Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility launches 'Business Energy Action'

Today, Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR) launched its new program, “Business Energy Action,” a challenge that will help Vermont businesses reduce their energy usage and costs, while promoting the benefits of sustainability.

The goal of the Business Energy Action challenge is for participating businesses to reduce their energy consumption by 5% annually for 3 years. In order to do this, BEA has teamed up with Efficiency Vermont, Burlington Electric Department, and Vermont Gas Systems to provide participants with extensive efficiency resources. Efficiency Vermont is Vermont’s statewide energy efficiency utility, and Burlington Electric and Vermont Gas regularly provide efficiency services to their clients. These efforts have helped many Vermont businesses and homes realize significant reductions in their energy usage and lower their energy bills.

Business Energy Action is designed to help participating businesses support the triple bottom line: people, profit, and planet. This is because energy efficiency investments yield a range of benefits.  In addition to reducing energy costs, they also reduce carbon dioxide emissions, and can help businesses provide a better environment for their employees and customers through improved lighting and air quality.

Business Energy Action is made possible through the support of Senator Patrick Leahy and Senator Bernie Sanders with funding obtained from the United States Small Business Administration and Department of Energy.

Andrea Cohen, Executive Director of VBSR, remarked “We are very grateful for the support that Senator Leahy and Senator Sanders have shown to this effort, and for all the great work they do in support of our state’s businesses and the environment.” She said, “I think the nature of the challenge is well suited to the Vermont business climate, and is strengthened by the great opportunities that Efficiency Vermont, BED, and Vermont Gas bring to the table in partnering with us.”

“Efficiency Vermont is really pleased to be working with VBSR in promoting the many benefits that energy efficiency offers to our state’s businesses,” said Jim Merriam, Director of Efficiency Vermont. “There is no question that energy efficiency is a solid investment that is good for the bottom line - but Business Energy Action will take it a step further, by working to engage companies that also want to show their commitment to the environment and social responsibility.”

Burlington Electric Department’s General Manager Barbara Grimes said, “BED is happy to be participating in this program to help Burlington businesses reduce their energy usage. Because of the successful efficiency programs that BED has been running since 1990, Burlington as a whole used 4.7 percent less electricity in 2011 than it did in 1989. Efficiency is far and away the least expensive way to meet our customers’ energy needs.”

All Vermont businesses, not only VBSR members, are invited and encouraged to join the Business Energy Action challenge.

Business Energy Action is open for enrollment as of September 21st, 2012. Enrollment will remain open until late November. Interested parties should visit www.vtbizenergy.org 

VBSR Burlington, VT, 9/21/12