Gayle Tierney MP, Member for Western Victoria is encouraging local businesses in Western Victoria to save money on their energy bills with the Andrews Labor Government’s Boosting Business Productivity Energy Assessment Grants.
Small businesses spending more than $20,000 a year on energy could apply for a basic energy assessment up to $2,000 and a detailed energy assessment up to $6,000.
A $3,000 implementation bonus is also available to both grant types to carry out one or more of the recommendations from their assessment.
These might include fitting variable speed drives to fan drives on existing variable air volume heating, ventilating, or air conditioning systems. Another option may be to install fast rolling doors or clear plastic strips to prevent heat gain or loss on large warehouse doors.
“An energy assessment can be extremely beneficial to your business. Undertaken by experts, they will provide tailored advice on how you can cut your energy costs and improve productivity.
“Businesses can save, on average, more than $50,000 each year on energy bills alone,” Ms Tierney said.
In Victoria, dairy farms energy is used predominately in heating water, cooling milk and milk harvesting.
Energy saving opportunities for dairy farms includes:
- Installing variable speed drives on vacuum pumps in milking operation
- Installing a heat exchanger to pre cool milk before it is stored in refrigerated vats
- Installing solar hot water
- Upgrading to an energy efficient refrigeration system
- Upgrading to LED lighting. The Victorian energy saver incentive can help with discounts in the cost of installing LED lighting.
A further $630,000 was allocated to the Boosting Business Productivity grants program in the recent Budget. Small and medium sized manufacturers can now apply for a Materials Efficiency Grant of up $13,000 to improve materials efficiency, reducing waste sent to landfill.
Grant applications are now open.
For more information visit www.sustainability.vic.gov.au, or call 1300 363 744 to speak to a Boosting Productivity adviser.
Quotes attributable to Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney
“An energy assessment can be extremely beneficial to your business. Undertaken by experts, they will provide tailored advice on how you can cut your energy costs and improve productivity.”
“Businesses can save, on average, more than $50,000 each year on energy bills alone.”