Veterans Ford takes the driver’s seat when it comes to serving its customers and keeping expenses as low as possible. After seeing Tampa Electric's ad for a complimentary Commercial Energy Audit, the dealership wasted no time reaching out to us.
Before long, our Certified Energy Auditors steered the family-owned business on a journey that saved the company more than $20,000 a year on its electric bills.
How did we do it?
For starters, our Certified Energy Auditor, Christopher Bouchard, performed a site evaluation on their facilities, analyzed their operations, and offered insights into their energy consumption patterns. Subsequently, he presented various energy-efficiency recommendations to the company that aimed to conserve both money and energy.
After considering all its options, Veterans Ford replaced its existing lighting system with a more energy-efficient, Light-Emitting Diode (LED) technology that uses less energy and lasts longer than traditional lights. LEDs also produce less carbon emissions, which is better for the environment. Switching to LED lighting technology helped Veterans Ford achieve a remarkable 19% reduction in energy usage, reducing its energy usage by 212,000 kWh annually, and providing an annual savings of $20,352 on their electric bills. In addition, Veterans Ford received $10,135 in rebates from Tampa Electric’s Lighting program.
The change was both financially smart and environmentally savvy.
According to General Manager, Lorenzo Pena, “Veterans Ford is committed to sustainability whether in service or sales, especially as we shift our focus towards electric vehicles,” Pena said. “Lower energy usage helps everyone due to cleaner air, but especially our customers who benefit from our energy conservation efforts when they come to purchase a vehicle or have their vehicle serviced.”
The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) also recognized Veterans Ford’s commitment to energy conservation and sustainability with its 2023 Triple E Award for Energy Efficiency Efforts. The PSC uses the award to encourage cost-effective conservation and the use of renewable energy. The goal is to reduce the use of fossil fuels and defer the need for new generating capacity.
How can you make your business more energy efficient and save money?
To help your business save energy and money, schedule a complimentary commercial Energy Audit by calling 813-275-3909 on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or complete our online request form. After the site evaluation, our Certified Energy Auditors will provide you with the tools you need to understand your business’s energy usage, equipment, and processes. Whether a restaurant, retailer or manufacturer, Tampa Electric can provide solutions to help reduce your energy costs. In addition, we’ll explain the many rebates and incentive programs available and recommend those that can deliver long-term benefits.
Tampa Electric is proud of its 40-plus-year history of encouraging energy conservation. Today, we offer more energy-saving programs than any other utility in the state.
“Our energy conservation programs benefit business customers through energy savings and program rebates. It’s so rewarding when customers get to see program results,” said Karen Sparkman, vice president of customer experience for Tampa Electric.
The results.
Becoming energy-efficient isn't just environmentally friendly; it's also a smart business decision. By completing a Tampa Electric Energy Audit and implementing energy-saving technologies, Veterans Ford lowered its energy usage, which significantly reduced their electric bill, helped improve the environment, received substantial rebates and won prestigious state-wide recognition from the PSC.
Congratulations Veterans Ford! Tampa Electric salutes your commitment to innovative technology, customer service and energy efficiency.
