Small businesses and nonprofits in Eastern Oregon have a great perk that some are not signing up for.
It’s a chance to change over antiquated lighting fixtures to state of the art light-emitting diode lamps, and while some time needs to be spent waiting in line, there is no cost to clients.
“We find LED lighting is one of the quickest and easiest ways for small businesses to help lower their operating costs,” said Caryn Appler, Eastern Oregon senior outreach manager for Energy Trust of Oregon. “The program started statewide in 2021, we’ve worked with more than 800 businesses, and the energy savings are pretty profound.”
Appler said most businesses save up to $1,000 per year in their energy costs by swapping out new lamps for old, and at no cost.
The program is funded by electric utilities who pass the cost along to all customers via a “small percentage of a customer’s bill,” according to Appler. “We use that small percentage to deliver energy efficiency and renewable energy programs. We’re the lowest-cost investment these utilities can make.”
For some reason some businesses become wary when they hear the word, “free,” according to Trever Blagg, the project coordinator at Pendleton’s Blue Mountain Electric, the vendor that does all the Energy Trust of Oregon installations in this part of the state.
“They’re like, ‘OK, What’s the catch?’ But this is truly free to them,” he said.
How to be considered
There are qualifications to meet, however.
“Small business eligibility means 20 or fewer employees or a business area of less than 20,000 square feet,” Appler said. “But I want to clarify that public buildings can also qualify under the program.”
Blagg mentioned that churches can also qualify.
“They’re typically larger than 20,000 square feet, but they are nonprofits,” he said.
Blagg also mentioned a small business with 50 employees and a 19,000 square foot building would also be eligible.
After the small business or nonprofit requests to be included in the program, a consultant makes a visit, Appler said.
“It begins with a free walkthrough survey where we send out an energy advisor from our lighting program, and they walk through the space with the owner or the occupant,” she said. “They count fixtures. They’re looking for directional lighting, any type of specialty lighting, and they provide the owner with a report of recommendations on what lighting would work in the space, along with a participation agreement.”
Appler said the report talks about the type of fixtures included and anything that might fall outside of the program, “that we may still have a lighting incentive for under a different program track, so it’s a pretty robust report, and it doesn’t obligate the owner to do anything.”
Because Blue Mountain Electric is the contractor doing the installation work, the owner then makes an appointment with them to do the changeover, “and then we pay Blue Mountain Electric so the owner doesn’t have the administrative burden or paperwork of accepting the money we send out,” Appler said.
Appler estimates Energy Trust has renewed lighting at over 30 locations in eastern Oregon.
“We make sure the lighting is appropriate to the setting, such as retail, versus an office space, versus a restaurant,” she said.
Blagg said their LED lamps are warranted for five years.
“Other than that, the lamps have a lifespan of 50,000 hours,” he said.
Contact providers
Bootmaker Richard Stapleman, of Pendleton, had a shop full of broken-down fluorescent lighting fixtures before Energy Trust of Oregon made it all better.
“Due to the age of the building, electricians wouldn’t even come in,” he said. “It was all so antiquated. Most of the ballasts had burned out and they weren’t available anymore.”
Stapleman said when he got his upgrade survey he was told the new lighting fixtures could reduce his electric bill by 40%.
“That was a lengthy process,” he said. “You have to get in line for three months. Probably longer now. But it’s well worth the wait.”
Stapleman said right after he had all the fluorescent fixtures upgraded to LED, Pacific Power raised the electric rates.
“But I do have light,” he said. “I have great light. It’s nice and bright in here which is crucial for what I do.”
The number for Energy Trust of Oregon is 866 368-7878 and their website is reached at energytrust.org.
