NSBA Releases Energy Survey of Small Business

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Oct 24, 2011, 07:47 ET

WASHINGTON, Oct. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --The National Small Business Association (NSBA) today released its 2011 Energy Survey. Among the key findings: rising energy costs weigh heavily on the majority of small businesses with 87 percent reporting negative impacts on their business. This is likely driving the fact that, over the past three years a whopping 82 percent of the small-business owners surveyed say they have taken one or more steps to reduce the amount of energy their business consumes.

"In this difficult economy, volatile energy costs pose a significant burden on small businesses," stated NSBA President Todd McCracken. "Unfortunately, it is a cost over which they have little to no control, making enhanced efficiency a top priority."

The 2011 survey, while providing a snapshot of the new and emerging landscape of energy efficiency for small business, also provides look-backs to the NSBA 2009 Energy Survey. In the past two years, there has been an increase in awareness of government- and utility-sponsored efficiency programs and a notable jump in the number of small businesses utilizing the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification program.

Underscoring the important role energy costs play in a small business, 92 percent of survey respondents report they are concerned about the future energy costs of their business. Even so, there has been only modest growth in businesses that have made upgrades.

"Among small-business owners who have taken steps to reduce their energy, 88 percent cite cost as the primary reason," stated Larry Nannis, CPA, NSBA chair and shareholder at Katz, Nannis + Solomon, P.C. "Unfortunately, an overwhelming number, 40 percent, say that capital availability is the main obstacle to becoming more energy efficient."

The 2011 Energy Survey was conducted on-line among more than 200 small-business members of NSBA.

Please click here to view the complete survey.

Since 1937, NSBA has advocated on behalf of America's entrepreneurs. A staunchly nonpartisan organization, NSBA reaches more than 150,000 small businesses nationwide and is proud to be the nation's first small-business advocacy organization. For more information, please visit www.nsba.biz.

SOURCE National Small Business Association