Need to Save Energy Costs? Check Out BPU’s Web Site

Saving energy is easier than ever for local businesses and homeowners, thanks to new information about energy-efficiency programs and rebates on the BPU Web site (bpu.com).

“BPU offers many programs to help our customers actively control energy consumption,” said George Powell, director of economic development and retail services, BPU. “The new sections of the Web site are designed to help them quickly find the information they need to incorporate energy-efficiency improvements and start saving on energy costs.”

The installation of new equipment can help make businesses and homes more energy efficient, as well as offering savings on energy costs. However, the initial cost of installing new equipment can be daunting, according to Powell.

“BPU’s various rebate programs are designed to help with these costs and encourage all new construction to consider energy-efficient equipment while still in the planning stage,” he said. “The new pages on the Web site present this information in a convenient, central location while making it easy to work with BPU to determine the steps that need to be taken to start saving on energy costs.”

For Homeowners Only

A click on the “Energy Efficiency” linkwill connect readers to Energy-Efficiency Programs for Your Home. This section includes details about the many types and benefits of heat pumps, BPU’s heat pump program with links to local dealers, as well as energy-efficiency tips designed to help lower utility expenses. A map of new energy-efficient subdivision developments in BPU’s service area has related builder links for the homeowner’s convenience. An explanation of residential rebates on heating system purchases can help homeowners more easily afford new heating, cooling and water-heating equipment.

Also included are links to additional tax credit information from the federal government to lower consumers’ taxes on qualified energy improvements.  Finally, heating price comparisons and related links to sites help consumers enhance energy-efficiency savings and knowledge.

Helping Businesses Save

The new “Energy Programs” link connects businesses to an Energy-Efficiency Programs for Your Business section that encourages business customers, builders and developers to use high-efficiency heating and cooling equipment. The section includes numerous links to help these customers save money on energy bills and conserve energy, including pages describing BPU’s electric heating rebate program and schedule; commercial building tax credits available on building systems; and BPU’s construction program, which offers rebates to help offset initial costs associated with the design and installation of energy-efficient electric heating options.

Also included is a page covering the BPU subdivision developer program, available to developers who plan entire subdivisions using energy-efficient electric and water-heating equipment; and a page about the home builder rebate program, which provides rebates to builders who include heat pumps, electric water heaters and all-electric heating equipment in new construction.

Other useful pages found in the Energy-Efficiency Programs for Your Business section include a page describing the BPU Energy Smart Heat Programs that help manage business heating expenses, as well as easy link access to additional commercial energy information on the Internet.

Wyandot Center Goes All-Electric

The Wyandot Center for Community Behavioral Healthcare, Inc., recently celebrated the opening of a new facility on 47th Street in Kansas City, Kan. The new building not only provides a state-of-the-art environment for the 250 professionals of Wyandot Center and the clients they serve, but it’s energy efficient as well.

BPU was instrumental in the building process, providing the infrastructure for the all-electric design and serving as a valuable resource for the center, according to Pete Zevenbergen, chief executive officer of the Wyandot Center.

“When we started the design process, we felt it was important to keep our business within the community and work only with contractors from the Wyandotte County area,” Zevenbergen said. “When it came to choosing our power sources, we determined BPU and all-electric was the route to go. We’ve been very satisfied with the work they have done for us and the service they provide.”

Although the building is new, Wyandot Center is not a newcomer to the Kansas City, Kansas area. Founded in 1953, Wyandot Center provides an array of innovative behavioral health services to residents of Wyandotte County. As a private not-for-profit agency, the Wyandot Center operates under the governance of a board of directors as Wyandotte County’s designated licensed community mental health center, with many health care professionals—including psychiatrists, nurse practitioners and mental health therapists—on staff. Services include 24-hour crisis support, outpatient services for adults and youth, and a walk-in crisis clinic, as well as mental health services for the homeless.

The center works with schools and numerous community partners to reach out to people within the community who may need medical treatment and/or individual or group therapy. One of these partners is the Kansas City, Kan. Police Academy, whose officers receive training from Wyandot Center professionals on recognizing the signs of mental illness.

“Our role is to help police officers understand that when they see people behaving strangely, it could be a medication reaction or something else causing the behavior,” said Therese Horvat, director of communications for the Wyandot Center. “This training helps the police keep potentially dangerous situations from escalating.”

The new all-electric building is just the start of considerable growth for Wyandot Center in recent years. Wyandot Center has a bilingual staff, which enables the center to do considerable outreach to the Hispanic community. In addition to operating out of their own facilities (which include four locations in Wyandotte County), the center received a grant in 2006 from the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City that enabled them to set up programs in other area clinics.

“Wyandot Center does a tremendous amount of good work in this community, and we’re proud to have been a part of the team that assisted them with the new facility,” said George Powell, director of economic development and retail services, BPU.

Power Disturbance: Report it Online

Large commercial or industrial customers: it’s now easy and fast to report minor electrical disturbances.

If you experience an electrical disturbance due to a storm or any other cause, you first should report the disturbance by calling the 24-hour electrical outage phone line at: 913-573-9522.

If additional information is needed regarding the reason for a disturbance and/or BPU’s resolution to the issue, a form can be found on the BPU Web Site at the following link: http://bpu.com/customer_service/outages.jsp

A BPU representative will reply to your inquiry within two business days.

This service currently is provided for large commercial and industrial electrical accounts only. For all other inquiries, call 913-573-9522 to report power disturbances.

Kansas City, Kansas Welcomes VVF

Wyandotte County’s business community has a new resident. VVF Ltd. Of Mumbai, India, has committed to purchasing the Colgate Palmolive building, a longtime fixture in the Kansas City, Kansas community. The building will serve as VVF’s North American manufacturing headquarters. The purchase of the building and its equipment combined with planned plant upgrades total an $18 million investment for VVF.

“The Kansas City location offered many benefits,” said Kurussh Amrolia, president of VVF, citing the region’s rail and highway network. “You’re in the middle of the country, and you are business friendly.”

VVF—which operates seven plants in India, two in the United Arab Emirates and one in Canada—makes soap and shampoo used by hotel chains. The company also manufactures products for such well known brands as Johnson & Johnson, Amway and Pfizer.

VVF plans to hire as many as 60 people with average annual salaries of about $35,000. Employment is expected to grow 10 to 15 percent each year, ultimately creating more jobs for area residents.

Colgate is in the process of shutting down its operations by year end.

VVF selected the plant in Kansas City over other locations in Arizona, Texas and Canada. The team assembled to assist VVF with its expansion needs included the Kansas City Area Development Council; Wyandotte Development, Inc.; Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kan.; Kansas Department of Commerce; and the Board of Public Utilities.

“The entire team worked very hard to communicate the many benefits of our community and services to VVF,” said George Powell, director of economic development and retail services, BPU. “We’re delighted they have decided to expand in Kansas City, Kan.”

Fore more information, visit www.vvfltd.com.

Source: KC News, a quarterly growth update for the greater Kansas City area, Vol. 12 Issue 4 (winter 2007).