Family businesses want lower utility bills and comfortable, environmentally friendly work environments. As energy costs rise, family business end-users are becoming acutely aware of the burden inefficacy can have on a business’s bottom line.  The utilization of energy efficient equipment remains one of the easiest and cost-effective ways to reduce energy costs. In 2016, the commercial and industrial sectors of the US utilized nearly 4.5 trillion BTU’s of energy, with electrical and environmental control equipment being the largest contributors to a business’s energy costs.

Government regulation consistently tops the list of challenges faced by small business owners and entrepreneurs, and regulatory compliance costs can easily be the difference between staying in business or closing for a small, family owned business. On average, small business owners spend $12,000 on regulations compliance every year.

Family business owners need access to safe, affordable, and reliable energy sources. A diverse supply of fuels and technologies to generate electricity balances the benefits and risks associated with each source, including clean air, reliability, and economics. The supply mix is an extremely important factor which goes into setting the price of power and ensuring the system’s reliability. Nuclear energy, coal, and natural gas generate America’s baseload electricity. Coal generates 37 percent of our total electricity; natural gas, 30 percent; and 100 nuclear energy facilities in 31 states generate 19 percent. Hydropower and renewables together provide nearly 13 percent and oil, less than 1 percent.