FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. What is the BLOOM On-site Technical Assistance Program for Manufacturers?
2. What does the program offer?
3. What is a Pollution Prevention (P2) Assessment?
4. What is an Energy Efficiency (E2) Assessment?
5. How can this assessment help my organization?
6. What costs does the program cover?
7. Who are your roster consultants?
8. Can I choose my own consultant?
9. How do I know if my consultant is pre-qualified?
10. Do I have a choice of consultants from your roster?
11. Is my company eligible?
12. There are three options to participate, how do they differ?
13. Which option should I choose?
14. What if I am unsatisfied with the proposal?
15. Is the program run by the Government?
16. Will my business' proprietary information be protected?
17. My company is interested, what do I do next?
18. I am a consultant and would like to be included on your roster. How do I proceed?

1. What is the BLOOM On-site Technical Assistance Program for Manufacturers
   
   The BLOOM On-site Technical Assistance Program for Manufacturers is designed to assist small and medium sized (SME) manufacturers across Ontario to reduce their environmental footprint by implementing sustainable business practices. The program is delivered on behalf of government and other funding partners by The Bloom Centre for Sustainability (BLOOM).
2. What does the program offer?
   
   
   1. Funding incentive to conduct a pollution prevention assessment. We will cover 50% of the total cost up to maximum $7,000;
   2. Technical expertise of pre-qualified industry consultants on our program roster to conduct integrated pollution prevention and energy efficiency assessments for your facility.
   
   The program's multi-media approach to pollution prevention and energy efficiency enables businesses to address environmental aspects holistically, which results in integrated process solutions with multiple sustainable outcomes.
3. What is a Pollution Prevention (P2) Assessment?
   
   A Pollution Prevention (P2) Assessment identifies the root causes of priority pollutants and wastes, and recommends P2 improvements in technology, processes and the operating practices for your facility with expected reductions, costs savings and paybacks.
4. What is an Energy Efficiency (E2) Assessment?
   
   An Energy Efficiency (E2) Assessment identifies process optimization opportunities to reduce energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and energy consumption costs.
5. How can this assessment help my organization?
   
   The assessments focus on process streams where resources can be reduced or reused, where wastes/pollutants can be minimized at the source to reduce disposal costs and compliance risks, and where energy usage can be optimized. By implementing recommendations from these assessments, you can improve the environmental performance and financial performance of your company in the form of cost savings, reduced liability, and better marketing opportunities. Most of the participating businesses have an average payback period of less than one year.
   
   Furthermore, our recommendations are categorized based on costs: no cost, low cost, and high cost, each with return on investment (ROI) calculated. You have the choice to implement the recommended actions as you see fit.
   
   Read our case studies to see how other companies have implemented recommendations and reduced costs.
6. What costs does the program cover?
   
   The TRSP cost-share covers 50% of the cost of a Pollution Prevention Assessment up to a maximum of $7,000. The Program cost-share does not cover the cost of lab fees, implementation or the acquisition of new capital assets.
   
   The Program does not cover the cost of an Energy Efficiency Assessment, however, we can assist you in finding leveraged cost-share funding from existing energy efficiency incentives from government and private sector agencies.
7. Who are your roster consultants?
   
   Our selected and pre-qualified consultants are individuals with proven expertise in industrial process optimization and pollution prevention. The financial assistance offered through the program reduces the cost barrier for small and medium size businesses to tap into the knowledge of these industry-leading consultants, who have years of hands-on experience in optimizing industrial processes.
8. Can I choose my own consultant?
   
   Our clients choose from pre-qualified consultants on our program roster. Other consultants are welcome to apply to the program roster.
9. How do I know if my consultant is pre-qualified?
   
   You can contact us to find out.
10. Do I have a choice of consultants from your roster?
    
    Yes. We provide our program clients with a choice of three consultants who specialize in your sector. You can choose the one that best suits your company's needs.
11. Is my company eligible?
    
    Manufacturers across Ontario with fewer than 500 employees at any one facility, providing information to the National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI), or reporting for acetone under O. Reg. 127/01 and captured by the Toxics Reduction Act, 2009, are eligible to participate. Our past clients come from a wide variety of sectors: Printing, food processing, metal finishing, container and tanker cleaning, chemical processing, circuit board manufacturing, electrical equipment, and hospitals. Read about them here.
12. There are three options to participate, how do they differ?
    
    The first option, the multi-media pollution prevention assessment, looks at the root causes of pollutants and wastes in the processes and provides recommendations with a business case to reduce or eliminate them at the source.
    
    The second option, integrated pollution prevention and energy efficiency assessment, is a combined assessment to address both pollution prevention and energy efficiency opportunities.
    
    The third option is conducting a pollution prevention (P2) assessment with a follow-on energy efficiency assessment after the P2 assessment is complete.
13. Which option should I choose?
    
    Although we always recommend the second option - integrated pollution prevention and energy efficiency assessment - as it will save you time and allow consultants to conduct the assessment holistically, we can first meet with you to learn about your business and environmental priorities. You can then decide which option is best. Contact us to arrange for a detailed overview of the program.
14. What if I am unsatisfied with the proposal?
    
    The consultants can revise the proposal until it meets your company's needs. If you are still unsatisfied after revision, you can choose not to participate. Both the preliminary walk-through and proposal are free-of-charge and have no obligations.
15. Is the program run by the Government?
    
    No. BLOOM is a private, not-for-profit organization operating at an arm's length from government. We are a 3rd party intermediary delivery partner for government agencies with an enabling role to motivate behaviour change in small and medium-sized businesses.
16. Will my business's proprietary information be protected?
    
    Absolutely. Program participation is strictly confidential as we do not reveal the names of our clients to any of our government funding partners. In addition, all proprietary information is kept confidential, from the very first call to the final report. It is only at your discretion that BLOOM will develop a pro bono case study to showcase your success in participating in our program.
17. My company is interested, what do I do next?
    
    Contact us to arrange for a detailed overview of the program.
18. I am a consultant and would like to be included on your roster. How do I proceed?
    
    BLOOM uses a rigorous protocol for consultants to be included on the program roster. Consultants are included based on proven individual expertise and experience in pollution prevention, not the credentials of their respective firm. Inclusion on the program roster is open to any individual consultant who can meet the requirements of the program protocol. Please contact BLOOM staff to discuss in more detail if you want to be considered for the roster.