In this still-pinched economy, food retailers remain acutely conscious of the bottom line, and they’re seeking maximum ROI from all of their capital expenditures, including equipment, which usually requires a pretty hefty initial investment.
Today’s equipment manufacturers are as conscious as their customers of the need for cost savings, and are making great strides in producing energy-efficient equipment, which allows supermarketers the twin wins of saving on their energy bills while demonstrating their environmentally conscious corporate citizenship.
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Scientists at CalTech are perfecting a technique that converts water, air, and sunlight into different kinds of fuel that could power everything from car engines to fuel cells in cell phones. It sounds almost too good to be true, from an environmental standpoint.

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Federal incentives are generally tax credits or deductions available to individuals and corporations; grants; and loans or loan guarantees. Links to the popular programs are:

Energy-Efficient Commercial Buildings Tax Deduction
Renewable Electricity Production Tax Credit
U.S. Department of Treasury – Renewable Energy Grants
Residential Energy Efficiency Tax Credit

To explore more available Federal incentives »

State and local incentives are generally tax credits or deductions available to individuals and corporations; grants; and loans. Links to the popular programs are:

Illinois Finance Authority Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Project Financing
Cultivate Illinois – Green Energy Loans
Illinois State Board of Education – School Energy Efficiency Grant Program

The State of Illinois’ Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) also has grant and rebate programs available from the EEPS fund which is monetized through a surcharge paid by all Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) and Ameren customers. EEPS funding is available for local, state, and federal governments; public school districts; community colleges; and universities that receive electricity distribution service from ComEd or Ameren affiliated utilities including customers that purchase energy through an alternative supplier. DCEO programs include:

DCEO – Energy Efficient Affordable Housing Construction Program
DCEO – Public Sector New Construction and Retrofit Program
DCEO – Large-Customer Energy Analysis Program (LEAP)
DCEO – Public Sector Energy Efficiency Programs
DCEO – Solar and Wind Energy Rebate Program

To explore more available state incentives »

Incentives are also available through most utilities including ComEd, Ameren, MidAmerican Energy, Nicor Gas, North Shore Gas and Peoples Gas as well as smaller cooperatives and municipally owned utilities. Utility programs include:

Ameren Illinois (Electric) – Commercial Kitchen and Grocery Incentives Program
ComEd – Smart Ideas for Business Efficiency Program
MidAmerican Energy (Electric) – Commercial Energy Advantage Rebate Program
Nicor Gas – Commercial Energy Efficiency Rebates

Visit utility websites for more information and programs.

Charitable organizations such as the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation (ICECF) generally provide funding for renewable energy or energy efficiency programs that are compatible with the organization’s mission. Many of these programs focus on the education sector. Funding is most often in the form of competitive grants.

Some manufacturers offer rebates or incentives to promote the use of their products in renewable energy or energy efficiency projects.

The program promotes the installation of 1 kW photovoltaic (PV) systems at educational institutions serving grades K-12 throughout Illinois. Although each system is relatively small, students see first-hand on a daily basis how sunlight is converted to electricity. To enhance the educational value of the system, online monitoring to provide real-time data on the amount of electricity generated is included in the grant.

Applications to this competitive grant program are due in March of each year. Awards of $8,000 or 90% of the system and its installation costs, whichever is less, are made within 2 months of submission. A typical 1 kW system costs about $10,000.

Prior to the March 24, 2011 deadline, New Edison Energy assisted ten schools with their ICECF Illinois Solar Schools applications. We look forward to helping even more schools apply for 2012 grants.

The most common reasons not to use night curtains are:

• The cases did not come equipped with them and we can’t afford to install them.

• The night curtains that we have are old and many of them are broken.

• The night curtains we have are dirty and we are concerned about bacteria exposure.

• We are not worried about the wasted cold air because it air-conditions our store.

Facts are:

• The typical open vertical case wastes energy worth more than $350 per year.

• New night curtains last 7-10 years and highly effective anti-bacterial coatings.

• Electric utilities provide incentives for the installation of night curtains.

• Night curtain installation paybacks can be as quick as 1.5 years.

• Using night curtains also prolongs product shelf life.

New Edison Energy is a dealer of Miatech’s Aspis night curtains.

IMSA students, Science faculty member Branson Lawrence
and IMSA President Dr. Glenn “Max” McGee stand near the
wind/solar generator by the main building.

IMSA students are learning firsthand the benefits of renewable and sustainable energy with the expansion of green technology on the IMSA campus.

The Energy Center@IMSA installed three wind/solar hybrid units on campus, which are now being used to power a number of other sites.  The first unit is located near the tennis courts and is being used to supply electricity to a work station that allows students to monitor power output.

Using information obtained from the station, students, alumni and experts in the field can collaborate on a design for home application that is run on units similar to these at IMSA. I am currently looking for interested individuals and groups to start this project as an independent study or as a Student Inquiry and Research investigation this fall.

The other two units are located near residence halls 1502 and 1507 and power security lighting with the latest surface LED technology. The project was completed after staff from Security, Student Life and the Energy Center met to conduct a study to learn where lighting was most needed on campus.  This study prompted the recommendation to improve lighting at the beginning and the end of the access road. These areas now have additional light to enhance safety and allow the security cameras to record events 24/7.

These initiatives were made possible by a $25,000 grant from ComEd, an Exelon Company. Additional supporters include New Edison Energy and Windfree Design.

For more information, contact brenda@imsa.edu.

Bridget Doyle, TribLocal reporter
www.triblocal.com

All systems were go Thursday afternoon as Batavia-based New Edison Energy flipped the switch to deliver power to Clarendon Hills Middle School’s new 40-foot wind turbine.

The turbine, which now stands prominently at the main entrance of the school, came to fruition after about a year of planning, funding and ironing out logistics.

“Every day as the students enter the school, they’ll see the wind turbine,” Principal Griffin Sontag said. “It will be a daily reminder of the possibilities of innovation. We hope it will also inspire them to continue to find new ways to be eco-friendly.”

The entire price tag for the project was about $54,000, with about $46,000 for the wind turbine itself, $5,500 for five electronic teaching boards to accompany the turbine and $2,450 for parking lot lights to keep the front of the school well lit.

A majority of the funding came from the District 181 Foundation, with CHMS Parent Teacher Organization and other district funds covering the remainder of the bill.

Jim Cox, a former CHMS teacher and assistant principal, now works on consulting projects for the district and was the driving force behind the wind turbine project. Now that it’s up and running, Cox said the turbine will be a staple in the school’s science and math curriculums.

“The turbine is recording results and wirelessly delivering 20 different pieces of information to the various teaching boards in our classrooms,” Cox said. “Soon, even parents will be able to go online and monitor how much energy is being produced.”

Though its main purpose is to educate, the wind turbine will also help chip away at the middle school’s energy bill.

On average, CHMS uses 100,000 kilowatt hours per month, said Sue Kamuda, director of buildings and grounds for the district. The new turbine is projected to produce somewhere between 5,000 and 8,000 kilowatt hours per year.

Kamuda said the district currently pays .97 cents per kilowatt-hour on its bill from ComEd. If the wind turbine generates 6,000 kilowatt hours, it will save about $582 per year, she said.

Clarendon Hills Middle School will host a dedication ceremony at 10 a.m. Sept. 24 in front of the wind turbine, and will feature remarks from school officials and a musical performance.

Sontag and Cox both said they want to continue to pursue eco-friendly ideas for the middle school. Cox said he hopes the next projects the district would consider might be adding more solar panels to the roof as well as buying power in bulk from energy wholesalers.

“One day we hope to be a completely energy independent facility,” Sontag said. “But for now, we’re going to celebrate the wind turbine and have a great time.”

bdoyle@tribune.com