One Indiana lighting business sheds light on savings for its customers before ever turning on a lamp.
Flex Green Lighting and Energy provides large-scale lighting replacements for businesses, schools and other organizations across the U.S. and even Puerto Rico. Flex Green even offers its clients a lighting audit to highlight how much an upgrade to LEDs will save in energy costs. The business has worked on numerous commercial projects that received Power Moves® energy efficiency rebates.
“We look at it as doing energy efficiency studies,” said Travis Martindale, managing partner with Flex Green Lighting and Energy. “We can say how much it’ll cost, but here’s a calculation showing how much you will save in energy per year.”
Flex Green works with multiple power providers, including Hendricks Power Cooperative, NineStar Connect and Boone REMC. The electric co-ops are members of Wabash Valley Power Alliance, a wholesale power provider that administers the Power Moves energy efficiency program with its member electric distribution co-ops.
Flex Green analyzes clients’ facilities to provide upgrade options; Flex Green then works with power providers to ensure projects meet energy efficient program rebates to maximize customers’ savings. Flex Green provides the discount to the business up front.
“Our feedback has always been that people don’t know what the rebates are or what qualifies for the rebate requirements,” Martindale said. “By taking that off their plate, we get a very good response.”
Flex Green works directly with lighting manufacturers to get significant discounts. The company installs lighting products that have a 10-year warranty; the industry standard is 5 years.
“We have contractors who leverage our Power Moves rebates to offer greater savings to their customers, in addition to lowering their long-term energy costs,” said Laura Matney, strategic electrification and member relations manager for Wabash Valley Power Alliance. “Flex Green takes care of their clients and helps them save money. It’s great to be able to benefit everyone.”
Electric cooperatives have leveraged Flex Green’s expertise. An industrial manufacturer experienced failing light fixtures after a renovation and contacted Hendricks Power, which contacted Flex Green for help. Flex Green, which was not involved in the industrial manufacturer’s renovation, discovered issues with improperly sealed fixtures and offered a solution.
“Most of the lighting contractors out there are not necessarily looking out for the member as much as what Travis and Flex Green do,” said Steve Hite, Hendricks Power energy advisor who worked with Flex Green on the lighting issue. “When they’re involved, I take a breath because I know it’s going to go well. They really know what they’re doing when it comes to lighting.”