REDLANDS, Calif., Dec 08, 2009 /PRNewswire


One of the country's most successful large-scale energy efficiency programs was on full display Friday when Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa toured a local bagel shop that has saved money by lowering its energy usage.

The Western Bagel at 7814 Sepulveda Blvd. in Van Nuys is one of eight locations within the regional chain to take advantage of the program, which provides energy-saving lighting retrofits to lower businesses' utility bills. All told, the eight locations are saving about $8,000 annually on their electricity bills as a result of the improvements.

Mayor Villaraigosa touted the program as an example of the City's commitment to helping businesses save money by becoming more energy efficient.

"This program shows that Los Angeles can lead the way in promoting conservation and energy efficiency," he said. "Our goal is to make Los Angeles the greenest big city in America."

The Small Business Direct Install (SBDI) program is one of an array of energy efficiency programs made available by the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (LADWP).

EnerPath Services, Inc. (http://www.enerpath.com/) a Redlands-based company that specializes in managing and deploying large-scale energy efficiency programs throughout the U.S., has enrolled more than 27,000 small businesses through the program since its inception last year. Thus far, EnerPath has delivered some 500,000 energy efficiency measures, reducing overall energy consumption by 18.6 Megawatts -- roughly enough energy to power 9,500 homes a year for the life of the measures.

At its peak, EnerPath employed more than 250 program representatives and contractors to provide free lighting assessments, free upgrades, and up to $2,500 in free installations.

"This truly is a great program, and could serve as a model for other cities across the country," said Alex Brown, SBDI program manager for LADWP.

Using handheld computers, EnerPath's representatives gather information about each customer's lighting system.

Through the use of EnerPath software on handheld PDAs, representatives are able to calculate the potential energy savings from recommended retrofits on the spot in real-time. The system also allows them to print customer reports in up to six languages.

Business owners can authorize the retrofits all in the same visit, which typically takes less than an hour. The EnerPath system immediately notifies pre-qualified, local subcontractors who perform the installations.

"We make energy efficiency very easy for business owners," said EnerPath CEO Stephen Guthrie. "Everything is scheduled and coordinated in an efficient and effective process, even when multiple subcontractors are involved."

Post-installation customer surveys indicate high levels of customer satisfaction, Guthrie added.

"Of nearly 10,000 LADWP customers surveyed, EnerPath's energy representatives got a customer satisfaction rating of 99.3%, and our contractors received a 99% grade," he said. "We are particularly proud of those numbers considering the size, scale and coordination needed to execute a program of this magnitude."

Throughout the process EnerPath educates business owners about saving energy, which often leads to other improvements.

Many of the lighting retrofits come in under the program's $2,500 cap; when business owners authorize retrofits that exceed the limit, EnerPath coordinates claims through LADWP's Commercial Lighting Efficiency Offer, a co-pay program, to help cover the balance.

The SBDI program is part of the LADWP's Green LA Environmental Programs, which also includes Energy and Water Conservation, Trees for a Green LA, in conjunction with the Million Tree Initiative, Green Power, Solar Power and Water Recycling.

Information on these environmental programs, as well as energy and water saving tips, are available at LADWP's Web site (www.greenla.com) or by calling the LADWP Commercial Resource Center at 1-800-499-8840.

SOURCE EnerPath

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