Sustainability Workshop Helps Locally-Owned Minority Businesses Combat High Energy Burdens

Studies show that minority residents and business owners across the country are paying 20-35% more per square foot on energy when compared to their white counterparts. This is due to aging building stock and HVAC equipment, as well as a need for awareness and access to translated utility rebate programs.

We know that for small and locally owned businesses, this adds to an additional fee to do business. To support Spanish-preferred businesses in lowering their operating costs by making their buildings more energy and water-efficient, Local First has launched a strategy to connect interested business owners with our technical support and expertise to do just that!

In December, the Local First Sustainability and Fuerza Local teams joined forces to offer a Spanish-language sustainability workshop at Brooks Community Kitchen in South Phoenix.

Ten Spanish-preferred, locally-owned businesses attended and learned how to save money by taking advantage of rebates for energy and water-saving measures such as LED lighting, low-flow faucets and toilets, and building improvements, with teams from SRP and APS present to answer questions.

Next up, Local First in partnership with Tucson City of Gastronomy will host two restaurant-focused sustainability workshops, one in Spanish on July 10 and another in English on July 17.