Small Business Enterprise - Summer edition

Having trouble viewing this message? View it as a webpage.
Small Business Enterprise

News from the Small Business Environmental Assistance Program

In this issue

  1. Greening at Warners' Stellian
  2. ReUSE Minnesota: Making reuse happen
  3. New tool explains stationary engine rules
  4. DoItGreen Directory: Promote your green business efforts
  5. Turfgrass maintenance trainings
  6. MPCA looking for small business partners in VOC reduction 
  7. Rural MN Solar Initiative helps farmers, small businesses gain solar
  8. Funding: MPCA Clean diesel grant helps reduce air pollution

Greening at Warners' Stellian

Solar

Minnesota appliance company Warners' Stellian has completed the latest in a list of environmentally friendly projects aimed at turning the 50-year-old purveyor of energy-using home appliances into an "energy star" in its own right. Two hundred ten solar and reflective panels (190 watts each), now operational on Warners' Stellian's St. Paul warehouse/headquarters, are expected to provide 20 percent of the company's power needs each year. Warners' Stellian invested $300,000 in this effort to decrease its energy usage and carbon footprint, and expects the solar panels to have paid for themselves with energy savings after five years of use. Warners' Stellian's solar panel system has an expected lifespan of 40 years. 

Going solar is the latest environmentally friendly project that Warners' Stellian has launched. The family-owned business has made a commitment to reducing waste and energy use, and is also trying to set an example of how businesses of any size and type can put green ideas into action. The company now uses delivery vehicles that power down after 5 minutes of idling to reduce fuel consumption. Its warehouse facility includes photo-sensing lighting, an energy-management system, and an "economizer" cooling system.

Warners' Stellian has responsibly recycled appliances for years, but in 2009, the company took the initiative to address a less-obvious, yet huge environmental concern within appliance retail operations.

Appliances come with literally tons of packaging – much of it Styrofoam. This nonbiodegradable material takes up a significant amount of air space in landfills and is made up of toxic chemicals. It doesn't decompose, and its volume means constant shipments to landfills, consuming fuel and labor. Robert Warner, Warners' Stellian vice president and director of operations, estimates the Styrofoam accounted for 85% of the company’s total waste.

“Appliance and cardboard recycling have been a part of our mission for many, many years -- but we wanted to do more,” Robert said. "We're moving beyond recycling pop cans. Whatever we generate that we can recycle, we're doing."

With the support of customers and staff, Warners' Stellian made a significant investment in a machine that compacts Styrofoam into 1/20th of its original size while processing it into a reusable format. The compacted packaging takes up much less air space, so it fills fewer vehicle loads (and therefore consumes less fuel) to transport it away for re-use. The compactor is one of only two in the state. A video of Warners' Stellian's Styrofoam compacting process can be viewed at: http://is.gd/fduWm.                                            

For more information about Warners’ Stellian, please visit www.warnersstellian.com.


ReUSE Minnesota: Making reuse happen

Reuse

A new nonprofit association recently formed to bring visibility to the reuse, rental, and repair sectors in Minnesota. The vision of ReUSE Minnesota is “a strong Minnesota reuse economy that leads the nation in documented environmental benefits through the intentional actions of committed individuals and institutions.” The organization, a successor of Reuse Alliance–Minnesota, was incorporated in December 2012 by eight founding members, including Bridging, Arc’s Value Village Thrift Store and Donation Center, and Companies to Classrooms, among others.

A 2011 study by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency revealed that the reuse sector is responsible for 46,000 Minnesota jobs, and because it is a service-based sector, reuse tends to keep money local. The sector includes such varied businesses as antique stores, party rental supply companies, electronics repair, consignment and thrift stores, furniture refurbishments, building material reuse, architectural salvage, and more.

For more information on how to become involved in ReUSE Minnesota go to http://www.reusemn.org/. For more information about the study go to http://www.pca.state.mn.us/index.php/view-document.html?gid=17700


New tool explains stationary engine rule

EPA has released a new Regulation Navigation Tool for owners and operators of internal combustion engines subject to the Stationary Spark Ignited and Compression Ignition Internal Combustion Engine NSPS rules (subparts JJJJ and IIII).  The “Reg Nav” tool asks a series of questions, which produces a printout of the regulatory requirements for a specific engine.  The tool can be found under ‘Implementation Information’ at http://www.epa.gov/ttnatw01/nsps/sinsps/sinspspg.html  and at http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/nsps/cinsps/cinspspg.htmlEPA says that the original Regulation Navigation Tool- for the Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engines NESHAP (subpart ZZZZ)-has been temporarily taken down while the agency updates it with the recent regulatory changes.

If you have any questions, please contact Melissa Payne at payne.melissa@epa.gov.


DoItGreen Directory: Promote your green business efforts

Let others know about your pollution prevention efforts by putting your organization in the Do It Green! Directory. The directory is an all-in-one resource for local, sustainable, and green merchants, grocers, retailers, contractors, designers, consultants and other businesses in Minnesota. It is searchable by location and business type. It is produced in print (10,0000 copies) and online (13,000+ hits/month) at www.doitgreen.org/directory. If you are interested in being a part of the only green business directory in Minnesota, visit the Do it Green! website and apply by September 1.


Turfgrass maintenance trainings

Turfgrass

More companies are looking to reduce the cost and environmental impact of their turf management regimes. ‘Turfgrass Maintenance with reduced environmental impacts’ trainings are being offered this summer. These voluntary trainings offer information about best practices for managing turfgrass (mowing, seeding, fertilizer and pesticide application, and more).

Who Should Participate?

  • Property managers
  • Private maintenance companies 
  • Schools      
  • Park departments
  • Master Gardeners

Training Topics:

  • Equipment calibration
  • Selection and application of fertilizers 
  • Mowing techniques
  • Weed control application tips
  • Best practices aeration
  • Legal issues and additional resources
  • Environmental effects

These practices will help you save money, time, and the environment. An optional test is offered at the end of the workshop to earn Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) Level I Certification in Turfgrass Maintenance Best Practices. Certified individuals are listed on the MPCA website

The next training is offered on August 1 at the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization in Minneapolis. No time for training? Check out the Turfgrass Manual and the Summer Turfgrass Management Best Practices Matrix.

Funding for this program was provided by MPCA through a grant from US EPA, Section 319 Nonpoint Source Management Fund.  Trainings are free with a preference given to participants in the Mississippi watershed. For questions or to register contact Nancy Mulhern at 763-478-3606 or nancy@fortinconsulting.com.


MPCA looking for small business partners in VOC reduction

The Business Assistance Unit at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is looking for small business partners across the state who are interested in helping reduce Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOCs).

We are in the planning stages of a two-year project where we will be issuing $300,000 in grants and providing technical assistance to businesses to implement VOC-reducing projects throughout their facilities

VOCs are emitted from processes that use coatings, inks, solvents, adhesives, or other chemicals that contain VOCs.  They can be released from processes where fuels (including wood, fuel oil, diesel, gasoline, natural gas, propane, and coal) are burned for heat or used to power engines in cars, trucks, generators, lawn mowers, machinery and recreational equipment.  They can also be released from the storage and transportation of chemicals and fuels.  When VOCs are released into the atmosphere they are chemically transformed into ground-level ozone (also known as smog), which is a harmful air pollutant.  

The funding could be used to research and implement projects to eliminate or reduce the release of VOCs from manufacturing facilities and related support activities such as office, building maintenance, and fleets. We are looking for partners in the project and want to hear your VOC reduction ideas.   Contact Tom Jablonski at 651-757-2171 or thomas.jablonski@state.mn.us if you have ideas you would like to share, or if you would like to receive updates on the project as we move into it. 

Grant funding and technical assistance is being offered from the MPCA as a result of the recently published Clean Air Dialogue Final Report: A Collaborative Plan to Reduce Emissions. 


Rural MN Solar Initiative helps farmers, small businesses gain solar

Are you considering a solar energy system to help power your farm or small business? If so, the Rural Minnesota Solar Initiative may be a great resource for you. The Initiative, led by Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) and funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development, can help farmers and small businesses learn how solar can work for them. CERTs staff will provide one-on-one direction and guide you to resources to help plan and implement a solar energy project. To learn more and get started, see the Initiative flyer and view fact sheets and guides.


Funding opportunity: MPCA clean diesel grant helps reduce air pollution

diesel grant

The big, shiny, red trucks that bring fizzy cola joy into the Phillips neighborhood will be doing so “with a 90% reduction in most tailpipe emissions,” according to Mark Sulzbach of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) Clean Diesel Grant Program.

Thanks to an EPA Clean Diesel Grant from the MPCA in 2012, Eagan’s Coca-Cola Refreshments fleet replaced six older diesel trucks last fall with six new diesel-electric hybrids used in local deliveries. The company uses the new cleaner trucks in core, urban routes where air quality is a concern, including deliveries in the Phillips neighborhood.

Diesel-electric hybrids are ideal for the stop-start operation of local deliveries, where stores may be only blocks apart. As an added benefit, “the trucks are quieter than their predecessors and early indications are that they will reduce fuel costs by about 20 to 25%,” according to Don Chiodo, Distribution Manager for the Twin Cities.

Inner-city neighborhoods often have higher pollution levels, in part, due to their proximity to highways and higher traffic on busy streets. These new hybrid delivery trucks will reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides and fine particle pollution by more than 90% when compared to the trucks they are replacing.

Coca-Cola’s grant paid for the extra cost of a hybrid above the cost of a new regular diesel delivery truck. Part of the grant requirements mandated that the older trucks that were replaced had to be taken out of service so they can’t pollute anywhere again. Eagan’s fleet now has 17 diesel-electric hybrids and plans to add to that number.

More information is available on the grants/financial assistance for clean diesel projects webpage. While there sign up for email updates on grant availability or contact Mark Sulzbach 651-757-2770 for questions.