Being Energy Smart is Easy
Looking for ways for your employees to save energy? Have a tight budget? Find the answers below and learn more about how smart energy choices can pay off for your business, your community and all of us in Connecticut.
Q.
How can you help my restaurant?
A.
Restaurants are the most energy-intensive commercial sector, with food service facilities using three times more energy per square foot than most other types of commercial buildings. By installing energy-efficient or renewable-energy technologies, restaurants can reduce operating costs and increase net profits. With Energize Connecticut's help, your restaurant or commercial kitchen can take advantage of a number of energy efficiency and renewable energy programs. For example, we have rebate programs for Commercial HVAC, lighting, commercial kitchen equipment, natural gas infrared heaters, natural gas heating equipment, and natural gas water heating equipment. We also have full-service programs and financing for energy improvements. For more information, please visit our Food Service page.
Q.
What can small businesses do?
A.
Whether you own your building or are a tenant, you typically need lighting, heating, air conditioning and power for office equipment and other services to operate your business. Energy-saving improvements and equipment can reduce your operating costs and improve your bottom line. Your small businesses can take advantage of a number of energy efficiency and renewable energy programs. For example, we offer full-service energy efficiency programs like the Small Business Energy Advantage program and the Energy Opportunities program. We also have rebates available; incentives and technical support for new construction, major renovations and building additions; and financing for energy improvements. For more information, please visit our Small Business page.
Q.
How can I involve my employees in conserving energy?
A.
Employee involvement can strengthen your company's energy saving efforts. By offering ideas and tips to your employees, you can encourage energy-conscious decision-making and behaviors. Consider sharing with your employees the office's energy costs. Most employees have no idea what employers spend on electricity monthly or annually. This information can help employees to understand the impact of energy saving behaviors and to motivate them to help reduce costs. You might also consider appointing various individual employees to develop an energy management plan. To ensure the plan works across the organization, create an energy management team from different departments and have the members of that team report directly to the organization’s management. Energize Connecticut can also help you assess your commercial building or industrial facility to identify energy-saving opportunities through improved maintenance practices, equipment repairs and operational changes. To learn more, please visit our Operation and Maintenance program page.
Q.
Are there examples of businesses that have worked with Energize Connecticut?
A.
Visit our Small Business Energy Advantage page to learn about businesses that have worked with Energize Connecticut to make their operations more energy efficient and to generate clean, renewable power.
Q.
Do you have programs for schools?
A.
In a world of shrinking school budgets, we understand that every dollar counts. Investing in energy efficiency can deliver immediate savings that you can redirect to the classroom. Energize Connecticut can help you prioritize improvements and identify funding resources to make your energy efficiency and renewable energy projects affordable. We offer cash incentives, financing options, and full-service programs, including the Operations and Maintenance program, which can help you identify energy-saving process improvements. You may also be interested in learning about eeSmarts, an energy efficiency and clean, renewable education initiative for Connecticut’s Grade PreK-12 classrooms, and other learning opportunities that we sponsor, and the Energize CT Center, a part science museum, part hands-on activity center that hosts schools from across the state.
Q.
Our budget is tight, what can we do?
A.
We understand that many organizations operate on a tight budget. Our programs offer financial incentive strategies to help you offset the cost of purchasing and installing energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions. Find a Solution.
Q.
Are there ways for my organization to support renewable energy without investing in a solar system for our building?
A.
Yes. The CTCleanEnergyOptions program provides you with a way to support clean, renewable energy without the need to invest in a solar energy system for your building. This program lets you choose a clean energy product through your electric utility for a small surcharge on your electric bill. If you decide to participate, your organization will continue to receive service and billing from your current utility company, and your selected clean energy supplier will ensure that clean energy is delivered into the electric system in an amount matching your electricity usage. To learn more, please visit the CTCleanEnergyOptions page.