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Greely Pa. Small Business Honored by EPA for Energy Savings

Release Date: 09/16/2008
Contact Information: Bonnie Smith, 215-814-5543, smith.bonnie@epa.gov

PHILADELPHIA (Sept. 16, 2008) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has selected Pine Forest Camp of Greely, Pa. to receive the 2008 Energy Star Award for Small Businesses for cutting utility costs significantly and making energy efficiency improvements that help make our nation's air cleaner.

"The Pine Forest Camp is demonstrating the environmental and financial rewards of going green. We hope that small businesses across the country will realize that getting the most from their energy dollars just makes sense," said Donald S. Welsh, mid-Atlantic regional administrator.

Pine Forest Camp is a third-generation family-run business. “As a business devoted to children and young adults there is a special motivation to set a good example in energy efficiency,” says Mickey Black, grandson of the original founder.

Black's initial motivation for making changes was financial and was just “good business.” Pine Forest Camp saved nearly $13,000 in energy costs in the first year of its energy efficiency program. The camp's reductions of electricity and propane represent a reduction in annual greenhouse gas emissions (CO2) equivalent to the CO2 emissions from electricity use of six homes.

To get advice, Pine Forest Camp contacted the Environmental Management Assistance Program (EMAP) of the Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers. EMAP is a no-cost, confidential service assisting small business with environmental compliance and environmental improvements. There are centers statewide, Pine Forest worked with the center at the University of Scranton. As a result of its audit, in the 2007 camping season Pine Forest started with efficiency improvements in lighting, water heating, pool heating and food refrigeration.

“The goodwill generated by this campaign can not be overestimated,” Black adds. So, in 2008 guided again by EMAP, the camp stepped up its energy savings efforts.

Pine Forest is one of 10 small businesses and three congregations to be recognized with the 2008 Energy Star Award for Small Business and Congregations.

Launched in 1992, Energy Star is a government program that helps businesses and consumers protect the environment through superior energy efficiency. In 2007, Americans with the help of Energy Star saved $16 billion on their energy bills and reduced greenhouse gas emissions equal to those of 27 million vehicles annually.

To learn more about all of the 2008 Energy Star Small Business Award winners and to view the interactive map, visit: www.energystar.gov/SmallBizAwards

To learn more about all of the 2008 Energy Star Congregation Award winners and to view the interactive map, visit: www.energystar.gov/CongregationAwards

Energy Star is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy designed to save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices.

Energy Star: http://energystar.gov

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: www.epa.gov

U.S. Department of Energy: http://www.energy.gov