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Posts Tagged ‘NH Office of Energy and Planning’

BNH Names “Lean & Green” Award Winners

Monday, August 2nd, 2010

Six NH businesses were chosen as leaders for implementing practices that are both eco-friendly and good for the bottom line in Business NH Magazine’s third annual Lean and Green Awards competition. The awards were given in three categories: Green Practices, Green Building and Green Product, and the winners were selected from numerous applicants by a panel of independent judges.   

bnh-logoGreen Practices awards were given to four companies that demonstrated sustainable processes resulting in increased energy savings. The winner for small companies (under 100 employees) was The Mount Washington Cog Railway in Bretton Woods. Three companies were awarded in the large category (more than 100 employees): Antioch University New England in Keene as a nonprofit; and Newmarket International in Portsmouth as a for-profit venture. Also, AutoFair in Manchester received an Early Adopter award for installing LED lighting in the parking lot at its AutoFair Honda facility. 

The Green Building award, for a building that incorporates sustainability in its design, construction and future operations, while demonstrating savings and efficiency, went to The Nature of Things in Nashua for its new school building.

The Green Product award winner was Kalwall in Manchester for its translucent wall and ceiling systems that harness the power of the sun.

Judges were Alison Degan, co-owner of Acorn Organic Salon in Dover, the 2009 Lean & Green Micro Company Practices Award winner; Margaret Dillon, president of S.E.E.D.S (Sustainable Energy Education & Demonstration Services) in Jaffrey; Dick Henry, executive director of The Jordan Institute in Concord; Joanne Morin, director of the NH Office of Energy and Planning in Concord; Emily Neuman, sustainability coordinator for the Hanover Consumer Cooperative Society in Hanover, the 2009 Lean & Green New Building Award winner; Michael Redmond, vice president for advancement at Crotched Mountain Foundation and Rehabilitation Center in Greenfield, the 2009 Lean & Green Large Practices Award winner; and Thomas Sullivan, owner of Sullivan Construction in Bedford, the 2009 Lean & Green Retrofit Building Award winner.

Award winners will be honored at the Lean & Green Awards reception at The Portsmouth Harbor Events and Conference Center—which aims to be the first LEED-certified events center in the state—from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 14.

The reception will include a keynote speech by Cameron Wake, research associate professor at the University of NH and director of Carbon Solutions New England, on NH’s environmental challenges and possible solutions. Award recipients will share their best practices and guests can enjoy free-range eggs and fair-trade coffee before touring the center’s green features. 

The Lean and Green Awards Breakfast is hosted by Business NH Magazine, and sponsored by GT Solar, Public Service of NH and Optima Bank. The cost to attend is $30, and guests can register online at www.eventsNH.com or by calling 603.626.6354.

Energy-Efficiency Loans Available for Businesses

Thursday, April 1st, 2010

 

 

 

 

A new revolving loan fund is making low-interest loans available to small businesses for energy-efficiency improvements and renewable-energy projects in their New Hampshire buildings.

Enterprise Energy Fund.  

The Enterprise Energy Fund is a low-interest loan and grant program to help finance energy improvements in buildings owned or leased by businesses and nonprofits of all sizes. The

energySmall businesses, microenterprises, nonprofits, child care providers, and owners of two- to four-unit apartment buildings are eligible to apply to the

The Enterprise Energy Fund is a low-interest loan and grant program to help finance energy improvements in buildings owned or leased by businesses and nonprofits of all sizes. The

NH Community Loan Fund will lend $1 million to small commercial businesses and nonprofits. The NH Community Development Finance Authority (CDFA) will lend $2.5 million for larger projects.

The $3.5-million fund was created by an award by the Office of Energy and Planning’s State Energy Program, from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The majority of the funds will be loaned to businesses and nonprofits to help them reduce their energy costs and consumption.  The Community Loan Fund will administer the loans for projects under $100,000.

Loans to commercial businesses will range from $10,000 to $500,000, with terms from three to 10 years, and interest rates from 2.75% to 4%.

A small portion of the fund will pay for energy audits, provide down payments to businesses and to nonprofits that provide essential services and have been hardest hit by the recession, leverage significant private sector funds, and encourage investments in renewable energy.

All enterprises, regardless of size, are required to submit an

Initial Inquiry form on CDFA’s online grants management system. Preliminary applications submitted through April 30, 2010 will be the first group to be reviewed. Subsequent applications will be grouped and reviewed monthly thereafter until all funds are committed. Prior to accessing the Webgrants system, you will need a User ID and Password. If you have not yet registered to receive a User ID and Password, please register here For more information, please see the Enterprise Energy Fund

 

Information workshops on the new fund are scheduled for April 20 in Concord, April 28 in Littleton and May 4 in Claremont. Please register in advance.

fact sheet and Q and A on the Community Loan Fund’s Web site.

Small businesses:

Rick Minard, Vice President for Policy and Program. Nonprofits and child care:

Julie McConnell, Director, Child Care and Community Facilities Lending.

Nonprofit housing:

Mike LaFontaine, Director, Community Housing.

 

Questions? Call your contact at the Community Loan Fund, (800) 432-4110.