10-15-2013 02:12 PM

Funding sought for commercial energy-efficiency program

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Kentucky Pollution Prevention Center senior engineer, Bob Miles performs an energy efficiency assessment by pulling energy usage information, which may include horsepower/kilowatts, voltage and amperage, from a process motor nameplate at Republic Conduit.




A Kentucky program that aims to help businesses save energy by offering energy efficiency assessments and audits is searching for new funding sources.
The Kentucky Save Energy Now program was established in 2010 and is administered by the Kentucky Pollution Prevention Center at the University of Louisville. In addition to the audits, the program offers resources, advice and recognition for companies seeking to become more energy efficient.
It’s been funded by a mix of dollars from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and U.S. Department of Energy, explained Cam Metcalf, executive director of the KPPC. But now additional dollars are being sought as those funds are drying up.
Cost effective

In its three years, about 30 companies from across the state have signed up with a goal of reducing energy bills. Under the program, auditors conduct on-site assessments of a participating company’s facilities and provide advice about reducing costs. Some participating businesses have reported as much as a 20 percent to 30 percent savings as a result, Metcalf said.
“This is huge for some of these companies.”
Louisville-based Kindred Healthcare Inc. is among the participants in the program. Kindred (NYSE: KND) operates transitional-care hospitals, skilled-nursing centers, rehabilitation centers and home-care services in markets across the country.
The energy program was applied at its downtown Louisville headquarters, said Cathy Cummings, senior administrative assistant in the company’s facilities management department.
Kindred has been working with the center for about three years, she said. During that time the center has provided assessments, energy usage reports and tips on conserving energy.


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David A. Mann covers these beats: Health care, health insurance, distribution/logistics (UPS), manufacturing (GE, Ford), environment, travel, minority/women’s affairs and Southern Indiana.


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