EMAP Clients Receive State and National Recognition for Energy Efficiency

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Since the DEP Small Business Advantage Grant Program (SBAG) opened in July 2004, EMAP has assisted 43 clients in obtaining over $256,000 in grant funding.  The SBAG program, which provides 50 percent matching grants up to a maximum of $7,500, helps Pennsylvania small business implement projects promoting energy efficiency or pollution prevention.  These projects can help small businesses cut costs and reduce potential regulatory risk, while simultaneously helping protect the environment.

In the 2006 fiscal year funding cycle, 32 EMAP clients were awarded $191,995 – or 19 percent of the total grants awarded.  Examples of projects being implemented with the assistance of the grant funding include HVAC upgrades, installation of high efficiency lighting systems, replacement of single-pane windows, and installation of Energy Star appliances.  These 32 businesses are expected to save an average of 36 percent on their energy bills, or $4,700 annually.  Combined, these businesses are expected to save a total of $150,435 per year – reducing consumption of electricity by 162,730 kilowatts and reducing oil and gas use by 4,377 million BTUs. 

On July 1, 2006, the grant program reopened on a first-come, first-serve basis with $1 million in funding available.  EMAP consultants helped 32 businesses submit grant applications for new energy efficiency and pollution prevention projects before the program funding was depleted on September 15.  DEP has already announced the first round of grant winners, which includes four additional EMAP clients.  Remaining awardees will be notified in coming months.

For more information on the SBAG program, visit http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/enintech/cwp/view.asp?a=1413&q=503219.

*See AAMCO Success Story, below.
**Winner of Energy Star Award. See above.

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Since AAMCO Transmissions in State College generates waste oil through automotive oil changes, repair, and maintenance, the owner thought it would make good business sense to install a waste oil burner and use that waste oil to heat the building.  Using a waste oil burner not only reduces natural gas needs; it also eliminates waste oil disposal costs.  Furthermore, the use of waste oil as an energy source helps offset future natural gas cost fluctuations.

Rodney Hendricks, owner of the AAMCO Transmissions State College franchise, turned to EMAP to help make his idea a reality.  Working with EMAP consultant Heather Fennessey of the Penn State SBDC, Rodney applied for a Small Business Advantage Grant (SBAG) in July 2005.  EMAP helped Rodney through the grant application process including performing required calculations and estimates.  Within six months, in December 2005, DEP announced AAMCO was being awarded a grant of $5,625, and Rodney was able to purchase and install the waste oil burner.

AAMCO projects it will initially burn 2,200 gallons of waste oil per year, effectively eliminating it from their waste stream.  The business will save 300 MCF of natural gas annually and avoid all waste oil disposal costs, leading to over $4,000 in annual savings!  With the help of the SBAG funds, the payback on this project is a mere 2.8 years.

“This program works and is exactly
what Pennsylvania should
invest in to keep us competitive.”

-Rodney Hendricks, owner
AAMCO Transmissions, State College

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The Pennsylvania DEP recently completed a two year study at 54 landfills within the Commonwealth, testing for the presence of radioactive materials in landfill leachate.  Above-normal levels of tritium were noted in leachate at many facilities and the source is presumed to be from the improper disposal of self-illuminating exit signs in construction and demolition debris and other waste. 

Tritium, the radioactive form of hydrogen, is commonly used in self-illuminating emergency exit signs.  An estimated 60,000 tritium signs are currently in use within Pennsylvania.  Handling and disposal of used tritium exit signs is regulated by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).  Because unsafe disposal can lead to contamination and exposure to radiation, federal requirements make it illegal to dispose of the signs as municipal, industrial, or hazardous waste.  The only allowable method of disposal is to return used signs to the manufacturer or to a licensed radioactive waste facility. 

Exit signs containing tritium can be identified in three ways: the required radioactive label, the lack of observable electrical power source, and the green glow emitted from several sealed glass tubes within the word “exit.”  

Businesses with tritium signs should take measures to comply with federal regulations:

• Educate employees about the potential risks of tritium exposure and the handling and disposal requirements – tritium exit signs must never be discarded as ordinary trash
• When performing construction or demolition, be sure to remove and safely store all signs
• When signs are removed or replaced, contact the manufacturer and follow appropriate return procedures.  If returning the signs to the manufacturer is not an option, find another licensed facility.  

To avoid the risks and requirements associated with tritium, consider alternative technologies when replacing your exit signs. 

To find businesses licensed to receive tritium signs, or for more information about alternative technologies, call the DEP’s Bureau of Radiation Protection at 717.787.2480 or visit the Product Stewardship Institute (PSI) website: www.productstewardship.us.  The complete NRC regulations (10 CFR 32.51 and 31.5) are available at www.nrc.gov

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Green Seal, a national non-profit organization involved in environmental standard setting, product certification and public education has developed a new national environmental standard for recycled-content latex paint (GS-43). 

Recycled-content paint is composed of unused paint collected from consumers as well as excess from paint manufacturers.  In addition to reducing the volume of waste paint being landfilled, recycled paint can be up to 50 percent less expensive than virgin paint.  Consumer concern over paint performance, however, particularly ease of application and quality/longevity of finish, has been an obstacle to increasing the use of recycled-content paint.

To encourage increased use of such paints, the new standard establishes both environmental and performance standards to help assure consumers that recycled paint performs as well as virgin paint.  The Master Painters Institute (MPI), a nationally recognized paint performance certification organization, worked with Green Seal, Inc. and the Product Stewardship Institute on the performance portion of the standard.  Recycled-content paint receiving the “green seal” will meet the same MPI performance standards used for virgin paint.

A Green Seal certification is issued only after a product has been thoroughly evaluated as meeting the applicable standard.  Green Seal is beginning product evaluation of recycled-content paints submitted for certification by paint manufacturers.  Paints meeting the standard will earn the Green Seal of approval, and will be able to display the Green Seal Certification Mark.  The standard, and an updated list of certified products as they become available, can be viewed at the Green Seal web site (www.greenseal.org).

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Trash to Cash Opportunities Available

The Pennsylvania SBDC's Pennsylvania Material Trader provides a great opportunity for businesses and other organizations to connect with each other to save money on waste disposal and raw material costs. This online service is free (materials may be offered at a nominal cost) and materials can be posted confidentially. For more details, and to view many other listings, go to www.materialtrader.org

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Check out some of these most recent listings:

Materials Wanted:

Materials Available:

Do you have waste materials that may have value to someone else? Are you looking for raw materials or other used business items? List and Find YOUR materials on Pennsylvania Material Trader.

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