Uncover cost-saving and efficiency opportunities for your food-focused business! The Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (ISTC) and the EnergySense Resilience Center, units of the University of Illinois, are providing free technical assistance to 10 small for and/or non-profit entities, such as restaurants, grocers, food banks, lodging or institutional food service operations, and other food-focused businesses and organizations in DuPage and Kane Counties in Illinois. By getting assessed, businesses can lower operational costs, reduce wasted food & resources, and attract environmentally-conscious customers.
Assessments will focus on helping entities reduce costs and/or reduce environmental impacts through pollution prevention, energy efficiency, water reduction, alternatives to hazardous chemicals, and waste reduction (including purchasing and disposal).
How it works
Step 1: Initial conversation. This will take the form of a brief introductory phone call to discuss the assessment process and expectations. Utility data collection will also be discussed. (Participant time commitment: 30 minutes)
Step 2: Pre-Assessment Data Collection & Analysis. The participating business will share utility billing data as available. Providing this information helps our team quantify savings opportunities found on-site. (Participant time commitment: 30 minutes)
Step 3: Facility Walkthrough. On-site visit for review of current conditions, such as infrastructure and operational processes. Identify sustainability opportunities for cost and resource savings. (Participant time commitment: 1 hour)
Step 4: Providing Recommendations & Resources. ISTC and EnergySense will use data and information from previous steps to develop strategies to reduce costs and/or reduce environmental impact. Recommendations and resources will be shared with the participating business via a written report and presentation with Q&A. (Participant time commitment: 1 hour)
Step 5: Implementation. ISTC and EnergySense will assist businesses that are interested in implementing recommended strategies. Implementation assistance includes further guidance on equipment and/or process upgrades, as well as connecting to incentive or funding opportunities. (Participant time commitment will vary.)
Step 6: Case Study (Optional). A case study will be developed to showcase opportunities uncovered and strategies implemented. (This step is optional. If you decide to share your experiences with peers and customers, your time commitment will be approximately 1 hour to review drafts and provide feedback/approval.)
How do I sign up?
Interested businesses should fill out the short form at https://go.illinois.edu/FoodBusiness.
Participants will be selected on a rolling basis. ISTC and EnergySense will work with facilities upon selection until December 2026. Questions can be directed to Zach Samaras at zsamaras@illinois.edu.