U of M's MnTAP helps Minnesota businesses save more than $1 million in 2009
MnTAP is celebrating 25 years of providing assistance and real solutions to businesses
Contacts: Krysta Larson, MnTAP, kjlarson@umn.edu, (612) 624-4697
Patty Mattern, University News Service, mattern@umn.edu, (612) 624-2801
MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (02/22/2010) —The Minnesota Technical Assistance Program (MnTAP) helped businesses save more than $1 million in 2009 through industry-tailored pollution prevention and energy efficiency solutions. With more than 17 million pounds of waste reduced and cost savings that total more than $1 million, several Minnesota businesses benefited from the assistance of MnTAP last year.
MnTAP is a business assistance program in the School of Public Health at the University of Minnesota that helps Minnesota businesses implement industry-tailored solutions that maximize resource efficiency, increase energy efficiency, prevent pollution, and reduce costs, to improve public health and the environment. In 2010, MnTAP is celebrating 25 years of providing assistance and real solutions to businesses.
To realize savings like the $1 million in 2009 and to best assist businesses, MnTAP staff members offer site-specific services including site visits, student interns, team facilitation and the Materials Exchange program. MnTAP’s free technical assistance provides businesses with on-site, industry-tailored solutions to reduce waste, increase efficiency, save money on disposal and raw material costs and decrease regulatory compliance burdens.
In 2009, MnTAP’s staff of engineers and scientists conducted more than 200 customized site visits that helped companies identify pollution prevention and energy efficiency opportunities. By going on-site, MnTAP staff members gain a better understanding of processes and can identify strategies and tools for improving efficiency and reducing waste at each particular site. Companies that implemented suggestions resulting from MnTAP site visits realized environmental reductions of nearly 4 million pounds of waste, 2.3 million gallons of water, 481,200 kWh, and 24,100 therms.
Another way that MnTAP reached Minnesota businesses in 2009 was through the intern program. Summer interns, hired and paid by MnTAP, worked with six companies and evaluated processes to recommend pollution prevention and energy efficiency solutions. The interns made recommendations that could potentially result in over $600,000 in total savings, once implemented. Overall, the interns provided cost-saving solutions while gaining hands-on learning experiences.
Facility teams, facilitated by MnTAP, addressed a number of issues in 2009 including wastewater loading, water use, and energy use. By working with MnTAP to form a team, companies can be successful in engaging employees in investigating and implementing pollution prevention and energy efficiency opportunities.
By using MnTAP’s Materials Exchange program in 2009, companies were able to divert more than 500,000 pounds of waste from the landfill. Materials Exchange is a free service that links organizations that have reusable goods they no longer need to those who can use them. Exchanges save the participating companies purchase and disposal costs and reduce the amount of waste entering landfills every year.