June 24, 2014 (Hartford, CT) - Bill Selig Jewelers recently participated in an energy saving program offered to Connecticut Retail Merchants Association (CRMA) members in partnership with Energize Connecticut. By participating in the program, Bill Selig Jewelers was able to reduce their energy costs and become more energy efficient.
Located “On the Green” at 161 Broad Street in Windsor and in the shops at Drake Hill at 712 Hopmeadow Street in Simsbury, Bill Selig Jewelers has been a fine jewelry retailer for thirty five years.
CRMA facilitated Bill Selig Jewelers participation in the Small Business Energy Advantage program so that they could save energy and money while improving the comfort, look and feel of their store. The Energize Connecticut program, administered by Connecticut Light & Power and The United Illuminated Company, started with a no-cost, no-obligation energy assessment.
Find out what's happening in Windsor Locks-East Windsorfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Based on the findings, a proposal for energy-saving upgrades and retrofits was created for, reviewed and approved by Bill Selig Jewelers.
Energy-saving measures adopted by Bill Selig Jewelers included replacing all the 65 and 90-watt incandescent light bulbs with 14 and 18 watt screw in LED with photocells. The 175-watt metal halide exterior fixtures were also switched with 40-watt LED and 32-watt T8 fluorescent lamps in the jewelry cases were replaced with 16-watt LED strips.
Find out what's happening in Windsor Locks-East Windsorfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
As a result of the energy upgrades, Bill Selig Jewelers now has improved quality of light and reduced cooling needs because in addition to being energy efficient, the new lights generate less heat. The business is now saving 7,859-kilowatt hours each year and approximately $1,700.00 per year or $141 a month on their utility bill.
The cost for the improvements, after the Energize Connecticut incentive, was $8,145 and is paid through no interest, on-bill financing of $169 a month for 48 months, resulting in a total out of pocket cost of just $28 a month for the next four years.
“We originally had the free energy assessment done in our Windsor store and had such a great, positive experience that we decided to have it done in our Simsbury store as well!” said Sharran Selig of Bill Selig Jewelers. “Participating in this program will save us a lot of money on our utility bills going forward.”
The Connecticut Retail Merchants Association has been working on behalf of retailers at the State Capitol since 1910. Its mission is to strengthen Connecticut retailing through legislative initiatives and by also leveraging the association’s unique buying power to obtain the best value in merchant services for its members.
“CRMA has many great programs like this one to help merchants all over the state,” stated Tim Phelan, President of CRMA. “Retailers are under intense pressure to keep pace with technological advances, shifting demographics, and increased globalization. By becoming a member of CRMA, they can band with other retailers, utilize the strength of numbers and fight back and win together.”
About the Connecticut Retail Merchants Association
CRMA is a statewide trade association that represents the retailers at state capitol in the marketplace. The association currently has over 500 members representing more than 2,000 stores throughout the state, including some of the world’s largest retailers as well as the state’s main street merchants. To learn more about CRMA, visit www.crmaonline.com.
About Energize Connecticut
Energize Connecticut helps you save money and use clean energy. It is an initiative of the Energy Efficiency Fund, the Clean Energy Finance & Investment Authority, the State, and your local electric and gas utilities, with funding from a charge on customer energy bills. Information on energy-saving programs can be found at EnergizeCT.com or by calling 1.877.WISE.USE.
