The $1.6-million LiveSmart BC: Small Business program will be extended another year, until March 31, 2014 announced Rich Coleman, Minster of Energy, Mines and Natural Gas and Naomi Yamamoto, Minister of State for Small Business.

This successful program, launched in January 2011, will continue to help British Columbia small businesses save energy and money by making energy efficient improvements such as replacing incandescent bulbs with LED bulbs.

The program has served over 10,000 British Columbia businesses, helping them save 150 gigawatt-hours of electricity or enough to power 13,500 homes for one year. It has also saved over 1,620 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, the equivalent of taking 306 vehicles off of the road.

Small businesses who are interested in making energy efficient improvements can contact a business energy advisor near them. There are currently 15 LiveSmart BC business energy advisors throughout the province, working out of organizations like local chambers of commerce. Energy advisors guide small business owners through the process of energy efficiency upgrades. They deliver free energy assessments to determine what upgrades are needed and help small business owners understand and find available product incentives and cash rebates. They also help co-ordinate energy efficient product installation.

A request for proposals for organizations to host business energy advisors will be posted on the BC Bid site until March 13, 2013 at: www.bcbid.gov.bc.ca/open.dll/submitLogin?disID=24127430

Funding will be provided to organizations, like chambers of commerce, industry associations or local governments, to hire, manage and support these energy advisors.

Quotes:

Minister Energy Mines and Natural Gas, Rich Coleman -

"This very successful program is creating jobs, helping small businesses across the province, and making efficiency upgrades easy and affordable so owners can focus on serving their customers."

Minister of State for Small Business, Naomi Yamamoto -

"Making it easier for business to do business in B.C. is always good news. That's why the LiveSmartBC program is so important. It allows small business owners to operate more energy efficiently and ultimately save on the bottom line."

Quick Facts:

• The $15-million LiveSmart BC: Small Business Program was launched in January 2011.
• It has saved B.C. small businesses over $6 million in ongoing utility costs.
• Business energy advisors are currently available in the Lower Mainland, southwest, Vancouver Island, coast, Thompson-Okanagan, Kootenays, Cariboo, northcoast, Nechako and the northeast regions of B.C.
• They can assist small businesses in the accommodation, business-office, retail, agriculture and food-services sectors.
• The LiveSmart BC: Small Business program has created 94 jobs throughout the province.

Learn More:

Find out how to make your small business more energy efficient at: www.livesmartbc.ca/incentives/small-business/index.html

Media Contact:

Sandra Steilo
Media Relations
Ministry of Energy, Mines and Natural Gas
250 952-0617