Lots in the news these days about the traction – and funding – energy efficiency programs are gaining in the Northeast and across the country. Just last week Lawrence Berkeley National Labs published a report on an anticipated increase in energy efficiency programs funded by electric and natural gas utility customers, a dramatic doubling to nearly $9.5 billion by 2025.

This builds on the findings of a December 2012 report by New England ISO forecasting that the six New England States will spend $5.7 billion on energy efficiency measures between 2015-2012, with spending in Massachusetts increasing more than 5x from the 2008-2010 period, and in Connecticut by more than 2x from 2009-2011. These jaw-dropping figures are part of a macro-shift in the energy industry that some argue will slow power demand growth.

That said, in discussions involving 10-figure energy efficiency initiatives, it can be easy to lose sight of the individual success stories that are enabled by these programs. Healthtrax Fitness & Wellness, a fitness center operator with locations in 8 states, including CT, MA, MD, NJ and RI, shows how much small and medium-sized businesses stand to gain by participating in these burgeoning programs and taking advantage of energy management strategies and solutions that were once the sole province of larger companies.

Through better energy procurement, mechanical and lighting retrofits, energy management systems and knowledge of relevant utility programs, World Energy Solutions was able to help Healthtrax lower the price it pays per kWh of electricity, decrease the amount of energy it consumes, AND get the most incentive dollars it could from their respective utilities. The results were striking — $1M+ in savings with minimal out-of-pocket expense, a combination that made an immediate impact to Healthtrax’s bottom line.

The projected growth of energy efficiency programs well into the future signals that efforts to reduce energy consumption are here to stay. It also marks an opportunity for more small businesses to join with Healthtrax and others in adopting energy management strategies to advance their business.