Tustin company is thriving in this tough economy by saving other companies a lot of money.
Progressive Lighting & Energy Solutions In, which helps companies cut their electricity bills, grew 50% in the past year. CEO Bill Tauber is anticipating growth of 50% to 65% in 2009 between the Tustin and
Bill Tauber, right, with Steve Vaughn, a manager at RSD in Lake Forest where Progressive Lighting installed energy efficient lighting. (2007 Register photo by H. Lorren Au Jr.)
Santa Clara offices.
Progressive is capitalizing on pain, rebates and tax deductions. Here’s how:
- Installing more efficient lighting and electonic ballasts in a building can cut electrity use 60%
- Utilities like Southern California Edison offer rebates for such work that may cover 30% to 50% of the cost.
- The federal government offers a federal tax deduction of 60 cents a square foot for retrofitted buildings.
“Most buildings have 19th century lighting with 21st century electric bills,” Tauber said.
He anticipates more incentives to come. When campaigning, President Obama advocated a $15 billion annual program to encourage energy efficiency. Some versions of the economic stimulus package currently in Congress has $100 billion for clean energy programs.
You’d think businesses would always be eager to save money, but hard economic times really focus bosses’ attention, Tauber says.
“The CEO and CFO have to make cutbacks. Payroll is their biggest cost. If they can save money without terminating people, they’re all for it,” Tauber says.
A San Bernardino County shipping company saved $166,699 on its annual electricity bill by replacing 400-watt dome lights with florescent tubes and electronic ballasts, Tauber said.
An Orange County government contractor that put in more efficient lighting about five years ago, just did another retrofit and will save $80,000 a year because lights have become even more efficient, he added.
Progressive promots its green friendliness, but that’s not what’s selling its services these days.
“Companies want to save money. That’s the bottom line.”
OTHER ENTREPRENEUR STORIES….
- O.C. firm co-markets with Disney movie
- Serial plaintiff in disability lawsuits sues O.C. deli again
- Printing business suffers after forced move
- O.C. firm gives 10% of all revenues to charity
- O.C. firm to pay $10 for discarded Super Bowl 3-D glasses
- O.C. women defy recession, start businesses
- O.C. florist invests to fight recession
- O.C. ‘green’ firm gives 700,000 greenbacks to workers
- Four O.C. firms, agencies win state energy awards
- O.C. businessman wins award from Schwarzenegger
- O.C. firm launches ‘green’ social media site
The people of California demand action on the budget crisis and for their elected officials to come to the table and compromise on the issues that hamper the economic growth and development of our great state.
http://www.beyondthemargin.net/2009/02/labor-and-environmentalists.html