COLUMBIA HEIGHTS – When lights are on 24 hours a day, it pays to make sure they’re efficient. During a community focus in Columbia Heights in November 2010, Energy Smart staff visited Jeff, Bobby and Steve’s Auto World and found opportunities for efficient lighting in a business that has lights on 24/7. “When Energy Smart visited us, we’d already had a lighting audit,” says Jarrod Halstrom, operations leader. In March, Energy Smart contacted Halstrom to see how things were going and discovered that he didn’t have access to the lighting report. “Energy Smart staff looked into the situation, sent us the report, and made sure our plan to upgrade was back on track.”

In June 2011, Jeff, Bobby and Steve’s Auto World upgraded twelve 400-watt metal halide lights to T8 28-watt fluorescent fixtures. The business expects to see more than $1,500 savings in annual lighting energy costs and payback on the investment in under a year. The business was so pleased with these results that they plan to upgrade refrigerated case lighting in the store to LED later this year. “With 30 lights that are on every hour of every day, the LED upgrade just makes sense,” says Halstrom. “I’m told the quality of light will be much better, too.” The business expects to save another $500 a year in energy costs after making the LED case lighting upgrade.

Ready to take upgrade steps that work for your business? Contact Energy Smart at (651) 292-4652 or info@mnenergysmart.com.

Replace motors before rebates disappear

In response to the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, new motor manufacturing standards have changed effective December 19, 2010. This means that all new Plan A/New motors produced must meet NEMA Premium® efficiency guidelines.

Several utilities in the state will soon discontinue rebates for purchase of Plan A/New motors. In an effort to encourage upgrades before rebates are discontinued, Xcel Energy is currently offering a bonus rebate up to an additional 20% for qualifying multiple motor replacement projects (new, upgraded or enhanced motors). Best of all, there is no limit to the number of times you can apply for this promotion. Take advantage of this rebate bonus now, Xcel Energy will not offer rebates for Plan A/New motors in 2012.

If you’d like to take advantage of the Xcel Energy bonus rebate for qualifying multiple motor replacements, call 1-800-481-4700 or call Energy Smart at (651) 292-4652.

A Top 10 that would make David Letterman proud

Top ten reasons to save energy. The list is courtesy of Flex Your Power.

• Saves you money
• Good for business
• Creates jobs
• Pays you back
• Stimulate the economy
• Because it works
• Fights climate change
• Saving water
• Improves health and air quality
• Protects the grid

Let us know how you’d rank order this list at info@energysmart.com.