NSBA believes that improving America's energy efficiency must be a central component of any national effort to confront its energy dependence and protect the environment. More than two-thirds of the energy content of the fossil fuels consumed in the U.S. is simply lost as waste heat. At an average cost of about one-half of the typical cost of new power sources and about one-third of the cost of natural gas supply, well-designed energy efficiency programs also are much more cost effective than increasing supply and usually can be deployed much faster.

To achieve these economic and environmental benefits, however, the U.S. must expand its focus on energy efficiency. NSBA believes that it is especially important that the effort to communicate the benefits of and opportunities for energy efficiency reach America's small businesses, as nearly 70 percent of the respondents to a NSBA energy survey reported that they had not invested in energy efficiency programs for their businesses.

NSBA ENERGY STAR Challenge

To combat this deficiency, NSBA is challenging -- in partnership with the voluntary ENERGY STAR® Small Business program, which will provide technical support -- the 150,000 small businesses it reaches to reduce their energy consumption by 10 percent or more through improved energy efficiency.

According to the ENERGY STAR Small Business program, energy efficiency improvements of 10-to-30 percent are economically viable for many small businesses through the implementation of "best practices" for facility operation and maintenance, and the use of cost-effective technologies.

NSBA ENERGY STAR Challenge Information and Tools

• Join the ENERGY STAR Small Business Network
  Free energy-saving information, technical support and annual public recognition awards for outstanding efficiency improvements. Energy efficiency is smart business and helps the environment.

• Putting Energy into Profits Guide
  Your on-line, up-to-date guide to information and resources to help you save
  energy, save money and reduce the pollution associated with energy waste.

• "Portfolio Manager" Energy Tracking Software
  A free tool,backed by on-line training and tech support, designed to help you track energy costs (weather-corrected), energy savings and global warming emissions reductions. You "can't manage what you can't measure."

• Join NSBA in Signing the ENERGY STAR Challenge
  Sign up your state NSBA affiliate, your business and even your home to cut energy costs by 10%.

• E-mail Technical Questions on Energy Efficiency
  Contact ENERGY STAR for free, unbiased information on products and equipment, calculations, energy management strategies, and technical support.

• Apply for the ENERGY STAR Small Business Award
  Be recognized nationally and in your local media for your outstanding energy efficiency commitment and achievements.

• NSBA joins the ENERGY STAR Change A Light campaign as a "pledge driver"
  Your business and family can help too by changing to ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), which use 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs and last 6-10 times longer. You'll save energy, money and help fight global warming.
  

NSBA Supports ENERGY STAR Program

NSBA supports the ENERGY STAR program, which provides free information and technical support to help small business reduce energy costs, and protect the environment. For more information, please visit the ENERGY STAR Web site.