Local Nonprofit Helps Small Businesses Slash Lighting Bills

SANTA CRUZ, CA (November 4, 2002) – Ecology Action, a Santa Cruz-based nonprofit, has been awarded a $1.9 million dollar publicly-funded contract designed to help small businesses in Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Benito Counties to obtain major energy cost reductions by updating their inefficient lighting systems. The program is funded by California utility ratepayers under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission.

The new program, called RightLights, targets smaller nonresidential customers such as small retail, hotel/motel, light manufacturing, restaurants, and others that may have missed out on the big utility-run rebate programs. Participants receive a free on-site lighting survey which suggests cost-effective upgrades that can cut lighting costs by up to 75%. The survey report details retrofit costs, rebate amount, annual utility savings, payback period, energy savings, and more.
Along with the free lighting survey, each businesses can receive a “Quick-Saver Package” of lighting upgrades valued at up to $250, installed free of charge the same day – even if the owner decides not to implement other suggested lighting improvements.

“Businesses start saving immediately with the Quick-Saver Package, and if they decide on the complete retrofit, the program subsidizes much of the cost,” notes Gene Thomas, RightLights Program Manager. “The rebate typically covers 25-85% of the project’s costs, but that can go all the way to 100% depending on the energy saved. It’s totally turn-key for the business owner and the payback is usually less than a year. The savings go straight to the bottom line, and lighting quality and reliability can improve dramatically.”

The RightLights Program is co-sponsored or supported by the City and County of Santa Cruz, the Chambers of Commerce for Monterey Peninsula, Santa Cruz, and Pajaro Valley, and the Latino Chamber of Commerce for Santa Cruz County.
Since 1970, Ecology Action has helped area businesses and residents with community-focused programs such as hazardous and solid waste reduction, water quality protection, sustainable transportation, and energy conservation. The organization’s other successful energy-related efforts include the Solar Schools Program as well as providing technical assistance to the City of Santa Cruz on renewable energy.

“We’ve structured this program so that it’s very easy for local businesses to achieve immediate savings,” says Deputy Director Mahlon Aldridge. “We install leading-edge lighting technologies, deliver deep rebates and hassle-free installation,” Aldridge noted, concluding “Money is not all these businesses will save. They also help reduce pollution, and that’s particularly exciting for us.”

For information, call RightLights at 888-846-5050, or email to gthomas@ecoact.org.