My
lights work okay. Why should I change them?
Business is slow. I can’t afford to spend
anything.
What exactly is the Quick-Saver Package?
What happens in the Lighting Survey?
Is the Lighting Survey really free? Is there
a catch?
How can I tell if I qualify?
Is this a limited time offer? How long do I have?
I’ve heard that lighting is just a small
part of my electric bill.
My location doesn’t have any incandescent
bulbs or illuminated exit signs. Can I still get the Quick-Saver
Package?
Can I get the Quick-Saver Package without getting
the Lighting Survey?
Can I get the Quick-Saver Package even if I
don’t do the full retrofit?
Aren’t there other programs around just
like RightLights?
Do I have to pay the whole cost of the upgrade
and then wait for a rebate?
How does the Instant Rebate work?
My Survey Report shows a payback of two years.
That’s too long.
I’m going to get the retrofit. Can I get
replacement parts anywhere?
Can I install the equipment myself?
Can I use my own contractor, or do I have to
use a RightLights Program Contractor?
Am I getting good equipment and labor prices
in my retrofit bid?
Can I finance my retrofit through RightLights?
Do you work for the utility?
Q: My lights work
okay. Why should I change them?
A: Because unless you have an
up-to-date system, too many of your hard-earned dollars are
going to pay for that light – you could be paying 50%
more than necessary. Also, the type of lighting that was installed
many years ago may not be best suited to the tasks you are
performing today, which can affect sales and employee productivity.
An upgraded system is more reliable, so maintenance costs
go down. There are many more reasons why it makes sense to
upgrade your lights. <
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Q: Business
is slow. I can’t afford to spend anything.
A: First, a large portion of
the upgrade cost is covered by the RightLights Instant Rebate,
and the payback on the balance is usually only a few months.
Second, when business slows it is even more important to control
operational costs. Utility bills are a huge and ongoing part
of the cost of doing business, and a lighting upgrade is the
simplest way to cut that cost. Savings go straight to the
bottom line and can amount to thousands of dollars annually.
How can you afford NOT to cut your lighting bill by up to
50%? <
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Q: What exactly is
the Quick-Saver Package?
A: The Quick-Saver Package is
a free package of screw-in Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs)
and/or LED Exit Sign upgrades, valued at up to $250. The saving
from this alone can amount to several hundred dollars per
year. The RightLights Lighting Specialist will install these
free of charge, usually the same day as your Lighting Survey
so you can start enjoying the savings immediately. The exact
composition and value of your package will depend on the makeup
your current lighting system. <
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Q: What happens in
the Lighting Survey?
A: A RightLights Lighting Specialist
will visit your location at a convenient time and perform
a detailed analysis of your current lighting system. Inefficiencies
are identified and cost-effective upgrades will be suggested.
The data is entered into a special computer program which
computes the utility savings, upgrade costs, and other factors.
A complete report containing all this information is printed
and delivered to you without cost or obligation. <
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Q: Is the Lighting
Survey really free? Is there a catch?
A: Yes, and there is no catch.
The survey, along with the Quick-Saver Package and Instant
Rebate is paid for by public funds. These Public Goods Charge
(PGC) funds come from a small percentage of everyone’s
utility payments that are set aside for programs that encourage
energy efficiency. <
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Q: How can I tell
if I qualify?
A: The quickest way is to call the RightLights Hotline at (888) 846-5050 or fax a copy of your utility bill to us at (831) 425-1404. Be sure to include a cover sheet with your contact information. Generally, you qualify for RightLights if you are a commercial PG&E customer in San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Monterey, or San Benito counties with a rate schedule of A1, A6, A10, or E19-V. Multi-family residential properties are eligible for RightLights rebates in their common areas.
<
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Q: Is this a limited
time offer? How long do I have?
A: Yes it is. RightLights rebates must be reserved by November 15, 2008 and all work completed by December 31, 2008. <
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Q: I’ve heard
that lighting is just a small part of my electric bill.
A: Actually, lighting can represent
25% or more of your electric bill, which can add up to many
thousands of dollars every year. You can cut that by up to
50%, keep that money in your pocket and end up with better
lighting! <
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Q: My location doesn’t
have any incandescent bulbs or illuminated exit signs.
Can I still get the Quick-Saver Package?
A: No. The Quick-Saver Package
is specifically designed to replace screw-in incandescent
bulbs, which are usually the biggest “energy hogs”
of all. <
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Q: Can I get the
Quick-Saver Package without getting the Lighting Survey?
A: No. The Quick-Saver Package
is a reward for getting a Lighting Survey, which – even
if you do not do the retrofit – gives you valuable information
about your lighting system and how to make it more efficient
in the future. <
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Q: Can I get the
Quick-Saver Package even if I don’t do the full retrofit?
A: Yes. There is no obligation
to do a retrofit, and you will benefit immediately from the
energy savings generated by the Quick-Saver Package. We figure
that you may want to upgrade in the future, and if you do,
you will have the unbiased information you need to make cost-effective
choices. <
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Q: Aren’t there
other programs around just like RightLights?
A: Yes and no. There are other
programs that feature lighting rebates, but since our rebates
are based on energy savings they are often larger than those
of other programs. In addition, RightLights is structured
as a totally turn-key solution for lighting upgrades, and
there are no other turn-key programs serving the same area. As
an environmentally-focused nonprofit corporation, Ecology
Action is able to run the program with minimal overhead,
which maximizes the funding available for rebates as opposed
to other implementers with larger administrative burdens.
However, we do provide you with information on the other
energy efficiency programs that serve the program area. <
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Q: Do I have to pay
the whole cost of the upgrade and then wait for a rebate?
A: No. You receive the rebated
price immediately. <
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Q: How does the Instant
Rebate work?
A: The size of your Instant
Rebate depends on the energy savings generated by your retrofit,
which is calculated by computer and detailed in your Lighting
Survey Report. The more you save, the higher your rebate!
Our RightLights Program Contractors have agreed to fixed,
low-priced bids. You pay the contractor only for the cost
of the project MINUS the rebate, thereby getting the rebate
“up front.” We then pay the rebate amount directly
to the Contractor once the work is complete, which helps ensure
it’s done right. Finally, RightLights invoices the utility
for the amount of the rebate. <
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Q: My Survey Report
shows a payback of two years. That’s too long.
A: While most upgrade projects
show a payback of less than one year, a two-year payback still
represents a fantastic return on investment (ROI). Often,
projects with longer paybacks have the largest dollar amount
savings. Just look at the “Utility Savings” entry
in your Report Summary, and that’s how much stays in
your pocket annually, year after year. <
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Q: I’m going
to get the retrofit. Can I get replacement parts anywhere?
A: Good question. RightLights
will provide you with a list of suppliers and a full list
of all equipment installed. RightLights specifies only commercial-grade
energy efficient lighting equipment. Unlike consumer-grade
bulbs that are found at the large home improvement and discount
chain stores, these are often made with higher-quality materials
and may last thousands of hours longer. Also, replacing a
bulb or ballast with one that doesn’t properly match
can damage or shorten the life of that equipment. The equipment
suppliers that we recommend can ship the proper parts directly
to you at competitive prices. Alternatively, you can order
replacement parts through the Program Contractor that installed
your retrofit. <
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Q: Can I install
the equipment myself?
A: Yes, although except in the
simplest cases it usually doesn’t make sense. The reduced
fixed-price bids from our RightLights Program Contractors
are hard to beat, and your time is usually more valuable and
better spent growing your business. In addition, RightLights must perform a Quality Control Inspection for all self-installations after the retrofit is completed. <
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Q: Can I use my own
contractor, or do I have to use a RightLights Program Contractor?
A: Yes, although they might
not be able to match our reduced fixed-price bid. RightLights
Program Contractors 1) have agreed to reduced labor rates
and equipment markups, and 2) are able to order lighting
equipment through the program at below-wholesale prices.
In addition, RightLights only selected contractors for the
program who are skilled in performing commercial lighting
retrofits. If you do use your own contractor, the equipment
they install must be the exactly the same equipment that
would be specified for RightLights Program Contractors. This
ensures consistent standards for quality and reliability.
And, as with self-installations, a Quality Control Inspection must be done by our Energy Efficiency Specialist. <
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Q: Am I getting good
equipment and labor prices in my retrofit bid?
A: Absolutely. First, RightLights
obtained special program prices from several wholesale equipment
suppliers in the area. Second, in order to participate in
the RightLights Program, contractors had to agree to specific
labor rates and equipment markups that are typically lower
than average for the area. These elements together enable
RightLights to offer low, fixed-price bids that reduce your
out-of-pocket costs and eliminate unpleasant “surprises.” Finally, RightLights will only install commercial-grade lighting equipment from
top manufacturers. Unlike the consumer-grade equipment typically available from
home improvement centers, these lamps are often made with higher-quality materials,
may carry longer warranties and may last for thousands of additional hours of
service. RightLights also enables you to order replacement parts directly from
our participating suppliers, at the samereduced prices specified in your retrofit. <
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Q: Can I finance
my retrofit through RightLights?
A: RightLights does not finance
retrofits internally; however in addition to your normal sources
of financing, a company called Safe-Bidco
offers energy efficiency upgrade financing at below-market
rates. The major investor-owned utilities often refer Safe-Bidco
for programs such as RightLights. Safe-Bidco's
phone number is 800-273-8637. <
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Q: Do you work for
the utility?
A:The RightLights program is a third-party element of PG&E’s energy-efficiency portfolio, operated by Ecology Action and funded by ratepayers out of the Public Goods Charge funds under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission. Ecology Action is a Santa Cruz-based nonprofit corporation. <
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