Beginning this fall, the Idaho Small Business Development Center (Idaho SBDC) and Boise State University will offer no-cost energy evaluations through a grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Boise State students from a variety of disciplines, including business, engineering, construction management and environmental health and science, will be trained to analyze utility bills and complete on-site energy evaluations. Participating businesses then will receive a detailed report that explains current energy use, recommends ways to reduce energy use, provides calculations for return on investment and paybacks, and identifies utility incentive programs and other financing options.

“Small businesses can save as much as 20 percent on their utility bills through energy efficiency,” said Joan Meitl, Idaho SBDC environmental assistance coordinator. “Our evaluations will help businesses manage their energy costs.”

Adoption of energy efficiency measures by small businesses has been relatively limited, Meitl said, as they are busy running operations and do not have time to learn about energy saving options or available incentives. The no-cost service hopefully will interest businesses that typically would not hire a professional auditor or do an energy evaluation on their own, she said.

Retail, service and wholesale businesses that own or lease space within a 20-mile radius of Boise State may apply to have an evaluation completed. Applications and additional information are available at www.idahosbdc.org, by phone at (208) 426-1511, or by e-mail to energy@idahosbdc.org. The evaluations will be scheduled during Boise State’s fall and spring semesters. In 2010, the program is expected to expand to other regions of Idaho.

The Idaho SBDC is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration and is a partnership with Idaho’s institutes of higher education and the private sector.