Pro Fabrication saves big with T-8 upgrade

MADISON LAKE — Pro Fabrication Inc., a manufacturer of various products, needed to replace 225 old, dimming metal halide lamps in its production facility in Madison Lake. Instead of just swapping in new bulbs, the company decided to investigate how much it could save by upgrading to highly efficient lights.

In summer 2009, the company contacted Energy Smart for guidance. Energy Smart provided ongoing help to Pro Fabrication, including researching lighting fixture alternatives, costs and necessary installation steps.

Pro Fabrication took a few bids and ended up replacing the 400-watt metal halides with high-bay, six-bulb T-8 fluorescent fixtures through a St. Paul-based lighting contractor. The total upgrade cost the company just under $50,000, and is expected to pay for itself in just over 9 months, says Mike Endress, Pro Fabrication’s maintenance manager.

The quick estimated payback is due in part to rebates it received through Xcel Energy. Not only are the new lights saving the company money, but they are also better quality. “It was one of those deals where we would have been foolish not to do it,” Endress adds.

Contact Energy Smart at any time to learn more about rebates available for your company’s energy efficiency projects.

Energy Smart helps 42 Dinkytown businesses save energy and hosts recognition day

On April 30, Energy Smart hosted Energy Efficiency Day in Minneapolis’s Dinkytown community. The day recognized and supported dozens of local businesses working to save energy.

In the weeks leading up to April 30, Energy Smart contacted Dinkytown businesses and offered no-cost site visits to look at energy use. Forty-two businesses requested and received Energy Smart site visits, which include a follow-up report identifying their top energy-saving opportunities and information on available financial incentives.

The site visits led to lighting audits for a couple Dinkytown businesses, along with several less-costly upgrades including installation of LED exit signs and low-flow faucet aerators.

Energy Smart partnered with University of Minnesota students and the Dinkytown Business Association to organize and promote the event.

Read more about the Dinkytown initiative and watch a video here.

Sign Source gets cool VendingMiser discount

CHANHASSEN — Sign Source Inc., a Minnesota Chamber of Commerce member that designs and installs interior and exterior signs, started getting energy-efficiency assistance from Energy Smart in 2008. In March of this year, Energy Smart conducted a site visit in the company’s Chanhassen headquarters and noticed a couple soda machines for employees.

Energy Smart recommended Sign Source join the VendingMiser Bulk Buy Program, a recent campaign by the Clean Energy Resources Team in partnership with Energy Smart and EnergyMisers LLC to promote the installation of VendingMiser sensors on cold-beverage vending machines. Through the bulk buy program, SignSource will receive a discount off the standard VendingMiser cost and lower its vending machine energy bills by up to $150 annually per machine.

“We have implemented many of the recomendations received from Energy Smart and were especially excited to learn about the cost savings we could achieve by utilizing a VendingMiser,” says Sign Source owner and President Randy Herman.

.

For more news about Energy Smart and the success of Minnesota businesses, visit our news coverage page.