We continue to see mixed signals around the country for energy efficiency adoption. Traditional early adopters like California, Massachusetts, and Vermont continue to lead the country in progress. They have programs to support consumers and have built a culture to promote efficiency as not just an environmental program, but a way of doing business. Businesses have increasingly become focused on “doing more with less”…and well that is the bedrock for energy efficiency: deliver a desired or more favorable outcome with less energy consumed. Governor John Kasich along with Lt. Governor Mary Taylor have declared October to be Energy Efficiency Month in Ohio.
A few Ohio examples of efficiency in action:
- Ohio IPL uses the Energy Stewards(TM) program challenges and encourages faith communities in Ohio to focus on efficiency as one layer of their mission.
- The City of Bowling Green has a green revolving loan fund which enables businesses to use a low interest loan to pay for part of efficiency retrofits.
- American Municipal Power’s Efficiency Smart program encourages municipal consumers to think of efficiency as an investment in their business and offers rebates and incentives to do so.
- Athens County-based Upgrade Ohio is connecting consumers in Appalachia with resources and programs to further Ohio’s adoption of clean energy including efficiency as part of that portfolio.
- Columbia Gas of Ohio is one of a number of Ohio public utilities which has a commercial energy efficiency program and uses their Innovative Energy Solutions program to support consumers with efficiency retrofits.
What do YOU need to do to become more efficient?
Think about problems you have within or around your building. A lot of the time energy efficiency retrofits not only lower energy use and operating costs, but they make the space brighter, more comfortable, or improve the safety. Energy efficiency is doing more with less.