ARARAT - Ararat's Energise Business program, launched last October by Ararat Rural City Council, has been embraced by 24 local businesses which are set to significantly slash their annual greenhouse emissions.

Participating businesses underwent an energy audit late last year and recently met with an engineer from Energy Conservation Systems (ECS) - the specialist company that conducted the on-site audits. The meeting was also attended by Ararat Rural City Mayor, Cr Fay Hull and chief executive officer, Stephen Chapple.

Business operators discussed energy efficiency measures contained in their individual audit reports, covering all aspects of businesses' energy use including lighting, heating, cooling, water heating, and manufacturing equipment.

Council's Business Development Officer, Clyde Humphries said if participants implemented all recommendations, they could return over $150,000 in savings to the local economy each year.

"By implementing actions recommended under Ararat's Energise Business program, businesses could slash their annual greenhouse emissions by around 7,500 tons of carbon - or 15 million `black balloons'," he said.

Mr Humphries has encouraged all participating businesses to proudly display a window sticker that states `This business is proudly taking action to cut greenhouse emissions'.

"Each business was awarded an extra Bronze Medallion sticker for participation, with Silver and Gold medallion stickers to be awarded as they progress throughout the implementation of their audit program," he said.

"Ararat is regionally leading the green revolution with programs such as Energise Business plus other initiatives including the Earth Utility solar hot water offer and the domestic program - Ararat Energy Savers Project.

"Business and community growth should be seen through a sustainable focus to protect our future," Mr Humphries said.

AME Systems, one of the larger firms participating in the project is serious about containing its black balloons by considering the audit recommendations.

"Anything that has ongoing benefits of reducing costs with good payback periods has to beconsidered in today's economic climate with manufacturing in Australia," AME finance manager, Graeme Beames said.

"The fact that AME alone has potential to stop more than seven million black balloons from entering the Ararat atmosphere would be a great social and community outcome as well."

An initiative of the Victorian Government's Greenhouse Strategy and delivered through Ararat Rural City Council as a member of Cities for Climate Protection Australia, Energise Business is an energy efficiency program for the City's small-to-medium sized enterprises.

Ararat had approximately 120 businesses that were eligible for the program, which is also running in the City of Kingston and the City of Yarra.

According to Energise Business project manager Michael Cann many simple actions such as replacing inefficient light globes would pay themselves back within a year or two.

All recommendations combined would recover their cost in a little over four years.

"It goes to show that businesses can significantly reduce their greenhouse emissions at low cost," Mr Cann said.

"When you consider that energy prices are likely to increase significantly in the next few years, investing in efficiency can make good business sense."

Mr Cann commented on the impressive commitment and enthusiasm of Ararat businesses.

"Despite having a much smaller number of eligible businesses, Ararat successfully recruited roughly the same number of participants as the larger councils," he said.

"The business community in provincial Victoria can be proud of its openness to new ways of doing business," he said.