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Fact Book: Doing Business in Maine — 2017

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B U S I N E S S P RO F I L E S 60 B U S I N E S S P R O F I L E S S P E C I A L A D V E R T I S I N G S E C T I O N B u s i n e s s e s , i n d u s t r i e s a n d i n s t i t u t i o n s across Maine have been reducing energy costs by investing in energy efficiency. e Efficiency Maine Trust assists these energy consumers by providing financial incen- tives and technical support for projects that range from light- ing upgrades and heating system replacements to new building construction and large custom projects. Increase Efficiency ough efficiency opportunities are as diverse as Maine businesses, lighting and heating represent the most common opportunities to save money and reduce operating costs. Lighting projects can be as small as updating screw-in bulbs from incandescents to LEDs, or as large as replacing overhead lighting fixtures in an entire office building. Outdoor lighting upgrades also provide significant savings, especially during long winter nights. Heating project options are similarly diverse, ranging from whole-building solutions (including high-efficiency boilers and furnaces) to zone-specific solutions. For example, ductless heat pumps have become increasingly popular for businesses looking for low-cost, room-by-room heating and cooling options. ere are also a number of incentives for automated lighting and heat- ing controls that help existing systems operate more efficiently, delivering light or heat where you need it, when you need it. Caribou Rehab and Nursing recently upgraded its lighting to LEDs and supplemented its heating and cooling systems with single and multi-zone ductless heat pumps, providing room-by-room control, greater patient and employee comfort, and more efficient heating and cooling. e savings annual electricity costs for both the LED and heat pump projects is estimated to be $20,000 per year. ese changes allowed them to redirect more spending toward their core mission, according to Facilities Director John Morrill. "Our philosophy has been to maintain the highest level of care and comfort for our residents," said Morrill. "We have always been very proactive about upgrading technology. Efficiency Maine has helped do this by allowing us to lower our operating costs and put more toward patient care. By installing LED lighting, we were able to go to smaller fixtures and reduce the overall fixture count. ey actually gave us more lumens per square foot and helped us saved on electricity." Efficiency Maine also offers incentives for less common, industry-specific energy solutions. Ready to upgrade the fryer in your kitchen or the fan in your potato storage facility? Or maybe it's finally time to address that inefficient air compressor in your garage. ere's an efficiency incentive for that. Custom solutions Beyond these industry-specific solutions, Efficiency Maine invests in custom efficiency projects depending on an individual site. Such energy solutions include manufacturing process improvements or combined heat and power systems. For example, St. Mary's d'Youville Pavilion, an assisted living facility and residential apartment build- ing, installed a combined heat and power unit with the help of an Efficiency Maine incentive. is natural-gas-fired generator with a heat recovery system covers 75% to 100% of the building's power demand while producing enough heat to meet the hot water needs of the laundry facilities, the kitchen and the residences. For new construction of commercial properties, Efficiency Maine supports projects that exceed energy code requirement by working with developers to choose the right combination Efficiency Maine P H O T O C O U R T E S Y O F E F F I C I E N C Y M A I N E Working with businesses to increase efficiency, boost productivity and reduce operating costs Efficiency Maine 168 Capitol St., Augusta, ME 04330 Quasi-State Agency Michael Stoddard, Executive Director Founded: 2009 18 employees www.efficiencymaine.com A combined heat and power unit at St. Mary's d'Youville Pavilion, an assisted living facility and residential apartment building, covers 75% to 100% of the building's power demand.

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