All News Releases By Date

EPA Honors Western Pennsylvania Bed & Breakfast with First ENERGY STAR® Small Business Award - Energy Efficiency Cut Heating Bill in Half at Historic Weatherbury Farm Bed & Breakfast

Release Date: 10/1/1999
Contact Information: Donna Heron, 215-814-5113

Donna Heron, 215-814-5113

AVELLA, Pa. -- In winning EPA’s first ENERGY STAR® Small Business Award, a B&B on the Pennsylvania/West Virginia border has graphically demonstrated how environmental protection and corporate profit go hand in hand.

Weatherbury Farm Bed & Breakfast, a 100-acre family vacation spot, was honored during a ceremony last week at EPA’s Philadelphia office for its success at making energy-saving improvements that protect the environment while cutting costs.

"Weatherbury Farm recognizes that it can make a contribution to the environment and make a good business decision as well," said W. Michael McCabe, regional administrator of EPA’s mid-Atlantic region.

Proprietor Marcy Tudor said energy efficient activities started the fist day her B&B first opened for business seven years ago.

"One of the most important things we do is ask our guests to reuse towels and wash cloths which saves a lot of water and electricity," Tudor said.

The hostelry, which features activities for children on its working farm, is situated in a small community that does not have a recycling program. Tudor said guests are asked to recycle tin and glass which she then transports to West Virginia’s drop-off center.

Tudor expanded her energy efficient activities when she recently renovated the summer kitchen and house. The renovation project included insulation, window caulking, high efficiency heat pumps and water measures. The insulation alone cut Tudor’s heating bill in half, saving approximately $1,000 a year.

"I’m an accountant and accountants are always looking for the most efficient ways of doing thing," Tudor said. "The payback was less than one year on our insulation. Altogether, Weatherbury Farm annually saves an estimated $2,000 a year and conserves 4,000 gallons of water."

EPA’s ENERGY STAR® program has always recognized large corporations for their energy-efficient activities. But until this year there was no specific recognition for small businesses, which are defined as having 100,000 square footage or less.

"It’s important that we do all we can to encourage small businesses to take advantage of these programs," McCabe said. "As more business people become aware of the effective and efficient way they can protect the environment, they will also become aware that it is good for their bottom line."

The EPA also honored three others with ENERGY STAR® Small Business Awards: the American Academy of Otolaryngology Foundation, Alexandria, Va.; Penn-Craft Community Association, Fairbank, Pa.; and GGS Information Services, York, Pa.

EPA offers 21 voluntary partnership programs designed to prevent pollution and save money. Nationally, 7,427 businesses saved themselves a total of $3.3 billion; reduced waste by 7.8 million tons; prevented 80 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions; and saved $1.8 billion gallons of water -- the emissions reductions alone are the equivalent of taking 65 million cars off the road.