MEAN ENERGYsmart Commercial Lighting Program
The Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska (MEAN), in partnership with its long-term wholesale electric public power utility customers, has developed a commercial lighting program to increase energy efficiency. The program will begin April 1, 2009.
The program is open to all Service Schedule M (long-term) MEAN member communities.
“The idea behind the program is fairly straightforward,” said Andrew Ross, resource planning engineer. “The most valuable kilowatt can be the one not used. Replacing outdated, inefficient lighting not only helps businesses save money through energy reduction but delays new generation requirement by lowering overall electric load.”
Lighting accounts for about 30 percent of a commercial business’ total energy use. Under the program, qualified upgrades can reduce lighting energy requirements by 30 to 60 percent with a simple-payback in three years or less.
The program includes cash incentives paid directly to commercial customers to help cover the cost of lighting upgrades and replacements. The program covers indoor high bay, fluorescent, area lighting systems and LED exit-lighting fixtures.