Part 2 of an 8 Week Series
At Lime Energy, we help utilities around the country bring energy efficiency to their small business customers. With over 15,000 completed projects to date, we have learned a lot about the unique needs of small business customers. Over an 8 week period, we are taking a look at several small business types and uncovering their potential for energy savings. In many cases, these businesses are eligible for incentives from their utility to cover a large portion of the project cost, making the long-term benefits of energy efficiency even more attainable.
Retail Stores:
Retail companies like clothing stores, gift shops and specialty stores spend almost $20 billion per year on energy. In a typical building, lighting and heating alone account for almost 70% of the energy consumption. According to both the EPA and ENERGY STAR, there are several significant benefits of energy efficiency in a retail setting:
- Increased sales: Energy efficiency creates a more pleasant shopping environment, which attracts and retains more customers.
- Increased profitability: Reduced operating costs from energy efficiency savings are reflected directly on the balance sheet and improve overall profitability.
- Reduced vulnerability to price fluctuations: Reducing energy consumption can soften the impact of external factors on energy use, including extreme weather, policy changes and deregulation.
- Enhanced public Image: Energy savvy consumers want to see that their dollars are being spent in retail establishments that are committed to environmental stewardship.
There are several low to no-cost measures that retail stores can implement to reduce energy expenditures:
- Turn lights, computers, cash registers and electronic displays off when not in use. Every 1000 kWh saved by turning things off equates to a $100 power bill reduction.
- Cleaning and maintenance. Proper maintenance of existing equipment addresses potential problems before they become energy wasters. Common equipment maintenance should include economizers, air filters, gaskets, condenser coils, door seals, cabinet panels and refrigeration settings.
- Temperature set-backs. Turn down temperature settings during unoccupied times and adjust temperatures to accommodate seasonal changes.
Long-term energy efficiency solutions:
- Retrofit fluorescent lighting from T-12 lamps and magnetic ballasts to T-8 or T-5 fixtures with electronic ballasts to save up as much as 35% per year
- Upgrade display lighting. Quartz halogen lamps are most commonly used to accent merchandise as they provide bright, focused light. However, they are much more energy intensive than CFL’s, metal halide track lighting or spot lights.
- Install LED exit signs to save $35 per sign per year. Some LED exit signs last 25 years as opposed to the 1 year life span of an incandescent bulb exit sign.
- Utilize daylighting to save energy and potentially improve sales. A California Energy Commission study found that stores employing significant daylighting increased sales by 6% over non-daylit stores.
- Improve parking lot lighting. Most new technologies are designed to last 50,000 hours (LED) or 100,000 hours (induction), which dramatically reduces maintenance costs by eliminating the need for servicing.
- Incorporate controls. In back-room areas, storage rooms, offices and restrooms, lighting occupancy sensors can save energy and also help to reduce maintenance costs by lengthening the relamping interval. On the HVAC side, implementing a demand controlled ventilations (DCV) system, saves energy during peak cooling periods when store occupancy is low by detecting the amount of carbon dioxide in the return airstream and decreasing ventilation accordingly.
- Replace HVAC systems that are more than 10 years old to save 20% or more on cooling energy.
From incentive programs to equipment rebates and recycling, local utilities may provide assistance in determining how best to implement energy efficiency solutions. To learn more about programs available in your area, visit www.lime-energy.com/smallbusiness.
For more on small business energy efficiency:
Part 1 - Grocery Store Energy Effiency
Part 1 of an 8 week series
At Lime Energy, we help utilities around the country bring energy efficiency to their small business customers. With over 15,000 completed projects to date, we have learned a lot about the unique needs of small business customers. For the next 8 weeks, we will take a look at several small business types and uncover their potential for energy savings. In many cases, these businesses are eligible for incentives from their utility to cover a large portion of the project cost, making the long-term benefits of energy efficiency even more attainable.
Grocery and Convenience Stores:
The average grocery store in America spends $4 per square foot in in energy costs per year. Believe it or not, that annual power bill equates to 1% of the total operating cost BUT almost 100% of the average profit margin. The savings possibilities from energy efficiency are therefore quite dramatic. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, every dollar of energy savings is equal to increasing sales by $59. That means that a 20% reduction in energy costs can mean a 20% increase in profits!
Lighting and refrigeration account for the bulk of total energy use, and therefore present the most opportunities for savings.
There are several low to no-cost measures that grocery stores can implement to reduce energy expenditures:
- Turn lights, computers, cash registers and deli equipment off when not in use. Every 1000 kWh saved by turning things off, equates to a $100 power bill reduction.
- Cleaning and maintenance. Proper maintenance of existing equipment addresses potential problems before they become energy wasters. Common equipment maintenance should include economizers, air filters, gaskets, condenser coils, door seals and refrigeration settings.
- Temperature set-backs. Turn down temperature settings during unoccupied times and adjust temperatures to accommodate seasonal changes.
Long-term energy efficiency solutions:
- Retrofit fluorescent lighting from T-12 lamps and magnetic ballasts to T-8 or T-5 fixtures with electronic ballasts to save up as much as 35% per year
- Install LED case lighting, which uses 50% less energy than fluorescent lighting
- Optimize refrigeration to reduce energy use by up to 24%. This may include:
- Implement a floating head pressure control system to take advantage of lower ambient temperatures. Savings opportunity = 150,000 kWh per year
- Install anti-sweat heater controls to monitor the temperature or humidity in the store and run the heater only when there is a risk of condensation. Savings opportunity = up to 265,000 kWh per year
- Install display case shields, or night covers, to keep products colder longer. Savings opportunity = 8% reduction in refrigeration load
- Install LED case lighting to use less energy and dissipate heat outside of display cases. Savings opportunity = almost 5,500 kWh per case
- Install automatic door closer on walk-in and reach-in refrigeration units. Savings opportunity = 7,000 kWh per unit
- Install LED exit signs to save $35 per sign per year
From incentive programs to equipment rebates and recycling, local utilities may provide assistance in determining how best to implement energy efficiency solutions. To learn more about programs available in your area, click here to visit our Small Business Energy Efficiency page today.
For more on small business energy efficiency:
Part 2- Retail Store Energy Effiency
This article, from the Institute for Market Transformation, originally appeared on March 29, 2013 and is being re-posted with permission.
As electric rates increase across the U.S., a growing number of power companies are considering the cheapest and safest “fuel” to help reduce power demands—energy efficiency. The options for utilities are simple: build new infrastructure (which is often expensive), or invest in reducing electricity use.
Research shows the least expensive way for utilities to control costs over time is to minimize waste by building energy efficiency resources.
For several years, the link between how much revenue energy utilities collect from the electricity they deliver has been a barrier for adopting energy efficiency practices.
But with tools like “decoupling” demolishing that link, utilities’ incentives to up their profits by increasing sales are starting to diminish. The Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP) shows that with minor periodic adjustments in rates to stabilize revenues, the utility is “indifferent to sales volumes and less prone to risk.”
RAP provides assistance to state commissions on utility business models that remove disincentives to acquire energy efficiency and other demand-side resources, “while providing shareholder incentives for aggressive energy and demand savings.”
According to the Energy Center of Wisconsin, energy efficiency resources can help utilities with everything from minimizing fuel cost and creating more capacity to increasing system reliability and reducing regulatory risk.
Not to mention the local economic benefits that come with efficiency—by cutting the price customers pay for their energy bills and creating a market for energy-efficient products and home services, it creates a more sustainable community, keeps dollars in the pockets of families, and offers potential for job growth.
Analysis from Opower also proves that energy efficient customers are happier customers. People like when they can count on their utilities to serve as a trusted source of information on how to best save energy.
Integrated resource planning (IRP) has been another great efficiency-promoting tool that’s been adopted by over half of the states in the country. It’s created greater transparency in power companies, shining a light on their investment decisions for meeting future electricity demand. It helps assure that investments in energy efficiency are given equal consideration with investments in traditional power plants.
In the Pacific Northwest, IRP has shown that energy efficiency can meet 85 percent of expected electricity demand growth over the next 20 years.
There are still other barriers that stand in the way of utilities fully adopting energy efficiency measures, and there’s no doubt they have a long way to go. Efforts such as improving customer data access to facilitate energy benchmarking and linking utility efficiency programs with energy code savings need to be ramped up.
But the recent developments show promise that more utilities will include efficiency in their business decisions, and IMT will continue to look for ways to make that easier for them.
Original source: http://www.imt.org/news/the-current/Energy-Efficiency-The-Invisible-Fuel-for-Power-Companies
Originally posted by Chris Potter,
Communications Associate
chris@imt.org | 202-525-2883 x.311
Chris joined IMT in February 2012 as Communications Associate. He works on a range of communications duties, including press outreach and editing IMT publications. Chris leads IMT's social media efforts and enjoys blogging and producing video for the organization.
Chris came to IMT from Fenton Communications, the nation’s leading public-interest communications firm. Prior to Fenton, Chris worked as a freelance editorial assistant, writer, and videographer. His work has appeared in the New York Times, New England Home magazine, on National Public Radio, and on the website RenewableEnergyWorld.com. Chris is a graduate of Franklin Pierce University in New Hampshire.
In an article published last week, the New Jersey Spotlight reported that the state has been spending approximately $1.3 million per month for energy efficiency improvements through the Direct Install Program. The dots on the heat map below represent a company, business or individual who received a grant through the program.
(click image for a larger view)
Small businesses, schools and municipal facilities are all eligible for the program, providing their peak demand doesn’t exceed 150 kW per month. Approved contractors for the program like Lime Energy, perform energy audits for eligible facilities and then recommend and install new equipment. Direct Install grants cover 70% of the project cost and the customer is liable for the remaining 30%. According to the Board of Public Utilities (BPU), clean energy measures last an average of 15 years and each dollar invested saves between $4 and $11.
According to the article, since its inception in 2009, the NJ Direct Install Program has paid approximately $50 million towards Energy Efficiency Upgrades and is the largest of nine energy efficiency programs targeted at industrial and commercial users. Lime Energy is proud to help the Direct Install Program bring energy efficiency solutions to New Jersey businesses and we congratulate them on their commitment to clean energy.
Read more at: http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/13/03/21/mapping-energy-efficiency-projects
Click here to learn more about the NJ Direct Install program.
LED lights are a high-efficiency, long-life alternative to traditional incandescent bulbs. Their durability and versatility can dramatically reduce long-term operating expenses and enhance work environments. Below, we take a look at the top 6 reasons you should consider incorporating LED lighting into your business.
- Reduced Power Consumption
Today’s LED lights use 75% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs and 50% less energy than CFLs. According to the US Department of Energy, these highly efficient lights have tremendous potential impact on energy savings in the United States. By 2027, widespread use of LEDs could save about 348 TWh (compared to no LED use) of electricity: This is the equivalent annual electrical output of 44 large electric power plants (1000 megawatts each), and a total savings of more than $30 billion at today's electricity prices.
- Long Life
A quality LED product, particularly one that achieves ENERGY STAR certification, lasts approximately 25 times longer than an incandescent bulb and 10 times longer than a CFL. With an expected operational lifetime of 100,000 hours, an LED light will provide 11 years of continuous operation, or 22 years at 50% operation. A light that is left on 8 hours per day, therefore, will last about 20 years before having to be replaced.
- Environmentally Friendly
LED lights are inherently eco-friendly simply by wasting less energy. However, there are additional environmental benefits to LED lights. LED lights do not contain mercury or other toxic materials. Both incandescent and CFL bulbs contain mercury, and therefore have to be disposed of in accordance to hazardous materials regulations. In additional contrast to CFLs, LEDs do not emit harmful UV radiation.
- Flexibility
The small size and directional nature of LED lights makes them extremely versatile for a multitude of uses and environments. Unlike CFLs, they are dimmable and their light can be focused and directed to a specific location without the need for an external reflector. As such, LED lights are becoming widely used for commercial and industrial applications such as street lights, parking garage lighting, walkways and other outdoor area lighting, refrigerated case lighting, modular lighting, and task lighting.
- Low Heat Output
LEDs emit very little heat and are cool to the touch. In contrast, incandescent bulbs release 90% of their energy as heat and CFLs release about 80% of their energy as heat.
- Durability
LED lights are built with durable components that withstand extreme temperatures, shock, vibrations and external impacts. This makes them an ideal choice for a variety of outdoor uses, unlike CFLs, which can experience operational difficulties in very cold conditions. As compared to other bulbs, LED lights are instantly bright when turned on and are not sensitive to off-cycling. They can be switched on and off frequently without affecting the light’s lifespan or light emission.
An evaluation of the above benefits of LED lighting would certainly not be complete without also addressing the one primary obstacle to their widespread adoption: price. The initial cost of both CFL and LED bulbs is significantly more than that of a traditional bulb. CFLs are more budget friendly with paybacks in the 6 month range and $40 in energy cost savings over the life of the bulb. LED bulb payback is longer at 2-4 years, but the lifetime savings is significantly greater, both from an operational lifespan and maintenance cost standpoint. Factoring this in with the advantages of LED lighting, business and homeowners can see the most immediate benefits by incorporating LED lighting into their most used fixtures.
As an added benefit, there are also utility-funded opportunities for businesses who want to incorporate LED lighting. LEDs are rapidly being installed with the support of several utility small business programs around the country. This drives the paybacks down and allows businesses to reap benefits right away.
For more on Lime Energy's efficient lighting solutions, click here.
The top 10 energy efficiency smartphone apps, courtesy of the Alliance to Save Energy (ASE). The Alliance to Save Energy is a nonprofit organization that promotes energy efficiency worldwide through research, education and advocacy. To learn more about this great organization, please visit them at www.ase.org.
Top 10 Energy Efficiency Apps in 2013:
- Kill-Ur-Watts
- Wiser EMS
- Energy Tracker
- Energy Cost Calculator
- Green Outlet
- Nest Mobile
- Ecobee
- CodeGreen Energy
- Light Bulb Finder
- GasBuddy
Energy Management Apps
Using your energy consumption data, the smartphone app Kill-Ur-Watts will keep track of your energy use over time and develop strategies for energy reduction. Created for the Department of Energy’s “Apps for Energy” Challenge in 2012, KeyLogic Systems, Inc. created the app (FREE on iTunes) that provides customizable graphs and lets you view your carbon footprint. Once you know your energy score - challenge your family and friends!
2) Wiser EMS
FREE on iTunes, Schneider Electric’s energy management app, The Wiser Energy Management System (Wiser EMS), makes energy use easy to view and understand with infographics. Families can see where they need to reduce energy consumption to get the best bang for their buck.
The Energy Tracker app allows you to avoid unnecessary energy expenses. With just a few simple taps, you’ll see just how much energy your appliance or system has used. Plus, you can export the data gathered by the app to your computer in a CSV file. The app, by iOS Apps Austria, is just $0.99 on iTunes.
Watt & Cost Calculator
FREE on iTunes, the Energy Cost Calculator is a simple equation-based system that calculates energy costs. Input your estimated consumption used per hour, how many hours of energy used per day, and the cost per Kilowatt or Watt – and you will find out what you’re paying. Just beware – the results may astonish you!
Recommended by Treehugger.com, ecogadget.com, and DailyTekk.com, the Green Outlet allows you to figure out what appliances in your house use the most energy. And then, after entering some personal data, the app will calculate your average monthly cost! The app, by Key Lime 314, is only $0.99 on iTunes.
Thermostats
Nest Mobile, by Nest Labs, is FREE on iTunes and it allows you to change the temperature of your house from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch...and you can control it from anywhere! With your iRemote, set the temperature higher on your way home or lower the temperature if you decide to stay out longer than planned. Important note: While the app saves you energy and money, it only works with the Nest Learning Thermostat.
Free on iTunes, the Ecobee app acts as a smart thermostat wherever you are. The app helps you understand the energy demands of heating, cooling, and ventilation. You can also download information from the app on your computer to develop reports and charts. Important note: The app can help you create temperature schedules and save at home, but it only works with its companion, Ecobee Smart Thermostat.
At Home, Buying a Home and On the Go
Free on iTunes, CodeGreen Energy is the new Energy Star app that allows you to compare the energy efficiency of buildings in your area. It’s a great resource that can inform real estate investors, and other professionals interested in comparing building efficiencies. Just enter an address, and the Energy Star score will appear for the building at the location, along with details about the building’s energy use.
With the FREE Light Bulb Finder app for Android and iPhone users, you can find out where to purchase energy-efficient light bulbs. The app guides you through the quick and easy process, starting with gathering information about what bulbs you are already using at home. After that, you will be given a recommendation about the best bulb alternative based on cost savings and environmental impact!
The GasBuddy app, by GasBuddy Organization, is FREE on iTunes and searches for the cheapest gas prices in your area. So save at the pump by using this helpful tool.
On February 27th, Lime Energy was proud to receive the 2012 National Grid Energy Solutions Distinguished Partner (ESP) Award. This is Lime Energy's second year in row to receive this award.
The award honored Lime Energy for providing outstanding energy savings and service to National Grid’s customers in Western New York and Frontier regions of upstate New York.
Lime Energy helps utilities like National Grid deliver energy efficiency to their small business customers. Utilizing an integrated delivery model that incorporates data analytics and marketing, customer acquisition, innovative technology, a national partner network, engineering and turnkey installation, Lime is able to provide National Grid with the highest levels of customer satisfaction and consistently overachieve on goals.
In 2012 alone, Lime delivered 45,732 MWh and $11 million in incentive dollars to National Grid customers. In light of Lime’s success over the past three years, National Grid recently assigned Lime an additional 38,270 MWh and extended their contract through the end of 2013.
In last week’s State of the Union address, President Obama stated that no area holds more promise than our investments in American energy.
In addition to calling for increased subsidies for wind and solar, speeding up oil and gas permits, and funding an Energy Security Trust, President Obama issued a goal for America to cut in half the energy wasted by our homes and businesses over the next 20 years. In a blog post following the address, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy wisely pointed out that “There’s a good reason why energy efficiency has broad support among business and legislators across the aisle, it’s one of the great cost saving success stories for the nation in the last three decades and still has large untapped potential.”
There are currently multiple policies and programs contributing to energy efficiency, including federal and state minimum efficiency standards, state building energy codes, the ENERGY STAR program, tax credits and incentive-based consumer programs funded largely by utilities. According to a recent study by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, spending on the latter is expected to increase from $4.8 billion in 2010 to between $6.5 and $15.6 billion by 2025. To put the savings potential and economic impact from these types of programs in perspective, consider the success that New York state has had since implementing an aggressive EEPS in 2009. According to the New York State Public Service Commission, 90 electric and gas efficiency programs have been approved since June of 2009.
Among all of those programs, one has risen to the top as the most successful in not only delivering megawatt hours, but stimulating the local economy: Small Business Direct Install. In just over three years, SBDI programs operated by electric utilities in New York have generated 765 GWh, which translates into $250 million of investment in making 42,000 small businesses more energy efficient. These businesses have received incentives which cover around two-thirds of this investment, as much as $165 million and these businesses have reduced their operating costs by more than $220 million per year. Both the LBNL report and ACEEE’s newest study, Frontiers of Energy Efficiency, cite features of New York’s SBDI Programs as what is needed in ALL states if we are to meet our aggressive goals. With New York having one of the most stringent reduction targets in the country, the overwhelming success of the SBDI model has proven that utility energy efficiency programs have a unique opportunity to deliver on President Obama’s challenge.
Posted by
Tim Lewis on Tue, Feb 12, 2013 @ 03:24 PM
This Valentine's day, show your loved one you care about the environment too! We've found six great gift ideas that celebrate love and protect natural resources.
- TERRARIUMS from TWIG
In case you don’t say it often enough, or you take a lot of business trips, the Gentle Reminder Terrarium — featuring a tiny figurine holding an "I Love You sign" — can do it for you, albeit it in a novel, otherworldly way. Select your figurine to receive either the Male figure or the Female figure.
- HEART OF GLASS from SMARTGLASS RECYCLED JEWELRY
Heart of glass.... or just in case you LOVE wine! This Smart Glass exclusive is cut and shaped from a clear glass bottle, finished with a brass ring and 14K gold fill 16 inch necklace. Different, unique, and will be available only through Valentine's Day 2013. Nothing says I love you like an empty bottle!
- ADOPT A ELEPHANT or ADOPT A GORILLA from ENDANGERED SPECIES CHOCOLATE
Give a truly significant gift to protect Africa’s wildlife. With these collections, a donation is made to African Wildlife Foundation. You or your gift recipient receive a 1-year AWF e-membership, an AWF plush elephant or gorilla, and Endangered Species Natural Chocolate Bars.
- ALUMINUM SCULPTURE, 'A HEART OF LOVE'
Proffering a heart for love, this sculpture by Luitpol inspires admiration. Luitpol treasures the elegance of aesthetic minimalism as he contrasts the fiery red glow of the heart with the luminous metallic glow of aluminum. Titled "Un corazón para un amor" in Spanish.
HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!
Refrigeration for grocery stores, convenience stores, and restaurants can account for as much as 60% of their electricity consumption.
Walk-ins, reach-ins and display cases are the biggest energy wasters and there are many no-cost and retrofit options that can significantly improve their energy efficiency.
No-cost ways to save:
1. Maintain Clean Coils - Regularly clean evaporator and condenser coils to prevent build-up that could cause the unit to work harder than needed.
2. Maintain Door Seals - Allowing warm air into refrigerated space makes the compressor work harder. Similarly, making sure that the doors are not left open for extended periods of time ensures that excessive energy isn’t spent to return the cooler to its set-point temperature.
3. Load cold items immediately - Your unit has to work harder to cool warm or room-temperature items. Loading cold deliveries immediately puts less strain on your cooling system.
Retrofit options for saving:
4. Mechanical sub-cooling – This is an effective method of cooling liquid refrigerant below its saturation pressure in order to increase system capacity and improve efficiency. Estimated savings: 25%
5. Liquid pressure amplifiers – these small refrigerant pumps raise the liquid line pressure to increase system efficiency. For systems with air-cooled condensers, the lower the outdoor temperature, the greater the efficiency gain. Estimated savings: up to 20%
6. Anti-sweat heater controls – Virtually all low and medium temperature display cases have electric heaters installed in them to keep external surfaces dry and free of condensation during high humidity conditions. Anti-sweat heater controls sense humidity conditions and turn off the heaters when they aren’t needed. Estimated savings: 14-20%
7. Floating head pressure controls – these controls allow the compressor to vary with outside conditions, which saves money and helps equipment last longer. Standard on most new systems, but older equipment can be retrofitted. Estimated savings: 3-10%
8. Energy efficient case lighting fixtures – replace old lighting with T-8 fluorescent lamps and electronic ballasts to reduce both lighting energy use cooling load on the compressor. Estimated savings: 10%
9. High efficiency fan motors – a typical grocery store may have hundreds of fan motors, and efficient motors allow less heat to enter into the cooling space. Estimated savings: 5-15%
10. High efficiency compressor systems – Grocery display cases, beverage merchandisers, reach-in freezers and refrigerators, refrigerating vending machines, walk-in coolers and freezers and ice machines all use compressor systems. Estimated savings: 6-16%
11. Defrost controls – designed to make the defrost cycle more energy efficient, demand controls replace simple timer clocks and initiate defrosting by measuring frost accumulations, sensing humidity or measuring the temperature or pressure drop across the evaporator. Estimated savings: 1-6%
12. Evaporative condensers – While most refrigeration systems use air-cooled condensers to expel heat, these condensers use a wetted filter to cool air as it enters the condenser, increasing its ability to reject heat. Estimated savings: 3-9%
13. Add doors to display cases – glass doors on display cases reduce compressor costs and cold air spillage and increase store comfort conditions. Many existing cases can be retrofitted. Estimated savings: up to 50%!
14. Buy ENERGY STAR Certified Equipment – when purchasing any new equipment, be sure to look for the EPA Energy Star logo. Refrigeration units that have earned this logo use at least 30% less energy than required by Federal Government standards.
Find out more by visiting www.eere.energy.gov, www.sba.gov and your local utilities website, where you can find out if there are incentives available to offset the cost of retrofitting you refrigeration equipment.
Sources: www.aps.com, www.sba.gov, www.focusonenergy.com