Energy Efficiency Offers Patients and Workers a Healthy Future

Brighter Days Ahead

Think About Lighting

Having a well-lit environment is something you may not think about. But workers at Group Health Cooperative of South-Central Wisconsin (GHC) thought about the lighting — or lack thereof — quite a bit. Luckily, an energy checkup from Focus on Energy® took GHC’s lighting system off life support and now its prognosis is bright.

Before upgrading their lighting, GHC’s Madison facility handled more than 525 work orders per year to replace burnt-out lamps. These fixes ranged between $4,000 and $6,000 annually.

Proficient Lighting, a GHC business partner and Focus on Energy Trade Ally, suggested taking advantage of Focus on Energy programs to reduce energy usage and cut costs.

GHC took their advice. Focus on Energy helped secure more than $34,000 in rebates to replace outdated, inefficient lighting with new troffers and downlights. The upgrades have saved the health network more than 123,000 kWh of energy annually, enough to power 18 homes.

“It is just smart business to cut costs whenever possible, and this program was tailor-made to fit our business model,” said GHC Facilities Manager Jeff Steenis.

Proficient Lighting completed all the work, managing the project from the initial energy assessment to final installation. This took the burden from GHC and minimized clinic disruptions.

Now, patients and staff enjoy radiant, reliable lighting and a pleasant environment. And administrators enjoy reduced costs, less maintenance work, and increased sustainability.

And nobody ever gives lighting a second thought.