2005

FOR RELEASE: February 7, 2005
CONTACT: Peter Sigurdson, NYSERDA
                (716) 842-1522 ext. 3006; phs@nyserda.or

Small Businesses Can Benefit From Low-Cost Energy Audit Program Through NYSERDA

Clarence, NY - A local small business owner and property developer has taken advantage of an inexpensive energy audit program offered through the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to evaluate potential energy-saving upgrades at his existing business as well as a building that is being redeveloped.

Local independent insurance agent Joseph M. Floss, president of the Floss Insurance Agency and President of JMF Properties, LLC, said he utilized the New York Energy $mart^SM Energy Audit Program to "assess areas where energy could be saved" at his family insurance business located on Transit Road, as well at property that is being redeveloped into commercial office space on Main Street.  Both properties are located in the Town of Clarence.

"I am a big believer in operating a business as efficiently as possible, and one of the areas that I identified as a potential for savings was my electric bill," Floss said.  "When I learned about NYSERDA's Energy Audit Program and how affordable the audits were to undertake, it was a no-brainer.  I had both buildings assessed for potential energy savings and have begun implementing the suggestions."

The Energy Audit Program provides low-cost energy audits for small businesses, industrial and commercial facilities, colleges and universities, not-for-profits, private institutions and other facilities to help them make informed decisions related to electricity consumption and to recommend energy-efficiency improvements that could yield electric savings. Businesses and facilities must have less than $100,000 in annual electric bills and pay into the System Benefits Charge to be eligible.

"The Energy Audit Program was specifically designed to encourage small business owners and other institutions to seek an analysis of their electric consumption.  By lowering the cost of the audits and providing a pre-selected energy service company, NYSERDA hoped to take the guess work and apprehension out of undertaking an energy audit," said NYSERDA President Peter R. Smith.

Audit costs vary, depending on the customer's annual electricity bills and range from $200, $400 and $600.  C.J. Brown Energy of Cheektowaga was selected through a competitive bidding process by NYSERDA to administer the program in the Western New York area.

The energy audits identified and recommended a number of energy-saving measures, the cost to implement the measures, and the predicted simple payback period for deciding to undertake the improvements.

In Floss' case, the measures included installation of compact fluorescent lamps, reducing the night temperature set point on his HVAC systems, retrofitting fluorescent fixtures with T-8 lamps and reflectors, installing LED exit signs, weather stripping entrance doors and replacing mercury vapor fixtures with high-pressure sodium lamps.

Measures recommended for his insurance business were estimated to cost $5,237, yielding a $2,756 annual savings with a 1.9-year simple payback. Similar savings were identified at the Main Street building.

"The Energy Audit Program was extremely simple to use.  I completed a one-page application, faxed it in to C.J. Brown and had my audits completed within a week or so.  It certainly was money well spent," Floss added.

Funding for the Energy Audit Program and other NYSERDA incentives are provided through the New York Energy $mart^SM program, which lowers electricity costs by encouraging energy efficiency as the State's electric utilities move to competition. The programs are available to all electric distribution customers (residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial) of Central Hudson, Con Edison, NYSEG, Niagara Mohawk, Orange and Rockland, and Rochester Gas and Electric.

New York Energy $mart^SM programs are funded by a System Benefits Charge (SBC) paid by electric distribution customers of participating utilities. NYSERDA, a public benefit corporation established by law in 1975, administers SBC funds and programs under an agreement with the Public Service Commission.

Additional information about these and other energy-saving programs is available online at www.nyserda.org or www.getenergysmart.org, or toll-free at 1-866-NYSERDA.

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