b'Businesses already are adapting to a warming climate Yuba Bucks, communication help , which is bringing bigger and more destructive wildfires, longer and deeper drought and more frequent rain-on-snow events that cause flooding. Some of the consequencesNevada City amid Pandemic 2.0include higher insurance bills, the need to use more energy and costs for making buildings more fire-resistant.PROGRAM APPEALS TO YOUNGER SHOPPERSBusiness owners (and residents) can take steps that both save money and help solve the underlying cause of theLESSONS LEARNED: CommunicateCoordinategrowing climate crisis, by reducing the use of energy, fossil fuels and other sources of greenhouse gas emissions.Try something newSupport each otherMany small steps, taken together, can make a difference.D uring the early COVID-19 pandemic, when lock-downs shuttered brick-and-mortar retailers, the already growing e-commerce sector surged. In 2020, the pandemics first by Trina Kleist year, online sales across the United States grew 43 percent, rising from $571.2 billion in through the business PG&E bill. Its2019 to $815.4 billion in 2020, according to the called on-bill financing, and it works this way: In the energy audit report, theU.S. Census Bureau.contractor includes a cost analysis for all measures, including projected savings,Nevada County businesses already were Ruderman explains. If the project is eligible for on-bill financing and the customerstruggling against both online ease and big-box agrees, the contractor performs the work and pays the upfront costs. The customershopping down the hill. Those that survived continues to pay the utility bills as before; but, the amount of money saved by thethe pandemic have reopened to a complex new upgrades goes back, through PG&E, to repay the contractor. reality, facing entrenched consumer habits and, Even in a scenario where the business owner pays the costs up front, he or shenow, an uncertain global economic outlook.would see savings immediately on the energy bill, Ruderman points out. Yuba Bucks is one effort undertaken by the Nevada City Chamber of Commerce to help bring The team at SNEW guides people through the process to enroll in the programpeople back to town.and manages the upgrade project. There is no charge for any of the programsYuba Bucks is a MasterCard-brand virtual energy audits or consulting services. credit card placed on a cell phone. You buy We tell people, Youre already paying for these services through the charge onit online and give it like a gift card, explains the PG&E bill, Ruderman says. You should take advantage of these opportunities.chamber Executive Director Stuart Baker. (It was It costs no money up front to just see what they are. proposed by then-board member Jesse Locks.) BriarPatch Food Co-op in Grass Valley is the most recent business in westernThe hitch: Recipients can spend it only with the Nevada County to start working with SNEW to audit problems and financetowns 40 participating merchants.solutions. They are early in the process, and its not clear what upgrades the storeThe format is good for Millennials and Gen Z, will pursue through SNEW, says BriarPatch Sustainability Coordinator LaurenBaker says, and it appeals to peoples feel-good Scott. In addition to saving the store money, energy-efficient upgrades fit withimpulse to support local businesses. The bigger the member-owned stores values supporting sustainability and environmentalproblem, the chamber is finding, is getting people to act on that impulse, setting down their click-stewardship: Lower energy use means fewer greenhouse gas emissions thatbuy addiction long enough to peruse in person.fuel global warming. We are constantly evaluating opportunities to lower ourAmid Pandemic 1.0, the chamber and city environmental impact, Scott says. started offering broader support, and thats continuing. Whats happened in the community This program offered through theis a lot more communication and coordination Sierra Business Council providesamong the merchants, Stuart says, with 25 to free services to help business owners30 business owners gathering monthly to share reduce their energy use: knowledge and ideas. The new city manager and police chief attend those meetings. Officials andENERGY AUDITS merchants also are working toward a permanent,FINANCING RESOURCES:outdoor presence on Commercial Streeta boostINCENTIVES, REBATES, ZERO-INTEREST LOANS for hard-hit restaurants. ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROJECT MANAGEMENT All of that has been a big positive,EDUCATION AND TRAINING Stuart added. The merchants feel like, SBC also offers a free Building Operator Certification course for publicPeople have my back.agencies. Its designed to train building maintenance and facility people in energy efficiency best practices. Check the SBC website for webinars.SIERRA BUSINESS COUNCIL10183 TRUCKEE AIRPORT RDTRUCKEE, CA 96161 BUY THE NEVADA CITY VIRTUAL GIFT CARD ANDSNEW@SIERRABUSINESS.ORG SEE PARTICIPATING LOCAL MERCHANTS ATWWW.SIERRABUSINESS.ORG/ARCHIVES/SNEW WWW.NEVADACITYCHAMBER.COM/SHOPNevada County Business Focus17'