Along with lovely lakes and landscapes, you’ll find a taste of Mexico in the Southern Illinois town of Murphysboro. Since 2013, Mi Patio has been a favorite eatery and labor of love for owner Maria Alonso. Every day, she serves up authentic Mexican and Latin American dishes that keep patrons coming back for more. Her loyal following (and countless carryout orders) helped carry the restaurant through the COVID pandemic.

In the years that followed, small businesses across the nation struggled to keep pace with inflation and rising energy costs — and Mi Patio was no exception. In search of solutions, Maria turned to the Ameren Illinois Energy Efficiency Program in 2024. Her journey began with a free energy assessment to identify low- and no-cost ways to reduce energy use.

While Maria believed she had installed the most efficient light bulbs, her Energy Advisor identified more efficient options and offered suggestions to keep warm air inside during those cold Illinois winters. Next, Maria worked with John’s Mechanical, an Ameren Illinois Program Ally, to complete the recommended upgrades through the Small Business Direct Install (SBDI) Program. SBDI helps small business customers reduce their energy costs through the direct installation of lighting and refrigeration products.

Today, new LED lighting, occupancy sensors in the bathrooms, and sealant around external and internal doors are helping to reduce the restaurant’s energy use. (And Maria is happy she no longer hears the whooshing sound of warm air being sucked from the dining room out through the kitchen hood!)

As Maria discovered, working with Ameren Illinois to create a more comfortable and efficient environment can be as satisfying as a meal at Mi Patio.