Friendly's goes 'green' with rebates

WILBRAHAM, Mass. (WWLP) - Friendly's is among many local businesses that take advantage of rebates offered by utility companies to make energy efficient upgrades.

The restaurant chain and ice cream maker has been applying for rebates from Western Massachusetts Electric Company for five years.

So far, they have been able to make upgrades at their headquarters which includes, new energy efficient lights in their warehouse and new hardening equipment and better freezers in their ice cream plant.

Both help them compete on a national level, but also help them save money.

"It's about an 80-thousand dollar capital project and WMECO is helping fund that project through giving us about 40-thousand dollars towards all those lights, " said Martha Leyburn, the Senior Director of Manufacturing at the company.

Businesses interested in how to get money back for energy upgrades attended a meeting on the subject at Friendly's in Wilbraham.

Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Rick Sullivan, says right now there is a great opportunity for anyone impacted by the June 1st tornados.

"We've made just over nine million dollars available to home and businesses who were impacted by the tornado. When they are rebuilding, they should think about their energy use, " said Sullivan.

The website of the state Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs has information on incentives to upgrade your home and business . They also have specific information for people who were impacted by the tornadoes.