Energy Efficiency Help for Central PA Settlement, LLC Leads to Recognition as one of Just Eight Nationwide Winners of 2007 ENERGY STAR Small Business Awards

BEDFORD (September 28) – While others have just recently started to get concerned about rising energy costs, Tom and Linda Bullington are already reaping the benefits of their aggressive efforts to reduce energy consumption at their small business, Central PA Settlement, LLC. The Bullington’s efforts have reduced their annual gas bill by over two-thirds, or $6,200, and they are preventing the release of over 19 tons of carbon dioxide emissions to the atmosphere each year.

As winners of a the US Environmental Protection Agency 2007 ENERGY STAR award, the Bullingtons join a growing list of Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) clients recognized for financial and environmental stewardship. In just the past two years, clients of the Pennsylvania SBDC Environmental Management Assistance Program (EMAP) have been awarded seven national ENERGY STAR Small Business Awards and two state Governor’s Awards for Environmental Excellence.

“With the help of EMAP’s statewide network of environmental consultants, small businesses in Pennsylvania are demonstrating that smart environmental strategies are not only beneficial to the environment, but also to their bottom line,” said Gregory L. Higgins, Jr., state director of the Pennsylvania SBDC.

The Bullingtons’ efforts began in 2003 when they purchased an old building in the small town of Bedford, PA, and started operating three real estate-related businesses on the first floor and leasing six apartments on the second floor. Once settled in, they quickly realized they needed to improve the building’s energy efficiency and a comprehensive plan was set into motion.

First, they replaced all 70 windows with Low-E energy efficient models and increased insulation in the attic to R38. These steps, however, were not enough; the main energy drain on their energy bills was an old boiler that was only 50-55 percent efficient. The situation was so bad that in the winter the first floor occupants had to run the air conditioning to fight against the excessive heat coming through the floors from the leaky boiler below.

Confronted with a confusing array of estimates and recommendations, the Bullingtons turned to EMAP at the Small Business Development Center at Saint Francis University for help.

The consultant, Heather Fennessey, worked with the Bullingtons to recommend upgrading to an ENERGY STAR-rated boiler with an efficiency rating of 87 percent. EMAP also helped the Bullingtons obtain a 50 percent cost share on the new boiler through the Small Business Advantage Grant program administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. With the state cost-share, the Bullingtons were able to realize an 8 month simple payback on their investment in the new boiler and they can now keep the air conditioning turned off in the winter.

“More and more Americans are realizing that getting the most out of their energy dollars just makes sense,” said US EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson, who announced the 2007 ENERGY STAR Small Business Award to Central PA Settlement, LLC in recognition of their accomplishments.

Johnson also recognized the Pennsylvania SBDC Environmental Management Assistance Program as one of just three nationwide winners of a 2007 ENERGY STAR Small Business Network Special Award.

More about the Pennsylvania SBDCs and EMAP

The Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers’ Environmental Management Assistance Program assists firms with identifying environmental regulatory compliance requirements and supports the development of companies with new energy and environmental technologies. One-on-one consulting is available to help prepare and review proposals, find new commercial markets, identify potential sources of funding, and find potential project partners. Visit www.askemap.org for more information on how businesses can start saving money and contribute to a cleaner environment.

Since its inception in 1980, the Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) has evolved into a network of 18 college- and university-based centers and more than 90 outreach locations, operating under the guidance of the State Director located at the University of Pennsylvania. The SBDCs play a unique and vital role in the Commonwealth’s economic development initiatives as the only organization that, in utilizing the expertise and resources of some of the best colleges and universities in the state, assists entrepreneurs in all stages of business and all industry sectors. Funding support from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the US Small Business Administration and the SBDC host institutions enables consulting services to be provided at no charge to the client. For more information on the Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers’ services and impact, visit www.pasbdc.org.

ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the US Environmental Protection Agency and the US Department of Energy designed to save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices.

Printable version available for download.

Contact:

Michele Romolini
(215) 573-2767