Best Of The Block - Efficiency Smart

Efficiency Smart's Best of the Block Contest

Celebrating small businesses 

Cast your vote to help determine which finalist wins up to $3,000 in energy-saving upgrades!

We are excited to announce the following three finalists for Efficiency Smart's Best of the Block Contest:

  • For Keeps in Bowling Green, Ohio
  • Mercury Cafe and Teahouse in New Castle, Delaware
  • Salon Godz in Clinton, Michigan

Voting is open through June 28. You can vote once per day, so make sure you check back and cast your vote each day for your favorite finalist.

Winners will receive:

  • First-place: $3,000 toward energy efficiency upgrades
  • Second-place: $2,000 toward energy efficiency upgrades
  • Third-place: $1,000 toward energy efficiency upgrades

Vote now

How it works:

  1. Nominate a standout local shop.

    Visit the nomination page to submit your entry by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, May 31, 2026. As a thank you, you’ll be entered to win a $50 gift card to the business you nominated (three winners will be randomly selected). Small businesses can self-nominate, but self-nominations aren’t eligible for the gift card drawing. 

  2. See the finalists.

    Keep an eye on our Facebook page, where the three finalists, along with and voting details, will be announced when voting kicks off on Monday, June 15. 

  3. Vote for the winner. 

    Cast your vote by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, June 28, to help determine the winner. Finalists are encouraged to spread the word and rally their customers.  

  4. Celebrate the Best of the Block!

    The first, second, and third-place businesses will be announced on social media on Monday, June 29. 

    Winners will receive:
    ⦁    First-place: $3,000 toward energy efficiency upgrades
    ⦁    Second-place: $2,000 toward energy efficiency upgrades
    ⦁    Third-place: $1,000 toward energy efficiency upgrades

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Local and independently owned small businesses with a physical location served by an Efficiency Smart utility are eligible. Businesses must be open to the public and may not operate out of a residence. Examples include but are not limited to: restaurants, mechanic shops, local retailers, and small commercial and industrial businesses. All businesses must be eligible for our Small Business Solutions Program and use less than 250,000 kWh (or have less than approximately $25,000 in annual electric costs) across all locations. 

  • Most franchises are not eligible. An exception may apply if the owner operates only a single franchise location and the business uses less than 250,000 kWh annually (or has less than $25,000 in annual electric costs).

  • Yes! Small businesses can nominate themselves. Small businesses are not eligible to be entered to win the $50 gift card nomination prize.

  • There will be a first-, second-, and third-place prize. First place will receive $3,000 toward energy-saving upgrades, second place will receive $2,000, and third place will receive $1,000.  In addition, three people who nominated businesses will be randomly selected to win a $50 gift card to the business they nominated. 

  • Prizes will be awarded based on total votes received during the voting portion of the contest. 

  • The prize can be used toward qualifying new electric energy efficiency improvements. Sample projects include:

    • LED lighting 
    • Refrigeration 
    • HVAC 
    • Compressed Air 

    Project pre-approval is required. Efficiency Smart’s technical team will work with the winning businesses to provide recommendations and help them verify eligibility.

  • Yes. The prize can be combined with regular rebates from Efficiency Smart if the project costs exceed the prize amounts.

  • Efficiency Smart will provide the total amount of the project cost up to the prize amount. The winning businesses are not required to spend the full amount.

  • All projects must be completed and all paperwork must be submitted by December 31, 2026.