An iconic supper club has cut their energy usage and costs thanks to Wisconsin’s Focus on Energy program.
Pitch's Lounge has been owned and operated by the Picciurro Family since 1942. Located on Milwaukee’s east side (just one block north of Brady Street on Humboldt Avenue), the eatery is known for its barbecue ribs.
Over the past few years, Pitch's Lounge has utilized Focus on Energy’s incentives for small businesses on a series of lighting upgrades.
In 2013, incandescent lighting in the exterior and bar area was upgraded with compact fluorescent lightbulbs; T12 fluorescent bulbs in the kitchen and basement were retrofitted with more efficient T8 bulbs.
Outdoor signage was upgraded with LED (light emitting diode) technology in 2014.
The dining room’s lighting was replaced with LED fixtures in 2015.
In 2017, LED upgrades were made in the kitchen, basement and bar area. Combined, these projects will save an estimated 67,783 kilowatt hours of electricity annually. These savings equal the annual electric usage of 7.6 American homes.
Pitch’s Lounge will see a quick return on investment from their lighting projects, with an annual energy savings of about $6,000.
Pitch’s Lounge qualified for $6,900 in incentives from Focus on Energy’s Small Business Incentive Program to pay towards the approximately $8,000 in lighting upgrades. Funded by Wisconsin utilities, Focus on Energy works with eligible Wisconsin residents and businesses to install cost effective energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. The restaurant’s electric provider is We Energies.
Pitch’s Lounge has high praise for Tactical Solutions, a Focus on Energy trade ally, which conducted the improvements and applied for incentives.
In addition to the financial benefits, eye-pleasing lighting aesthetics are now uniform throughout the business.
The Picciurros note that if not for assistance from Tactical Solutions, eventual lighting failures might have been replaced piecemeal at retail stores. They plan to utilize Focus on Energy next year to upgrade exterior lighting with energy-efficient fixtures.
Pitch's Lounge has recommended Focus on Energy to a dozen other businesses, including their ‘sister’ restaurant, Miss Katie's Diner.
Focus on Energy information, resources and financial incentives help to implement project that otherwise would not get completed, or to complete projects sooner than scheduled. Its efforts help Wisconsin residents and businesses manage rising energy usage, promote in-state economic development, protect our environment and control the state’s growing demand for electricity and natural gas.
