Date: Mon, 11 Jul 2011 08:40:46 -0400 (GMT-04:00)
From: Adrienne Bashista
Subject: Home Performance NC gets grant to help local small businesses become more energy efficient.
Home Performance NC, the business my husband and I own and operate here in Chatham County, is the proud recipient of an almost $120,000 grant to help other small businesses + nonprofits in Chatham and Lee counties become more energy efficient. The NC Green Business Fund, through the NC Dept. of Commerce, asked NC businesses to create projects to increase energy efficiency in businesses in North Carolina and since that’s our specialty we were able to write a grant proposal that they decided to fund! Through this work we’ve already added 1/2 time position, and as we get up and running we should be able to add 2 more positions to our company — plus help the businesses in our community save money, energy, and be more comfortable in their workspaces.
We are actively seeking other small businesses in the county to participate in the grant. The money will give small business owners OR landlords of commercial properties (see below for types of structures that qualify) a full energy audit for $50 (normal price of a commercial audit: $500 – $800). Weatherization improvements as detailed through the audit will be available to the business or landlord at HALF the normal price. The grant will pay the other half, up to $2500. Property improvements will be followed by a test-out audit (basically, a repeat of the original audit) but a different, independent auditor, to prove that target energy savings have been reached.
Energy audits + weatherization typically have a return on investment of 2-4 years; with this grant the return will be more like 1-3 years – after that the $ saved through energy efficiency will be money in the bank!
The grant is open to any business in Chatham or Lee counties operating out of commercial space that was originally built as a residence. We realize this is limiting, but since our specialty is residential work (although of course our owner/lead auditor has a commercial GC license), we needed to stick to our strengths. The building must have been constructed before 1990 and must have fewer than 50 employees. This is open to business owners who own their properties as well as landlords of spaces that house businesses that fit the criteria.
We have money to do at least 50 audits and 25 full weatherization jobs – 1st come, 1st serve, and we have to spend it all by the end of December.
For full details please see our website: http://www.homeperformancenc.
And to schedule an audit please call Mark Bashista, Owner and Lead Auditor, at (919) 360-1570 or e-mail him at .
If you have questions about the grant, our business, or energy audits in general, you can also call me, Adrienne Bashista, at (919) 360-7073, or email:
Adrienne Ehlert Bashista
Author: When I Met You & Mishka: An Adoption Tale
Publisher: DRT Press – our most recent title: The Forever Friends Club