Energy Efficiency Project for Small to Mid-Sized Businesses
MEI’s Energy Efficiency Project for Small to Mid-Sized Businesses was an effort to develop new strategies to improve energy efficiency in this business sector. Small and mid-sized business owners frequently rent their workspaces, do not have the trained staff or time available to devote to energy issues, and may not have the financial resources to implement energy efficiency improvements.


What MEI has done:
MEI gathered the recommendations of stakeholders such as property managers, members of trade associations, representatives from utility companies, city and state officials, architects and designers, and the business owners themselves. An online survey conducted by MEI in 2007 attracted responses from more than 270 business owners throughout Minnesota. Costs of improvements, lack of time to devote to projects, and lack of knowledge of available programs were the barriers most cited by the respondents. MEI has developed strategies to overcome these obstacles and presented its findings in a report to the Minnesota Department of Commerce in March 2008.

Increasing Energy Efficiency in MN Small Businesses Report [6MB]

WHo Funded this Project?
Minnesota Department of Commerce
Xcel Energy
Great River Energy
CenterPoint Energy
Otter Tail Power Company

For more information, contact Jack Hogin.