Welcome to BTL

BTL would like to extend a warm welcome to our new, and not so new, BTL Business Partners.

Welcome to...

• Coachhouse Marina Resort Batemans Bay
• PCL Finance
• Leisure Coast Packaging Supplies
• Sussex Inlet RSL Club
• Shoalhaven Mechanical Services
• Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre
• Silos Estate
• Bundanon Trust
• Nowra Bowling Club
• Bomaderry Bowling Club
• Integra Packaging
• Salvos Stores
• Swan Lake Tourist Village
• Ulladulla Headland Tourist Village
• Lake Conjola Bowling Club
• Currarong Headland Tourist Village
• Lake Conjola Tourist Village
• Nowra Chemical Manufacturers
• Nowra Player Inc.
  And many more......

BTL wins Energy Efficiency for Small Business contract

Business Treading Lightly has won a tender to deliver the Department of Energy, Climate Change and Water’s Energy Efficiency for Small Business program.

The Energy Efficiency for Small Business Program is available to businesses that use up to approximately $20,000 in electricity a year or have up to approximately 10 employees.

The program offers:

• a subsidised personalised energy assessment and action plan including up to four hours of support.

• a 50% rebate of up to $5,000 for businesses that use $5,000-$20,000 a year in electricity and up to $2,000 for businesses that use less than $5,000 a year in electricity.

BTL’s very experienced Sustainability Officers will be conducting the assessment and preparing the action plan.

BTL wins Energy Efficiency for Small Business contract

Business Treading Lightly has won a tender to deliver the Department of Energy, Climate Change and Water’s Energy Efficiency for Small Business program.

The Energy Efficiency for Small Business Program is available to businesses that use up to approximately $20,000 in electricity a year or have up to approximately 10 employees.

The program offers:

• a subsidised personalised energy assessment and action plan including up to four hours of support.

• a 50% rebate of up to $5,000 for businesses that use $5,000-$20,000 a year in electricity and up to $2,000 for businesses that use less than $5,000 a year in electricity.

BTL’s very experienced Sustainability Officers will be conducting the assessment and preparing the action plan.

Rebate

The rebate is for implementing energy efficiency improvements as outlined in your action plan, including:

• lighting and skylights

• heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and insulation

• electric motors

• air compressors

• commercial refrigeration

• boilers

• insulation

• hot water systems.

The rebate is only available for items with a payback period of greater than 2 years but less than 10 years. The Energy Efficiency for Small Business Program is part of the NSW Government's $150 million Energy Efficiency Strategy. This strategy is helping NSW households, government and business save energy and reduce greenhouse gas

How BTL can Help: If you want information about how these assessments and grants can help your business call Marianne Jones on 0401 149 153 or email btl@shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au

The most common places to leak are taps, toilet cisterns, urinals – and a little leak can add up to a lot.

A tap dripping at one drop a second adds up to 7,000L a year.

A fast drip wastes 87,000L a year.

One BTL business partner (a Bowling Club) was losing 7,000L a night, that’s 10 millionL a year and an extra $20,000 on their water bill

A holiday park partner was losing 10,000L a day.

And another can’t find the leak as they are on sand – as are many properties in the area – and will have to call in an expert!

What can you do

• Keep on top of leaks and if the leak is outside, look for extra green grass or water running off the property into the gutter
• Keep an eye on areas where soil has been disturbed in case pipes have been broken
• Have your plumbing plans or diagrams
• Do a simple check of your water meter at close of business and the next morning
• Sub meter risk areas like the tap that fills the pool
• Install a manual data logger on your meter – it costs around $500 and is not suitable for meters older than 10 years, other meters will need a special lead so you can download data.
• Install an automated data logger on your meter – this takes readings every minute and at a certain threshold will email you or SMS you with an alert – it’s a web based sytem and costs around $1500 to install and over $800 a year in fees but could be worth it for larger and high risk sites
• Take it up with your water company if you have a major one off leak and need some concession on the price of that water however, if the leak is on your side of the meter it is your responsibility to find and fix.

BTL has successfully helped 17 of its partners obtain Government Grants to implement everything from lighting retrofits and water tanks.

If you wish to know about the latest Government Grants, sign up for our free quarterly newsletter, call BTL or go to GRANTS AVAILABLE NOW.

Major building and refurbishment bring opportunities to spend your money wisely and make sustainable savings into the future. As well, your choices will make a difference to indoor air quality, benefiting the health of the building occupants.

Below are ideas on sustainable and healthy building and refurbishing considering:

• Design and comfort
• Materials
• Energy efficiency, capture and use
• Water efficiency
• Waste management
• Social sustainability
• Biodiversity
• Web resources

Business Treading Lightly, in conjunction with the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water, will be hosting an Industrial Ecology forum on the 9th March, 2010.

BTL now partners from Wollongong to Bega and in the Wingecarribee and many of those partners are starting to make a real impact on their energy, waste and water bills.

To show leadership and to inspire other businesses to start on a sustainable journey BTL partners have access to our BTL Reward and Recognition program.