PARIS – With the Farmers’ Almanac predicting another harsh winter, the Oxford Hills Chamber of Commerce brought together speakers Wednesday to discuss energy efficiency in local businesses.

The talk featured three speakers and was sponsored by Norway Savings Bank and the Western Maine Economic Development Council, a division of Community Concepts.

Auburn Mayor John Jenkins said there were 20 to 30 buildings in Auburn where tenants had to leave last year due to heating issues.

“We anticipate much more of a crisis as we go into this heating season,” Jenkins said.

Jenkins said $8 billion is spent annually on fossil fuel in Maine, and 85 percent of that money leaves the state. After hearing those statistics, Jenkins said he became anxious to find ways to reduce the amount of money that Mainers spend on heating.

“It’s your business community,” Jenkins said. “We’ve got to keep you afloat in any way possible.”

Communities need to work together toward solutions, Jenkins said, detailing some programs that have been developed in Auburn. One, entitled Community Cords, uses forest management to sell firewood from municipal land and dedicate the earnings to heating assistance. The MERIT program, for Middle-income Energy Resource Investment Trust, is an independent nonprofit to provide energy assistance to middle income earners who would not normally qualify for government assistance.

Jim Wellehan of Lamey Wellehan Shoes encouraged the use of simple tactics to improve efficiency. These included energy audits, sealing off heat leaks, lowering the temperature in a building, using lights sparingly, and using LED lights instead of incandescent bulbs.

“The bulbs will cost a lot more,” said Wellehan, “but they’ll cost a lot less to run.”

Ed Doiron of Efficiency Maine said the program is part of the Maine Public Utilities Commission and offers free energy audits to qualified businesses. Doiron said businesses are eligible for up to a $35,000 low-interest loan and up to $100,000 a year in incentives.

“Our primary goal is to get you more efficient and to give you a financial incentive,” Doiron said.