New Program to Help Rural Grocery Stores Save Energy and Dollars

Thanks to a new program offered by the Energy Division of the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC), owners of rural grocery stores can receive a free energy-efficiency assessment of their facility, along with a package of recommended improvements.

The Small Business Energy Program offers store owners valuable energy-saving recommendations, based on the findings of the on-site assessment. These recommendations are custom-tailored to the particular conditions in each store—and will help business owners target cost-effective improvements to maximize their investment.

Ten rural grocery stores will be selected for free energy audits in fall 2013 and winter/spring 2014. During the on-site energy audit, Energy Division staff will conduct a thorough inspection of the facility and collect information about the store’s energy use, including refrigeration, lighting, and mechanical systems. Based on the findings, Energy Division staff will determine the energy-efficiency improvements that will save the most energy (and money). They will also analyze the practicality of installing renewable energy systems to offset energy costs.

Energy Division staff will present store owners with a detailed report identifying energy-saving improvement measures that are prioritized in terms of their cost effectiveness. The report will also include a Department of Energy Portfolio Manager Energy Score that compares their facility’s energy efficiency with other grocery stores.

The report presented to the store owners will be designed to be compatible for applications for USDA’s Rural Energy for America (REAP) grant. Energy Division staff will assist store owners in completing grant applications and identifying funding opportunities.

Application Deadline: Beginning October 1, 2013 and ending October 31, 2013.

For more information, please contact:

Trayce Heidner, Kansas Corporation Commission, Energy Division, 1500 SW Arrowhead Road, Topeka, KS 66604, t.heidner@kcc.ks.gov or 785-271-3329.

David Procter, Center for Engagement and Community Development, 202 Ahearn Field House, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, cecd@k-state.edu or 785-532-6868.