State Government Resources

 

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State government resources are available to small businesses, although they are fairly limited. States offer low interest loans, grants, and other subsidies to small businesses to help them become more energy-efficient. In many cases, when you start exploring what might be available, you'll find that the benefits are targeted to those who develop the green technologies as often as to those who implement them, but it's worth looking around if you need financial assistance to adopt energy-efficient technologies.

A good source for finding green resources at the state level is Business.gov, a website managed by the Small Business Administration in conjunction with 21 other federal agencies. Its purpose, it says, is to provide a single access point for government resources. For environmental resources at the state level, see Business.gov's coverage of state and local energy-efficiency resources. Because some states offer tax and other incentives to those who adopt energy-efficient technologies, it might be worth your time to explore what your state offers.

Many states also offer free technical assistance, with ENERGY STAR and other energy-efficiency programs. For more on what might be available in your state, take a look at a website maintained by the National Association of State Energy Officials. Click on your state in the map to find out whom to contact in your state.

Energy Audits

If you're interested in larger scale energy-efficiency projects involving your small business, one good place to start might be with an energy audit. An energy audit is an analysis of your current energy efficiencies by an expert in the area, who would make recommendations on how you might improve your efficiency.

Energy audits can be expensive. But, if you're considering an energy audit, your state is a good place to turn. Many offer reduced rate audits or, in some cases, free audits. To find out what your state might offer, go to ENERGY STAR's state-by-state listing. The listings on the ENERGY STAR page include private resources, in addition to state, local, and regional resources, so you might have to poke around to find your state.

To pursue additional assistance with financing, advice, and other forms of assistance, see either Federal Government Resources or Private Resources.