The Minnesota Technical Assistance Program (MnTAP) is currently seeking project proposals from Minnesota businesses for its 2013 summer intern program. Businesses interested in reducing waste and improving energy efficiency are encouraged to apply for an intern in 2013.
Each year, the interns are chosen based upon their outstanding educational background and leadership capabilities. “Our experience with MnTAP interns has shown them to be of a high caliber and able to work independently,” said Brad Gehring, energy specialist at Metropolitan Council Environmental Services.
Proposed projects are evaluated for reduction potential, specific goals achievable in three months, relation to previous projects, application of results to other Minnesota businesses, and company interest and commitment. Projects should focus on identifying specific options for reducing waste and increasing energy efficiency. Proposals are due to MnTAP by February 1, 2013.
In a time when trimming costs has become an everyday concern for businesses, some companies in Minnesota have successfully decreased their expenses by increasing efficiencies and reducing energy use. What’s more—these businesses completed a number of projects without allocating current staff resources by hosting an intern from the Minnesota Technical Assistance Program. The MnTAP intern program helps businesses address an environmental or energy efficiency project and save money.
Each summer, six to nine highly qualified interns lead projects at Minnesota businesses that range from identifying hazardous waste reduction opportunities to investigating potential energy efficiency process improvements. Participating companies, including Consolidated Precision Products (CPP) of Minneapolis, appreciate the opportunity to work with a student and have an additional staff member who is dedicated to projects that sometimes take a back seat to production needs. In fact, MnTAP has placed two interns at CPP Minneapolis since 2008 to research two projects: sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) alternatives and energy efficiency opportunities. “The beauty of the MnTAP intern program is that the intern is focused on one thing,” notes Jim Trudeau, Facilities and Maintenance Manager at CPP.
The nine 2012 interns focused on researching energy, organic and solid waste, as well as water reduction solutions. Many of the interns were able to start implementing their recommendations. In total, the interns’ proposals for 2012 could save their companies over $331,000 and result in significant environmental reductions each year. Potential reductions include: 23,000 pounds hazardous waste, 371,000 pounds solid waste, 3.7 million pounds organic waste, 17.2 million gallons of water, 508,000 kWh, and 106,000 therms.
For more information about the intern program or the application process, visit MnTAP’s Web site at http://www.mntap.umn.edu/intern or contact Linda Maleitzke at MnTAP at lmaleitz@umn.edu or 612-624-4697.
MnTAP is a business outreach and assistance program in the School of Public Health at the University of Minnesota that helps Minnesota businesses implement industry-tailored solutions that maximize resource efficiency, increase energy efficiency, prevent pollution, and reduce costs to improve public health and the environment.
The intern program is one of the services MnTAP offers to provide non-regulatory technical assistance to businesses under the Minnesota Toxic Pollution Prevention Act and the Waste Management Act. MnTAP receives funding through the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and special project grants.
