Zoom Hair Studio owner Natalia Petcu is learning how to cut her energy consumption short.
Petcu’s signed her business up for a free energy assessment that helps small businesses save energy and money in their facilities.
"As a small business owner, I'm always looking for ways to implement energy efficiency and conservation strategies to save money and stay ahead of my competition. Energy Save New West worked with me to identify the best and most suitable energy opportunities and also assisted with identifying grants and rebates from the utilities,” Petcu said in a media release.
The free energy assessments are offered through a joint effort between the City of New Westminster, LiveSmartBC: Small Business Program, Metro Vancouver, B.C. Hydro Power Smart and FortisBC.
The process starts with a free assessment from a building energy advisor who will walk through the facility and help the business owner uncover the energy-saving opportunities in their operation.
The assessment takes about an hour to complete, after which participants will receive a report outlining how energy is being used in the facility, including potential energy savings through equipment replacement, lighting upgrades, operational practices and more.
"After the successful launch of the residential program this summer, I'm excited to see Energy Save New West introduce the program for small businesses," said Mayor Wayne Wright in the media release. "The City of New Westminster supports sustainable business practices, and part of that is helping businesses improve the energy efficiency of their facilities."
The goal for the business program is to have 80 energy assessments completed by the end of 12 months, with 40 businesses having completed the initial energy assessment and proceeding with energy upgrades and improvements to their facilities.
"Energy Save New West is looking forward to collaborating with local businesses to help them uncover opportunities to save money through energy reduction," Ryan Coleman, project coordinator for Energy Save New West, said in the release. "We understand how busy a business owner can get with their day-to-day operation, and that's why we've designed a program to make the process easy. They'll get access to a comprehensive, free energy evaluation that will help identify cost-effective strategies for improving energy efficiency."
Free energy assessments are available to local business owners on a first-come, first-served basis. Register online at energysavenewwest.ca or call Ryan Coleman, project coordinator, at 604-515-3818.
