By Anne Hassler
Assistant Editor
anne.sentinel@gmail.com
Small business owners and farmers in McPherson County who would like to lower their energy bills may be interested to know that they can qualify for a grant from the USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP).
The McPherson Chamber of Commerce recently sponsored a workshop for members featuring energy expert Gary Hogsett, a consultant with USDA.
Hogsett shared his 20-plus years of experience in ways to save energy costs by using more efficient fixtures and new technology.
Among Hogsett’s recommendations are installing motion-sensored lights that shut off when no one is in the room, using light fixtures with dimmer switches and strategic reflective surfaces so they shed the most light into a room and using a tankless water heater.
Renewable energy such as wind turbines and solar panels take longer to realize a cost savings, but there are some exciting new technologies in renewable energy.
Using geo-thermal heating to heat a business or home is one way to cut energy bills. Daylight harvesting also uses new technology to capture sunlight in reflective dishes mounted on the roof and sending the light through fiber optics to fixtures in the building.
The grant program will cover 25 percent of the cost of energy improvements and the USDA will guarantee a loan for 50 percent of the project.
Doug Clary, who works for the USDA office in Newton, said funds from the government for the program are expected to double in 2009. The real challenge will be finding enough applicants to take advantage of the program. In 2008, 22 people applied for funds and 20 were approved in Kansas.
One of the first steps Clary recommends taking is to have a business’ energy plan assessed by an energy auditor like Hogsett or have an energy assessment done for smaller projects.
“A third-party’s opinion is needed for the grant,” Clary said.
Some of the criteria to qualify for the program include:
• A for-profit business. Schools, churches, government agencies and community centers are not eligible.
• Residential and home-based businesses do not qualify.
• Business must be in a rural area with a population less than 50,000.
• Business must meet the Small Business Administration’s criteria for a “small” business. The SBA’s guidelines can be viewed at www.sba.gov/service/contractingopportunities/sizestandardstopics/index.html.
• Applicants must demonstrate a financial need.
• The project must demonstrate it will save energy.
• Expected project costs must be greater than $6,000 and less than $1,000,000.
• Technologies for the project must be commercially available.
• Applicant must own the project. If the business is on leased land, the applicant must control the revenues and expenses for the life of the project.
For more information about the REAP grant program, contact Clary at (316) 283-0370 or Douglas.Clary@KS.USDA.GOV
McPherson, Kan. —
