Challenge
Retail buildings in the United States have the highest energy costs of all commercial buildings, approximately $20 billion annually, and account for the second largest percentage of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.i Retail building managers can decrease their energy costs and associated greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency initiatives.
Mills Fleet Farm is a Midwestern, value-based retailer of lifestyle merchandise serving do-it-yourself and active families. The company operates 36 stores located throughout Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and North Dakota.
Responseii
In mid-2016, Mills Fleet Farm began working with the Green Solutions Platform (GSP) team to evaluate and implement energy efficiency projects, including lighting upgrades. The lighting project is expected to begin in 2017. When fully implemented, the project is expected to reduce energy use per fixture by more than 35 percent on average, save more than 21 million kWh of electricity annually, and avoid more than 10,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually.
The program is expected to have positive financial benefits from electricity cost savings and maintenance savings, including reducing Mills Fleet Farm’s annual electrical utility expenses by more than 25 percent.