The green thumbs at Stein Gardens & Gifts focused on a different type of bulb in 2009. This lawn and garden retailer replaced more than 16,500 of its light fixtures with high-performance, energy-efficient models at its Appleton, Big Bend, Brookfield, Green Bay, Mequon, Milwaukee, Oshkosh, Racine, Waukesha, and West Bend stores.
Stein Gardens & Gifts received $88,000 in financial incentives from Focus on Energy, Wisconsin’s statewide program for energy efficiency and renewable energy, for upgrading its T12 linear-fluorescent fixtures to high performance T8 (HPT8) electronic fixtures, and its 400-watt, metal-halide light fixtures to high-bay T8 fixtures throughout its 12 stores and warehouse.
These upgrades will save more than 1.5 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually – enough energy to power 159 Wisconsin homes for a year. The company will also benefit from $123,000 in yearly savings on its energy bills, and this annual savings will continue to grow year after year.
The upgrade is environmentally friendly, too, with annual environmental benefits equivalent to preventing 3,000 barrels of oil from being burned – avoiding the release of 2.6 million pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere.
High-performance T8 (HPT8) systems are made of two components: an advanced high-lumen, long-life T8 lamp and a low-ballast-factor, low-watt electronic ballast. This combination results in fantastic energy savings without reducing light output.
These systems can:
- Save 20 percent more energy than standard T8s and up to 40 percent more than T12 systems.
- Produce the same total light output as standard T8s, but with better quality light that uses less energy.
- Generate more lumens per watt than T12 or standard T8 systems – that is, they produce more light using less energy.
- Maintain their light output longer than T12 lamps.
- Enjoy an extended life, typically rated to last at least 24,000 hours – 4,000 hours longer than standard T8 or T12 lamps.
- Provide better quality lighting than T12 lamps. HPT8 lamps must have a minimum color-rendering index (CRI) of 82 to qualify as high performance, while standard T12 lamps have a typical CRI of only 60. (CRI is rated on a scale of 1 to 100.)
Focus on Energy offers specialized support for businesses across Wisconsin. To get started saving money, visit focusonenergy.com or call (800) 762-7077. Focus’ energy experts will assist in identifying opportunities to help control costs, improve operating efficiency, and protect profits.
