The company
Stewart’s Shops is a family- and employee-owned chain of convenience stores with 328 locations throughout Upstate New York and Vermont. The Saratoga Springs, N.Y.-based company was founded in 1945 as a dairy and ice cream shop before eventually growing into a convenience store. However, they have stayed true to their roots and are still known for their homemade ice cream and fresh, local milk and eggs. They pride themselves on being the local corner store and becoming a part of every community they serve, following their motto “we are closer to you.”
In addition to providing high-quality service and products to their customers and care to their local communities, now they are focusing on reducing energy use, lowering energy costs and conserving resources for everyone.
The energy-saving challenge
Stewart’s Shops contacted SmartWatt Energy, Inc., Albany, N.Y., to conduct a full building audit of all lighting systems at their distribution and ice cream production facility in Saratoga Springs. The company’s goals were to dramatically improve the quality and quantity of light for employees, save money on energy costs and reduce their environmental impact.
Smart savings
What SmartWatt Energy did was install T-5 and T-8 lighting fixtures throughout offices, loading docks, laboratories, storage and various other areas, as well as install LED fixtures in their ice cream freezer. Doing so helped Stewart’s Shops shed 118.85 kW from their facility.
In addition to improved working conditions, Stewart’s Shops will enjoy energy savings from this lighting retrofit project, including annual energy savings of $77,608, annual displaced energy of 783,481 kWh, an EPAct 2005 tax deduction of $106,003 and a 16-month payback period. This amounts to a total utility rebate of $91,050.
Green impact
This project has led to the equivalent reduction of 1,175,222 pounds of carbon dioxide (greenhouse gases), and saved electricity and removed pollutants from the air, producing the same effect on the environment as planting 172 acres of trees.
