Commercial Energy

An Oregon Perspective on Commercial Energy

Mark Kendall
Senior Policy Analyst
Oregon Office of Energy

Each year Oregon businesses and institutions spend more than $4 billion dollars on energy. There are numerous opportunities to use natural gas, electricity, petroleum and biomass energy resources more efficiently at the 20,000 business or institutional sites throughout Oregon. Efficient use of energy improves Oregon's air and water quality while saving money. Purchases of petroleum and natural gas represent monies that leave Oregon's economy. Energy efficiency investments made in Oregon employ Oregonians. Energy efficiency investments also yield benefits in productivity, product quality, improved employee satisfaction, business cost competitiveness, equipment reliability, customer comfort and many others.

Since 1980, Oregon businesses have invested in more than 6,000 energy efficiency and renewable resource projects and are saving millions in energy costs each year. In addition, thousands of other investments in energy efficiency are continually being made by state and local government agencies, school districts, and institutions of higher education. The return on these investments yields over 20 percent in most cases! Unlike the stock market, the return on efficiency investments is guaranteed and better than any money market account. However, the best return is through improvements of Oregon's livability -- things do look different in Oregon because we invest in things that make a difference.

Whether you are improving lighting systems, installing new motors, adding insulation, cooling with fresh air, recycling waste products, updating a production line, riding transit to work, or teleconferencing to eliminate a drive across town, the benefits lead to the same outcome: businesses save money and we use natural resources wisely. Wise energy use moves Oregon's economy one step closer to becoming sustainable and enhances our global competitiveness. As a nationally recognized leader in energy efficiency, Oregon is home to a world-class service industry to support energy efficiency. Take advantage of the private consultants, electrical and mechanical contractors, utilities, builders and developers, governmental agencies and local organizations available to provide services and help you get started.

Contact your energy supplier, ask a fellow businessman how he has invested in energy efficiency, talk to your neighbor, or browse the web. However you choose to get started, just do it. Every day you wait, you are missing out on one of Oregon's best kept investments! Saving energy saves everything.

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Featured Case Study

City of Portland finds Energy Savings in LED Traffic Signals

In a project completed late last year, the City of Portland has replaced nearly all red and green incandescent traffic signal lights with new signal lights featuring highly-efficient light emitting diodes (LEDs). The new LEDs will save the City more than $330,000 per year. After the incentives received are factored in, this project has a net payback of 3.1 years – a net return on investment of 32 percent!
Source: Portland Office of Sustainable Development

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