Save energy and build your business by using the tools and incentives available through PowerGrant – Minnesota Power’s commercial, industrial, and agricultural energy-conservation program.

Featured PowerGrant Profiles:

• Little Stores
• HSC
• Hubbart Methodist Church
• Hill Annex Mine
• Upper Lakes foods

Minnesota Power provides PowerGrant rebates to business customers who design energy-efficient technologies into new facilities or make process improvements that save energy and/or lower electric demand.

To help you determine how to start saving energy and prioritize projects, select the category from the list below that most closely reflects your particular operation or business. Commercial buildings consist of a range of facility types from office space to retail outlets to restaurants.  Each of these different types of facilities or businesses operate uniquely with respect to consumption of energy. 

Office Buildings

One of your largest uses of energy within a “typical” office building is Heating Ventilating and Air Conditioning Equipment (HVAC).

HVAC equipment can account for anywhere from 40% to 70% of a typical office building’s energy consumption.  These systems range from a complicated variable air volume air handling system to a simplified rooftop unit.

Lighting is another large user of energy within office buildings.  There are multiple options available in the marketplace to make the lighting in your facility more energy efficient.

Office and miscellaneous equipment make up the difference and don’t impact as much of the overall energy saving picture.  However, there are energy saving options available, depending on your specific building, such as ENERGY STAR®  appliances, best practices for operating equipment (simply turning off computers, copiers, printers at night), etc…. that you can employ to lower your energy consumption.

Minnesota Power provides PowerGrant rebates to business customers who design energy-efficient technologies into new facilities or make process improvements that save energy and/or lower electric demand.

Retail (small business operations, book stores, clothing, toy stores, etc…)

One of the largest uses for energy within a “typical” retail operation is lighting.
There are multiple options available in the marketplace to make the lighting in your facility more energy efficient.

HVAC equipment can consume anywhere from 20% to 50% of energy for a typical retail operation.  These systems range from a split type air conditioning system to a rooftop unit. 

Office and miscellaneous equipment make up the difference and don’t impact as much of the overall energy saving picture.  However, there are energy saving options available, depending on your specific building, such as ENERGY STAR® appliances, best practices for operating equipment (simply turning off computers, copiers, printers at night), etc…. that you can employ to lower your energy consumption. 

Minnesota Power provides PowerGrant rebates to business customers who design energy-efficient technologies into new facilities or make process improvements that save energy and/or lower electric demand. 

Convenience Stores / Gas Stations

Refrigeration is the largest single user of energy in a typical convenience store. This equipment includes walk-in freezers and coolers, reach-in coolers and freezers, ice cream freezers, ice storage freezers, etc…

Lighting is another large user of energy for convenience stores.  There are multiple options available in the marketplace to make the lighting in your facility more energy efficient.

HVAC equipment can consume anywhere from 20% to 40% of a typical convenience store’s energy.  A typical system for these facilities is a rooftop unit.

Appliances and miscellaneous equipment make up the difference and don’t impact as much of the overall energy saving picture.  However, there are energy saving options available, depending on your specific convenience store operations, such as ENERGY STAR® appliances, best practices for operating equipment (simply turning off coffee makers/espresso machines at night …. that can be employed to lower your energy consumption. 

Minnesota Power provides PowerGrant rebates to business customers who design energy-efficient technologies into new facilities or make process improvements that save energy and/or lower electric demand. 

Restaurant

One of your largest uses of energy within a “typical” restaurant is Heating Ventilating and Air Conditioning Equipment (HVAC).

HVAC equipment can consume anywhere from 40% to 70% of a typical restaurant’s energy.  These systems range from a simplified rooftop unit to a variety of split system air conditioners. 

Lighting is another large user of energy for a restaurant.  There are multiple options available in the marketplace to make lighting more energy efficient at your facility. 

Appliances, kitchen and miscellaneous equipment make up the difference and don’t impact as much the overall energy saving picture.  However, there are options available, depending on your specific restaurant, that are still available such as ENERGY STAR® appliances, best practices for operating equipment (simply turning off the kitchen equipment at night) …. that can be employed to lower your energy consumption. 

Minnesota Power provides PowerGrant rebates to business customers who design energy-efficient technologies into new facilities or make process improvements that save energy and/or lower electric demand.