Co-op Member Benefits from Rebate

Columbia Falls Western Building Center improves lighting, receives Co-op rebate and saves money on its monthly electric bill through Flathead Electric's Commercial Lighting Rebate Program.

If you use metal halide lights in your business, warehouse or shop, you may want to follow the example set by the Columbia Falls Western Building Center. Although the store is only a few years old, the lighting originally installed was outdated, already requiring maintenance and not very energy efficient.

Eric Martin, store manager, adjusts his inventory in the Columbia Falls Western Building Center under his new energy-efficient lighting.

"We have twice as much light now and it is more evenly distributed using the same number of fixtures!" says Eric Martin, WBC store manager. "We also noticed a tremendous reduction of heat," remarked Eric. Western Building recently replaced their metal halides and their magnetic ballast T-12 fixtures with new, high-efficiency electronic-ballast fixtures and T-8 lamps.

The upgrade improved lighting levels and virtually eliminated the need for maintenance for years to come, not to mention the significant energy savings. With an overall wattage reduction of nearly 50%, the store should see a savings on their electric bill of nearly $300 per month!

Nearly half of the cost of this conversion was contributed by Flathead Electric Cooperative through their Commercial Lighting Rebate Program. This program, a joint effort with the Bonneville Power Administration, has enabled literally hundreds of local businesses to convert to more efficient lighting.

"Energy conservation has to become a focus for all of us. These businesses are doing the right thing," states Don Newton, FEC Energy Services Coordinator. "They are helping Flathead Electric, the environment and they save money. Everybody wins."

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