Incentives for Going Green
March 16th, 2010Pennsylvania (PA) has recently implemented incentives for commercial businesses to upgrade and/or replace their existing equipment, such as lighting units, that meet new energy efficient regulations. Many Pennsylvania utility companies are joining in the effort to promote the use of energy efficient equipment. A number of lighting retrofit rebates are available for both commercial and residential facilities across the state of Pennsylvania.
A number of businesses are already benefiting from these efficiency programs and have decreased their inefficient use of energy, thus cutting expenses. By lowering expenses money will be able to be allocated in other areas, such as a reduction in products, additional jobs, etc. “Going green” is a popular phrase used in today’s society and both federal & state authorities are showing their support. Consumers are buying hybrid cars, Energy STAR appliances, and building “greener” homes.
Lighting Efficiency & Today’s Economy
March 16th, 2010Lighting Efficiency & Today’s Economy
Many of us feel caught up in the current economic uncertainty. It is pleasant to remember better days when the economy was thriving and corporate resources were being invested in robust expansion. Now those expansions are getting older. Many of the commercial buildings in use today were built pre-1980. At the time they were built few people were thinking about energy costs and the environmental imperative of “going green”. Truthfully, most of us were lusting after the biggest V8s we could afford.
How times have changed – hybrid cars, the whole idea of less is more, recycled everything – but what about these buildings? They were built to last; but not to be efficient.
So what can we expect for today and beyond?
Even as economic conditions improve, today’s executive will be cautious about expansion, especially expansion into more bricks and mortar. They will look to their current buildings and demand ways to increase efficiency and reduce costs. They are conscious of being good corporate citizens and are profit motivated managers.
What is the best way to modernize these buildings, and what will drive the decision-making?
Certainly energy is going to be a key driver. According to the US Department of Energy (DOE), lighting represents 40% of the average commercial building’s electric bill, and an expensive component considering the average commercial retail cost of electricity rose nearly 25% over the past five years to $0.1013/kWh as of November 2008. And according to the Energy Cost Savings Council, lighting upgrades generate an average project payback period of 2.2 years and a 45% return on investment. [New energy estimates indicate continued increases in energy costs, with electric costs rising 10% to 30% in the next 3 to 5 years]
As a result, energy-efficient lighting is generally considered the easiest, most profitable investment in energy saving building systems. Even so, less than 20% of the existing pre-1980 U.S. Commercial building stock has benefited from some form of lighting renovation, according to the 2003 Commercial Building Energy Consumption Survey produced by DOE. The survey found that there were 4.6 million commercial buildings (excluding malls) in the U.S., representing about 65 billion sq. ft. of floor space. About 2.5 million buildings, representing 60% of buildings and 57% of floor space, were built before 1980. Of these, about a million have benefited from some form of renovation.
Of the 1 million that were renovated, was energy efficient lighting a part of the upgrade?
Unfortunately not – Lighting renovations, while a popular form of renovation, have occurred in only 18% of pre-1980 buildings, suggesting that there are about 25 billion sq ft of building floor space still lighted to pre-1980 standards and likely using the least-efficient lighting systems allowed by law. The rest represent today’s best candidates for lighting upgrades.
Lighting efficiency has the potential to be a “winner” in today’s economy. Not only is operating cost savings via lighting efficiency a door opener, but imagine the greater worker satisfaction with a quality lighting design – it can certainly be a ladder that escalates performance on any projects.
Are you wondering if your commercial building is a good candidate for a lighting retrofit? Contact an Aelux Lighting Consultant today to have your questions answered and learn more about lighting rebates.
(Source: Illuminate Magazine)
Warehouse Lighting and the Pennsylvania power rate increases
February 25th, 2010Warehouse Lighting and the Pennsylvania power rate increases
Generally speaking this is often overlooked, but in light of the recent rate increases in Pennsylvania this is now taking a priority for many businesses.
Many citizens and businesses in Pennsylvania were greeted with a dramatic electric rate increase. The problem is that this rate increase comes at a time of fairly extreme economic difficulties for many companies. .
So what’s the solution?
As noted above, an overlooked part of the electric bill (and fairly expensive one) is warehouse lighting. In recent years there has been more and more advanced technology regarding lighting, and to make this more attractive there are currently many tax benefits and a cost reduction program that come from the power company themselves.
In a nutshell a significant part of the cost of upgrading to energy efficient lighting for your warehouse may be offset by these programs.
Aelux can assist you though the entire process and reduce your electric bills by taking advantage of the existing programs. You really have nothing to lose by exploring this option.
The alternative of course is to continue to pay the huge increase from the electric companies with no reduction in power usage to offset the increased rates.
It’s typically a pretty clear cut option, see what a firm like Aelux can do for you and your company. If the solution presented will reduce your monthly power bill, and due to the tax benefits and financial assistance from the power companies reduce your total cost, then clearly it’s something that your company needs to explore.
Efficient lighting is good business
February 22nd, 2010Aelux is proud to have helped STTC reduce their carbon footprint and reduce costs. According to the article on Modern Tire Dealer we have saved STTC a total of 1,549640 kilowatt hours annually, which is equal to 3.1 million pound annual reduction in carbon emissions, it’s akin to removing 271 cars from the roads or planting more than 4,700 trees every year,
Something like this could be done for your company as well. Please contact us to see how.
