Increasing energy efficiency is a win-win for businesses. Lower energy costs lead to more profits, and greater efficiency helps to protect the environment. For small businesses, the cost savings and efficiency gains can be especially dramatic. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), simple changes and strategies - supplemented by a number of loan guarantees, tax credits, and government grants - can cut energy costs by more than 25 percent.

Would you like to receive a subsidy for an energy-efficient facilities upgrade, but not sure how to apply for funding? The Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency is a good source for researching state and federal programs. Benefactors include the U.S. SBA, IRS, Department of Treasury and Department of Agriculture, along with various state-supported programs.

Several subsidies are detailed in this article from Forbes.com, including the SBA loan program, ITC and PTC credits, government grants, and more.

The U.S. government also provides information on many energy-saving resources on its ENERGY STAR for Small Business webpage.