By Sally Huggins

Recent attention on the environment combined with high energy costs are driving companies to look for ways to save money and be good citizens. For manufacturing companies, it can be as simple as changing lighting or participating in energy conservation by rescheduling the production line to the evening on a very hot day or turning some pumps or motors off.

A resource for companies who want to start by tackling electricity costs is the KCP&L commercial and industrial energy efficiency program.  The program is designed to help companies save on their electric bills and to help the utility have sufficient resources to meet the demand for electricity during peak summer days.

A major element of the program is the energy audit, which provides companies with a comprehensive analysis of their building energy use and recommendations on ways to reduce energy costs and to improve energy efficiency. The audit usually considers motors, lighting, heating and air conditioning, water heating and refrigeration. KCP&L offers a rebate of up to 50 percent of the cost of the audit if at least one of the recommendations that qualify for equipment rebates is implemented.

An auditor certified by KCP&L must perform the audit, and a copy of the report must be submitted to qualify for the audit rebate. A list of certified auditors is available on the KCP&L Web site at www.kcpl.com (choose "Energy Efficiency" under "My Business"). If your auditor is not on the list, they can call and get certified by the utility. For customers with facilities up to 25,000 square feet, the rebate can be up to $300. For larger facilities, it can be up to $500.

An online Business Energy Analyzer is available to give companies with smaller office or retail space an idea of how they are using energy and where they can save. The analyzer is a Web-based program through which a company can do a self-analysis of where energy is being used. After signing up and entering account information, a company's usage is downloaded into the computer system that does the analysis. The energy analyzer will make general recommendations based on the size of the facility and the type of business, weather patterns for the area and comparisons to similar businesses in the area. Based on the analysis, a company can make changes to use less energy. Even turning computers off at night can produce energy savings.

Equipment Rebates Add to Energy Savings
In addition to the savings in energy used, rebates are available from KCP&L for a variety of common energy savings technologies for both new construction and retrofitting existing facilities. The rebates for qualified equipment are intended to allow the business owner to be paid back the cost of the equipment within two years.

By changing light fixtures, a company can receive rebates varying from $20 to $30 per fixture. Fluorescent linear lighting is found in most commercial facilities, particularly in offices and retail facilities. By replacing the older T12 bulbs with four-foot 32-watt T8 bulbs combined with an electronic ballast that exceeds performance levels of the standard T8 system, a facility can qualify for the rebates.

A prime recommendation for a small office using incandescent bulbs is to switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs. The switch can bring energy savings of 60 to 75 percent over incandescent bulbs. And because the bulbs don't put out as much heat, cooling costs can also be reduced. Manufacturers are increasing available styles for the new bulbs, so bulbs for most uses are now available.

The newer bulbs, while more expensive to purchase, last 10 times longer. In the long run, compact fluorescent bulbs are cheaper and reduce the amount of time spent changing bulbs. For companies with high ceiling areas where lights are difficult to change, the cost of labor to change the bulbs can be a real savings.

Rebates also are available for occupancy sensors, either switch replacements or remote/ceiling mounted units that use ultrasonic or passive infrared technology to turn lights off when an area is unoccupied.

Efficiency measures that do not qualify under the regular rebate program may be submitted to the Custom Rebate Program. The equipment will be analyzed to determine how much energy it saves. Then if it qualifies, the cost of the equipment and the annual cost savings will be taken into account to determine the rebate amount.

Federal air-conditioning system standards were upgraded last year. For a company with an older system, the cost of the new system can be rapidly returned through rebates and the lower cost of running the air-conditioning. A newer system can be twice as efficient to run.

Demand Response Program
Another means of saving on energy bills can also make a company some money. The MPower program allows companies, with the help of KCP&L representatives, to determine areas where they can reduce usage during peak demand times. For a manufacturing plant, it could be rescheduling the production line to the evening on a very hot day or turning some pumps or motors off. In a retail store, a company could turn off a third of their lights and set the thermostat up a few degrees.

By participating in the program, companies receive a payment at the beginning of the season as an incentive. Then during the summer, each time they implement their curtailment plan when asked, they receive an additional payment. If during the summer, KCP&L doesn't request any power down, the companies still have the enrollment payment. The savings can amount to several thousand dollars over the summer months, according to KCP&L officials. MPower is currently available to mid-sized and large companies, but a program for small companies will be available this summer.

Energy Star Program
Another means of saving energy is through purchase of products carrying the Energy Star designation. The Energy Star label can be found on all kinds of thermostats, lighting systems, appliances and office equipment.

The voluntary labeling program was begun in 1992 by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency, and is designed to identify and promote energy-efficient products. Some of the first labeled products were computers and monitors. Products with the label use up to 50 percent less energy, while providing the same performance at the same price as less-efficient models. Less energy means you pay less on your energy bill.

Your efforts to reduce power consumption can have financial rewards for your company and environmental rewards for our community.

Sally Huggins is the managing editor of Kansas City Small Business Monthly magazine.