Cities and towns throughout the state are struggling with a budget squeeze like never before. But the Main Street Efficiency Initiative (MSEI) from the Governor’s Energy Office is one program that offers a roadmap to savings still available for many communities.

Updated by Staff

MSEI works at the community level to help small businesses reduce energy costs, create local jobs and reduce carbon emissions. Funding was provided to businesses and agencies to install energy efficient equipment in existing small and mid-size facilities. For an introductory presentation to MSEI click here.
All businesses participating in a MSEI program have access to the free online utility data tracking software called GreenQuest. To access GEO’s GreenQuest site click here.

For an introductory presentation to MSEI click here. All businesses participating in any of the programs have access to the free online utility data tracking software called GreenQuest.  Click here to check it out.

See which of these five MSEI programs matches your needs:

MAIN STREET EFFICIENCY IN A BOX

This innovative program is essentially a road map and basic training  manual on how a community can develop and run its own Main Street Program. The tools and resources that have been developed can be downloaded from www.rechargecolorado.com. Tools include training business owners and community energy efficiency advocates on energy management, a web-based Energy Data Management tool to encourage energy tracking, and step-by-step guide for local communities demonstrating best practices for creating efficiency programs for small businesses. There is no funding associated with this program.  All communities are invited to use these tools. To download Main Street Efficiency in a Box click here.

COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAM

These grants are intended to provide communities with financial and technical support resources to develop new or strengthen existing local programs that assist businesses in achieving the goals of MSEI. (Selected communities will be listed once public).

Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) GEO-Managed Program – Small Business Efficiency Program

In partnership with the Cities of Arvada, Littleton, Pueblo, Westminster and Lakewood, the GEO launched the Small Business Efficiency Program. Through this Program, small and medium-sized businesses are eligible to receive $5,200 in energy efficiency rebates for facility audits, lighting retrofits, re-commissioning services, setback thermostats and other qualified energy efficiency measures.  The GEO developed the Program with input from each participating City and local utility companies and is currently administering and managing the Program on each City’s behalf. 

The Program remains open for businesses in the City of Littleton, with new applications being accepted until May 1st. Programs in the Cities of Arvada, Lakewood, Pueblo, and Westminster are no longer accepting new applications.

SMALL BUSINESS EFFICIENCY PROGRAM SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS

Participating businesses will need to submit a completed application, attend an energy data management training workshop, receive a facility audit, and work with a local contractor to install recommended energy efficiency measures. GEO will provide hands-on support to all participating businesses throughout the Program. By participating in this Program, businesses will be able to reduce energy and operating costs, help stimulate local clean energy jobs, and reduce overall carbon emissions for the community. For more information please see below:

Outreach Documents
♦ Program plan for participating businesses in the City of Littleton
♦ General program plan

Training Workshop Supporting Documents
♦ Energy data management presentation (Denver Metro)
♦ Energy data management presentation (Pueblo)
♦ Energy saving tips and facts (Denver Metro)
♦ Energy saving tips and facts (Pueblo)
♦ Contractor solicitor bid form
♦ Contractor vetting checklist
♦ Tutorial to GreenQuest  (GEO’s utility data tracking tool)

 Facility Audits
♦ Sample facility audit from Xcel Energy
♦ Xcel Energy audit application

Implementation
♦ List of additional rebate options from Xcel Energy
♦ List of additional rebate options from Black Hills Energy
♦ List of recommended contractors for businesses located in the City of Pueblo  (BH Energy)

EECBG SELF-MANAGED PROGRAM
This program is specifically for communities that received EECBG funding from the U.S. Department of Energy and leverages federal, state and local funding. The communities of Aurora, Boulder, Denver, Fort Collins, Garfield County and Grand Junction have already developed their local programs and are in the process of launching the GEO-supported components. To find out more about community specific programs see the links below — NOTE: Many of these communities have extended the deadines for submitting an application.

Aurora     Fort Collins   Boulder  
Denver   Garfield County  Grand Junction

SMALL SCALE GRANT PROGRAM
This program uses community networks to engage small businesses in energy retrofit projects. Rebates and technical support are provided to businesses for energy audits, lighting retrofits, set-back thermostats and re-commissioning or a thorough tune-up of HVAC systems. Participating businesses will need to submit a completed application, attend an energy data management training workshop, receive a facility audit, and work with a local contractor to install recommended energy efficiency measures. Each community will provide hands-on support to all participating businesses throughout the program. By participating in this program, businesses will be able to reduce energy and operating costs, help stimulate local clean energy jobs, and reduce overall carbon emissions for the community. To learn more about your community’s program please click on the appropriate link below.

Broomfield,   Southern Central Council of Governments -Walsenburg,   Sustainable Technology Institute – Idaho Springs,  Lamar,  Painted Sky RC&D – Delta and Montrose area,  Steamboat Springs,
The New Community Coalition – Telluride and Ouray area,  La Plata Electric Association – Durango area,  High Country Conservation – Frisco,  High Country Conservation – Leadville and Lake County,  
Grand County BEDA

For the most recent information on applications and deadlines, watch the ReCharge Colorado website and sign up for the GEO e-newsletter. For questions and more information, contact Dan Richardson, MSEI Project Manager, at drichardson@tridentenergy.com, or 970-379-3414 or your Community Energy Coordinator Partner.