Halogens were replaced by 12-watt LED floods and spotlights.
Many retail businesses are seeking ways to reduce costs and energy efficiency should be at the top of their list.
Retailers across San Diego havlawe become more energy efficient through San Diego Gas & Electric ’s On-Bill Financing program. Lawrance, a family owned and operated contemporary and modern furniture retailer, took advantage of the program this past year and drastically reduced their energy usage and cut costs.
On-Bill Financing provides zero-percent loans to the utility’s commercial customers allowing them to purchase qualifying energy-efficiency upgrades and pay for them with the savings on their utility bill. The furniture store participated in the program in April 2011. It acquired $20,282 in energy-efficient lighting for its two showrooms of which $5,130 was financed through rebates and $15,152 through a 16-month zero-percent program loan. Lawrance saved 62,509 kilowatt hours of electricity, 32,792 kilograms of greenhouse gasses and more than $10,000 per year on its utility bills.
The showrooms’ 75- and 90-watt halogen and flood lights were swapped for new 12-watt LED floods and spotlights. In addition to the direct energy savings from the lower wattage, Owner and President Howard Haimsohn cites indirect energy savings as the LED lights produce less heat, lightening the load on his air conditioners in the summer months. They also last longer, which means he saves both time and money on replacement bulbs. As a past president of the National Home Furnishings Association and the Western Home Furnishings Association, Haimsohn has advice for his fellow retailers. "If you can afford to do it, just do it. These energy efficient improvements will pay for themselves within less than two years."
"I’m happy with the quality of light, and that is really important," said Haimsohn. "Compact fluorescent lights are not great for a retail store. There’s no drama. You need lighting that makes displays and colors pop."
In 2007, SDG&E pioneered the innovative zero-percent loan program that allowed qualified businesses, as well as institutional and government customers, to finance new energy-efficient equipment on their utility bills. On-Bill Financing programs are now available from most of California’s major utilities as well as utilities in other states like Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts and Michigan. So far 900 commercial customers in San Diego have acquired $21.5 million in state-of-the-art energy-efficient equipment through the program, saving an estimated 55 million kilowatt hours of electricity, 185,000 therms of natural gas and more than $7 million in energy costs each year, based on average kWh and therm rates of participants.
About Lawrance: As the leading supplier of San Diego contemporary furniture since 1937, Lawrance is committed to providing our customers with the biggest selection of top brands and styles. Lawrance has two beautiful showrooms in Hillcrest and Encinitas. Visit them online at www.lawrance.com.
About SDG&E: SDG&E is a regulated public utility that provides safe and reliable energy service to 3.5 million consumers through 1.4 million electric meters and more than 850,000 natural gas meters in San Diego and southern Orange counties. The utility’s area spans 4,100 square miles. SDG&E is committed to creating ways to help customers save energy and money every day. SDG&E is a subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE), a Fortune 500 energy services holding company based in San Diego.