DAYTON — Local companies implementing “green” practices say they’ve found being good to the environment can also boost their bottom lines.

“Delving into why go green? It pays for itself,” Michael J. Berning, director of sustainability for Heapy Engineering said. “It’s money in our pocket.”

Heapy Engineering was the first of 21 regional businesses to receive green business certification through the Dayton Regional Green 3 (DRG3) Task Force, a partnership between Montgomery County, the University of Dayton and the private sector. Heapy, based in Kettering, spent about $50,000 to implement its energy savings plan and estimates the changes save the company $13,950 a year for a 28 percent return on their investment.

“You can be concerned about the environment and that’s great, but a business also needs to be concerned about keeping employees paid. This will pay for itself in three years,” Berning said.

“We have been able to take money out of our operating costs and add it directly into the profits column.”

The task force is an offshoot of a 2007 forum convened by the Montgomery County commissioners to identify ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Using a $140,000 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant as seed money, the task force has established a virtual, one-stop-center where businesses can learn about sustainable options, apply to the Green Business Certification Program, and link to rebates and other incentives available to companies taking voluntary steps to protect, preserve and improve the environment.

The center has published a free online tool, developed by University of Dayton students, that regional businesses can use to see how effectively they are using energy, benchmark their business against other local companies and determine energy reduction measures that would be most beneficial to them, based on their consumption patterns. A similar program for homeowners is under development.

“Green is about being frugal, using your resources and energy more efficiently,” Lamees Mubaslat, manager of the Green Business Certification Program, said. The emphasis of the program is on day-to-day operations and making small changes to become more energy efficient.

“An aggressive employee energy awareness program could save 10 to 13 percent of energy use,” Mubaslat said.

A bonus to certification is exclusive eligibility for rebates and incentives that can be worth thousands of dollars.

Thus far, eight small businesses, with fewer than 25 employees, have received a free energy audit though the county, which is required to earn green business certification. Mubaslat said the audits normally cost $2,000 to $4,000.

Energy audits consider the customer’s energy use to identify reduction strategies through equipment upgrades, equipment repair and behavioral changes. The audits will remain free for small business for another month through the county, Mubaslat said. After that, a $100 flat fee will be charged.

“This is a great value for small businesses,” Mubaslat said.

Eric Sauer, a principal at CYP Studios, a Centerville-based landscape architectural business with four employees, said energy-saving options required to earn the certification were varied enough that even a home-based business could participate. As part of its certification plan, CYP created a water-harvesting system and switched to energy efficient light bulbs.

“I’d love to say we saved $13,000 a year, but what we saved was probably not large in terms of dollars,” Sauer said. “The main point for us it was the right thing to do.”

Tim Tatham, director of operations for DP&L, said plans are in the works to provide an energy audit fee subsidy for medium-sized business, with more than 25 employees and using less than 750,000 kilowatt hours per year. The plans are expected to be completed late this month.

“Many companies are interested in doing things to save money and resources, but don’t know where to start,” Tatham said. “An energy audit provides a business with a plan for where to best invest for energy efficiency.”

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2362 or josmith@DaytonDailyNews.com.