Energy efficiency improvements are coming to almost 20 businesses across Kansas, including two in Emporia, as part of a federal initiative through the Department of Agriculture.
The Rural Development Office says Cash Saver and Country Mart are receiving a nearly $61,000 grant to buy and install coolers and freezers. The project could save almost 300,000 kilowatt-hours per year, or over 40 percent, and would translate to enough energy to power 28 homes.
Owner Matt Good tells KVOE News the federal dollars will reimburse purchases from a year ago. The frozen food, fresh meat, lunch meat and dairy cases were replaced at Country Mart, while the fresh meat case was replaced at Cash Saver. More improvements are coming as well in the coming months, including a replacement of Country Mart’s produce case and new decor and new paint at the store.
This also followed earlier rounds of improvements at both stores, including new lighting.
The grants come courtesy of the Rural Energy for America Program’s Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvement Grants and Guaranteed Loans. Investments can be used for a range of renewable energy systems, and funding can also go to energy audits as well as energy efficiency improvements.
