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Take
the LEEP to save money and energy
Green Star's
Lighting Energy Efficiency Pledge (LEEP) is an easy first step
that businesses can take to increase energy efficiency in their
offices and buildings. The LEEP is an 18-month program
spearheaded by Green Star. The LEEP challenge encourages
workplaces to improve the efficiency of their lighting through
upgrades and retrofits.
ML&P is a major sponsor of LEEP, as part of the utility's
new PowerSmart Program. The LEEP campaign will continue through
the 2009 Iditarod.
"We're delighted to support this campaign,"
ML&P General Manager Jim Posey, said. "Lighting
upgrades and retrofits help our customers save money and
conserve energy. It makes good business sense all around."
Businesses that take the LEEP pledge will receive technical
support and resources to help them achieve energy savings. Green
Star will also promote the businesses that make the pledge and
conduct the lighting retrofits. The end goal of the challenge is
to illustrate the overall community savings achieved through the
efforts of local businesses. ML&P is proud to be a major
sponsor of the LEEP challenge.
"Commercial lighting efficiency is the proverbial
low-hanging fruit when talking about energy cost savings,"
says Sean Skaling, executive director of Green Star. "About
70 percent of all Anchorage office space has older, less
efficient lighting. Newer lighting technology can be 25 to 75
percent more efficient. We all have a big opportunity to reap
the benefits of improving the efficiency of our lighting."
According to Green Star, City Hall is a perfect example of
the savings a lighting retrofit can offer. Kevin Harun, the
Municipality's Renewable Resources Manager, recently reported
that City Hall's lighting retrofit is expected to save nearly
$30,000 annually in energy costs.
"The reality is that the best way to save money is to
retrofit your lighting," Harun said. "And the fact
that is most frequently overlooked is that after the typical
payback period of two to three years, that savings is just money
in the bank." To take the LEEP, call Green Star (907)
278-7827 or go to the website www.greenstarinc.org/LEEP. Green
Star also has a list of vendors offering discounts for
businesses that take the LEEP.
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Funny
looking bulbs save energy and money
Compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) cost more than regular light
bulbs, but you save money over the life of the bulb. CFLs last
more than six times longer than incandescent bulbs and they use
far less energy for the same amount of light.
Here’s how a
13-watt CFL stacks up against a standard 60-watt incandescent
bulb based on 10,000 hours of light:
| CFL |
Incandescent |
| Energy input (watts) |
13 |
60 |
| Light output (lumens) |
810 |
830 |
| Useful life (hours) |
10,000 |
1,500 |
| # bulbs for 10,000 hrs. |
1 |
6.7 |
| Cost of bulbs |
$3.85 |
$2.89 ($.43 x 6.7) |
| Electricity used (kWh) |
130 |
600 |
| Electricity cost (@$.095
per kWh) |
$12.35 |
$57.00 |
| Total cost (electricity
+ bulbs) |
$16.20 | $59.89 |
Bottom line:
Every CFL saves you $43.69 over the life of the bulb.
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Home
Energy Saver
Identify
the best ways to save energy in your home and find the resources
to make the savings happen. The project is sponsored by the U.S.
Department of Energy (DOE), as part of the national ENERGY STAR
Program for improving energy efficiency in homes.
Click
here.
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Easy
ways to reduce utility bills
Even
small changes can yield big benefits in savings.
Check
out these tips.
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Home
appliances
Ever
wonder which of your appliances are power guzzlers and which are
sippers? Find
out here.
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Federal
tax credits
Individuals
and businesses can still take advantage of energy efficiency tax
credits under the Energy Policy Act of 2005.
More
information.
