A new initiative announced Wednesday by the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce appears to be a "smart" means of assisting Main Street Minnesotans in saving money.
Energy Smart is described in a Wednesday press release as "a statewide initiative designed to help businesses save money by taking advantage of conservation programs and increasing energy efficiency in their buildings and operations." The initiative will be operated by Minnesota Waste Wise, an affiliate program of the Minnesota Chamber.
Energy Smart will hook up businesses with Conservation Improvement Programs (CIPs) offered by the state's utilities and other resources, the press release added. As a result, a company's energy usage, options for efficiency upgrades, potential cost savings and available financial incentives can be analyzed.
While investing in new, energy efficient technology may carry some up-front cost, Energy Smart boasts that "rebates, grants and low-interest loans are available from utility programs if a business implements certain energy efficient upgrades." Plus, of course, conserving energy saves money down the road when it comes to paying the bills.
At a time when the economic picture is murky at best, a program such as this appears to be a winner for businesses -- and, in turn, a winner for consumers.
