Archon Helps Gainesville Car Dealer Capitalize on Expiring Utility Rebate

Archon Helps Gainesville Car Dealer Capitalize on Expiring Utility Rebate

Tomlinson Motor Company Installed 50+ Archon Lights
Project Will Pay for Itself in About 2 Years
GRU Rebate ($14,000+ for Tomlinson) Expires This Fall

Tomlinson Motor Company had a vision. The company saw its cars bathed in sunlight-like illumination. It saw a more inviting showroom. It saw a reduced environmental footprint. And it saw it all happening before its local utility company’s energy savings incentives expired. “We wanted the improved lighting coverage LEDs can provide,” said J.D. Tomlinson, company owner. “Gainesville Regional Utilities’ (GRU) expiring rebate was a big bonus.”

Like many regional energy companies, GRU recognizes lighting can account for nearly one-third of a business’ total energy needs. In many cases, the same light output can be achieved using lower-wattage lamps like Archon Power’s LEDs. Particularly in the case of Archon’s bulbs, powered by the proprietary Heat Spreader, air conditioning costs can also be reduced. So through the end of its fiscal year in late September, the utility is offering up to $100,000 or 50% back on lighting project implementation costs. The rebate is based on the reduction in energy use directly attributed to the project.

For Tomlinson Motor Cars, Archon Power’s installation more than produced the desired effect. The company installed 30 200-watt Shoebox LEDs, 6 50-watt Versa I LEDs, 14 100-watt LED modules and two LED tube retrofit kits and received a $14,060 rebate from GRU. The project is expected to save Tomlinson Motor Cars $20,635 in the first year and pay for itself in about 2 years.

“The lights look really good,” Tomlinson said. “They more than met my expectations, and Archon Power did a great job. Everyone was very responsive, and their reps were on-site a lot.”