The retrofit project received nearly $182,000 in energy efficiency grant funding from Tacoma Power to help offset Gensco’s capital requirements; and the project is anticipated to save over $50,000 annually from reduced energy and maintenance costs. The combination of the grant funding from Tacoma Power together with the annual savings gives this installation a projected 64 return on investment in the first year after installation. In addition to the hard dollar savings, the permanent reduction of 124 kilowatts in electrical demand and over one million kilowatt-hours in electricity use savings, this project provides additional annual environmental benefits annually by eliminating:
1.9 million pounds of Carbon Dioxide, the leading cause of Global Warming;
24,000 pounds of Sulfur Dioxide, the leading cause of Acid Rain;
8,200 pounds of Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx), the leading cause of Smog and Acid Precipitation, which is equal to 176 passenger cars removed from the road this year.
“We are developing a good partnership because this distribution center in Tacoma now marks the third retrofit of a Gensco buildig by Lime Energy,” said John McKenna, vice president of Tacoma Distribution at Gensco. “The new lighting is a very positive enhancement to our facility here,” continued Mr. McKenna. “We have seen improved energy and morale among our team members in our warehouse, manufacturing areas, and offices. Along with the new efficient fixtures, the motion sensors that were installed by Lime Energy are really paying off, giving us more energy savings by keeping lights off when they are not needed.”
Gensco’s McKenna specifically included Tacoma Power as key to taking the efficiency step. “Jon Palmer-Williams of Tacoma Power was a resource who really helped us through all of the steps in this process. Tacoma Power was there to give an impartial view of the energy cost savings, and of course, their outright grant of $181,997 was a terrific motivator to get this project underway and completed.”
“At Tacoma Power, we know that when power is saved by conserving, less power must be generated by other means. In cases like this, we buy power savings in the form of an incentive payment, which goes toward the cost of the efficiency improvement the customer wants,” said Tacoma Power’s Jon Palmer-Williams. “By installing these high-efficiency lighting fixtures through Tacoma Power, Gensco will see a short return on investment and a long-term annual energy cost savings of about $42,000. I was happy to help Gensco through this process, which is already saving them energy and money.”
“We are pleased to complete this third project for Gensco here in Tacoma and look forward to additional work in our Northwest Reion,” said Dan Parke, president of Lime Energy. “Our offices across the county are growing their business, providing local jobs, and saving energy; and we are proud to be providing the jobs and energy savings that our Nation is looking for right now,” concluded Parke.
