Courtney Capshaw - Turn off the lights, turn on the savings with Con Edison's Energy Savings Programs

Did you know lighting consumes up to 40% of a commercial facility's electricity? The heat output from lights also impacts cooling loads putting further strain on your energy budget. Fortunately, there are steps you can employ to reduce sky-rocketing energy costs and lower your facilities' carbon footprint at the same time. Turning off the lights is an easy, energy-saving practice that can produce substantial cost savings benefits. This also applies to desk lamps, which along with other plugged devices can be connected to a power strip and turned off easily with a flick of the switch. Another effective tool in reducing lighting cost is using occupancy sensors. They are useful in almost every space where people move in and out in unpredictable patterns (e.g. offices, restrooms). Daylight sensors are extremely beneficial as well. These sensors continually monitor the lighting levels in a space and automatically dim or turn lights off when sufficient light is detected. And besides, there are many studies which expound the benefits of increased employee productivity with access to natural daylight. And finally, integrating lighting control panels into your facility can supply you with automated lighting controls for minimal cost while providing substantial energy savings. Lighting control panels are often used for exterior lighting but are also a great option for interior spaces. The Con Edison Commercial & Industrial (C&I) Energy Efficiency Program pays cash rebates and incentives for the installation of various lighting and lighting control upgrades as mentioned above: daylight harvesting (dimming or switching), occupancy sensors, lighting control panels. Implementation of these projects requires pre-approval and must meet energy savings criteria and other specifications in order to qualify for Con Edison cash incentives or rebates. To learn more about Con Edison's C&I Energy Efficiency Program, visit conEd.com/energysavings or call an energy efficiency representative at 1-877-797-6347. Courtney Capshaw is the marketing & creative manager of Con Edison Commercial & Industrial Energy Efficiency, New York, N.Y.