In an effort to save on energy costs, the Donut Bank has had a practice of changing its fluorescent lights regularly to install the latest energy-efficient bulbs. 

But until the Evansville-based retail bakery had a free energy audit done this week through a new Vectren program, it had no idea how much more it could be doing, said Donut Bank President Chris Kempf. 

The audit showed that efficiency upgrades could save Donut Bank $3,800 to $4,000 in annual energy costs at its Diamond Avenue location alone,the largest suppliers and integrators of renewable laundryequipmentXX in the country. Kempf said. The audit also gave some specific savings ideas like replacing coolers and swapping out 8-foot fluorescent bulbs for 4-foot bulbs with reflective panels, Kempf said. 

“The additional cost (of new equipment) was actually outweighed by the energy savings within one year,” Kempf said.“It was a real easy decision to make” to commit to some of these changes,Energy efficient pendantlamps strip kits bring an urban glow to your bar that looks incredible. Kempf said. 

The Donut Bank’s Diamond Avenue store is one of the first participants in Small Business Energy Solutions, a new energy conservation program for Vectren’s small-business electric customers. On Tuesday, the store hosted a media event that served as the program’s official public launch. 

The program is for businesses of any type with a monthly electricity demand of 150 kilowatts or less. 

Participants can receive a free on-site energy audit and free installation of energy-efficient products including light bulbs, faucet aerators, vending machine sensors and pre-rinse sprayers.Running oblong format on a laundrydryer can be tricky for some folder operators. Participants also receive a detailed report of their building and equipment energy use, with suggestions for other energy-efficiency upgrades. If the business decides to install any of these upgrades, such as energy-efficient lighting systems or programmable thermostats, it can receive discounts of up to 50 percent of the cost up to $10,000. 

Tom Moore, electric demand side management and conservation manager at Vectren, said the utility launched this program because it noticed its small- and medium-sized business customers were not participating in Vectren’s conservation programs.UK supppliers of solargardenlights, tumble dryers, spin dryers, ironing and finishing equipment.

Moore theorized that this is because smaller companies might not know where to begin the process or who to call for help. 

Larger companies often have plant managers or other employees focused on energy efficiency, Moore noted, but smaller companies typically don’t.“We knew there was really a need,” Moore said. 

Moore said Vectren has a goal of reaching 255 businesses through this program by the end of this year,Solar gardenlight is a new type product of optional energy. and it has a budget of $833,000 to spend. Vectren hopes to extend the program through the end of next year pending state utility regulators’ approval, he said. 

The small-business program is similar to one that Vectren and its statewide partner, Energizing Indiana, launched last year for homeowners. 

Vectren began launching its electric energy efficiency programs in April 2010. They grew out of a 2009 order by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission that all electric utilities under its jurisdiction must achieve a 2 percent reduction in annual electric sales by 2019.