M.J. Soffe, a branded apparel company, announced that it has started an energy efficiency project at its headquarters located in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
To reduce utility costs, the company has collaborated with Piedmont Service Group, a leading provider of energy services in North Carolina, to renovate its warehouse and other facilities with innovative energy-efficient lighting technology. The energy service company will retrofit 2,500 lighting fixtures with new technologies, including installation of LEDs in conference rooms.
The project will minimize Soffe’s lighting costs by 65% and will also lower the total electricity costs by approximately 20%. In addition, the project has the greatest environmental advantage by reducing carbon footprint, and contributes to Soffe’s bottom line. It eliminates 846 metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2), which is comparable to removing 166 vehicles off the road.
The new lighting fixtures provide a wide range of advantages. They can reduce total utility costs by removing older lights that produced heat within the plant, and lower maintenance costs with the installation of products having a longer lifetime. The upgrade also enhances workplace safety by providing superior illumination. Piedmont has found tax credits via the Energy Policy Act of 2005 that might help to balance the project cost for Soffe.