses to:

* Implement energy efficiency projects
* Secure the financing to achieve energy efficiency or even to
build green buildings
* Evaluate other renewable energy sources such as solar and wind
* Improve environmental performance (being “greener”)
* Evaluate energy efficiency opportunities in all areas

Eligibility is open to small and medium-sized businesses, as well as industrial and commercial facilities. Participants must have less than $75,000 in annual electric bills that include a Systems Benefit Charge to be eligible. The SBDC will subsidize one half of the cost of the review for the first 100 clients of the program. For businesses with less than $25,000 in annual electric bills, the review fee is $100. For a business with annual electric bills between $25,000 and $75,000, the review fee is $400 (those amounts will be cut in half for the early participants). The review fee, collected by NYSERDA, will be refundable if the small business implements recommended measures that cost at least as much as the total fee.

Additionally, the New York State Business Development Corporation (NYBDC), which is supported by a consortium of 135 New York State banks, will work with businesses to secure project implementation financing through SBA 7A and other loan programs.

For more information and an application, call NYSERDA at 1-800-732-7232.