Reduce Use: Energy Efficiency
The best way to reduce energy costs is to reduce the amount of energy you use. This might seem obvious, but some of the ways we waste energy are so small that we overlook them. But there are a variety of resources available to help you streamline your usage.
Ameren Illinois has a variety of low cost or even free programs. Their Ameren Illinois Energy Efficiency for Business program offers cash incentives for lighting, HVAC & controls, refrigeration, specialty equipment, and custom projects. New-construction design assistance is available, too. You can also qualify for instant incentives (offered at the point of purchase) for items like LED lighting, smart thermostats, notched V-belts, heat-pump water heaters, and ducted air-source heat pumps. Not sure where to start? You can also request a free energy assessment and get a streamlined install path for common upgrades. If you have a unique process (compressed air, heat recovery, etc.) or want a structured, continuous savings program (Strategic Energy Management), Ameren can create a custom program that provides financial incentives, and will even provide you an advisor to help design it.
Separate from Ameren (but funded by them), the EnergySense Resiliency Center at the University of Illinois will provide energy assessments for Illinois business and public-sector facilities and will scope savings and help prioritize projects.
If you have bigger upgrades in mind, like new windows, roof, HVAC systems, EV charging systems, etc. you can utilize the C-PACE programs in Peoria or Tazewell counties to finance improvements through long-term, fixed rate bonds repaid through property tax bills.
Other resources:
- US DOE Better Plants Quick-Start Guide: A field-tested starter for small/medium manufacturers to tackle no-/low-cost actions and build a practical plan.
- DSIRE: For a full sweep of incentives by utility and technology, use DSIRE, the national incentives database.
Reduce Cost: Lower Prices
Illinois has a deregulated system for the supply of electricity. Ameren is only charging you for distribution and passing along the cost of the supply of electricity. And you can choose your own supplier. Many Chambers of Commerce offer “affinity programs” where members can take advantage of volume pricing. The Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce offers such a program to its members. Click here to learn more. Members of the Illinois Manufacturers Association can enroll in a similar program.
If these off-the-shelf programs aren’t for you, consider working with an energy consultant (often called brokers). These companies can provide you with custom solutions based on your energy profile and help negotiate prices directly with suppliers. Good Energy has been providing energy brokerage services to Peoria-area businesses, local governments, and nonprofit organizations (including GPEDC) for nearly two decades. They even have a consultant who lives and works in this region.
Finally, maybe it is time to consider renewable energy. If your business has a big roof or sufficient adjacent land, solar panels might be a viable option for reducing overall cost. The landscape of solar energy is changing with shifting federal policy, but it is certainly worth investigating. Energy consultants like Good Energy can help advise you, or check with your local Chamber of Commerce to see if a solar installation contractor/developer is also a member. If you don’t have the ability to host your own solar panels, consider subscribing to a Community Solar program.
If all of this is confusing for you or you just have questions, feel free to contact GPEDC and we will walk you through some of these options.