Duke Energy’s 2010 Power Partners Announced
December 15, 2010
CHARLOTTE, NC – December 14, 2010 – Using less energy or using energy more wisely can mean big savings – just ask the 2010 Duke Energy Power Partner award winners. This year’s list of recipients includes school systems, grocery stores, a hospital, data centers and several manufacturers.
The distinguished power partner award is given by Duke Energy to customers who go above and beyond to reduce their energy usage or implement innovative energy solutions to power their businesses.
“As the economy continues to put pressure on customers, it is critical that we help them save energy and money,” said Tony Almeida, Duke Energy’s vice president of large business customers. “We are fortunate that our customers understand the value of working closely with our Duke Energy team to help provide creative and innovative energy solutions for their businesses.”
Duke Energy’s 2010 Power Partner Award winners are:
The Kroger Co. – Cincinnati, Ohio
Kroger implemented several programs during the past year to reduce energy consumption at its supermarkets, including the installation of:
- Skylights to maximize natural daylight
- Energy efficient fans and frame heaters in frozen food cases
- Automated timers that shut off overhead lights when stores are closed
- Motion sensors to turn off certain lights when areas are not in use
- Energy-smart equipment.
Kroger participates in Duke Energy’s Smart $aver® incentive program in Indiana and Ohio. Since 2007, the company has completed applications for lighting, motors and heating and cooling improvements.
Most recently, Kroger initiated an extensive fluorescent lighting replacement program, in which lights in refrigerated cases were swapped out for energy-efficient LED lighting. Nearly 10,000 lamps have been replaced to date, saving more than 6.4 million kilowatt-hours per year. In addition, the lighting replacement program qualified for $490,000 in incentives from Duke Energy’s Smart $aver Prescriptive Incentives program.
Greater Clark County Schools – Clark County, Indiana
The Greater Clark County School district significantly improved its energy use over the past year by installing energy efficient lighting, as well as new heating and cooling systems. The improvements are linked to upgraded energy management systems centralized at each facility, dramatically reducing energy expense. The school district will capture additional savings in the future as more enhancements to the energy management systems are completed.
Greater Clark County Schools helps conserve energy by participating in Duke Energy’s PowerShare® CallOption program. In exchange for selling Duke Energy a “call option” on a portion of its load, the school district receives a monthly credit on its energy bill. The district continues to respond to Duke Energy requests to reduce load by changing HVAC set points and, in some cases, by shutting down air conditioning systems after school hours. The school district has also reduced demand from indoor lighting systems by increasing use of natural light in its facilities.
Fabri-Kal – Greenville, South Carolina
Fabri-Kal and Duke Energy worked together to improve the electric reliability of the company’s Greenville facility. Fabri-Kal chose to take advantage of many Duke Energy programs that will not only make the facility more reliable, but also more energy efficient.
The company implemented new metering and monitoring tools designed to track critical processes. Additionally, Fabri-Kal is taking advantage of Duke Energy’s Smart $aver® Prescriptive Incentives for heating and cooling systems and the PowerShare® Mandatory and Voluntary programs.
Techtronic Industries – Anderson, South Carolina
TTI’s North American headquarters office in Anderson, S.C., co-located a data center at its facility for product development, quality testing and logistics purposes, while meeting specific requirements outlined by its corporate office.
Although the Anderson facility had a strong history of reliable power supply, one of the corporate requirements was the availability of backup generation in case of power loss.
The Duke Energy team designed a solution that was cost effective and timely, and required no capital investment on TTI’s part.
In addition to the new data center, TTI’s Anderson team has completed the first phase of a lighting upgrade. The new system is energy efficient and qualified for $22,816 in Duke Energy Smart$aver® Incentives.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools – Charlotte, North Carolina
Through comprehensive energy management and conservation programs, CMS improved its energy performance by 10 percent since the start of the 2008-09 school year. This milestone earned the school district the ENERGY STAR Leader designation by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. At the beginning of the 2010-11 school year, CMS had 40 ENERGY STAR schools.
Since 2009, CMS has qualified for more than $200,000 from Duke Energy in the form of Smart $aver® incentives for lighting, foodservice equipment and chiller installations. The district also used a $200,000 matching-fund grant from the N.C. State Energy Department to replace existing light fixtures with energy efficient equipment. Over the past year, CMS replaced nearly 10,000 lights at 21 schools.
In addition to ongoing energy improvements, CMS plans to partner with Duke Energy on LEED certification for the new Pineville Elementary School.
DataChambers / Salem Business Park – Winston Salem, North Carolina
DataChambers is an information technology company that built a new data center in 2010. Early in the planning stages, the company partnered with Duke to provide design support and energy efficiency guidance. The facility design included high-efficiency chillers and motors, and variable speed pumps, allowing DataChambers to improve its efficiency rating and lower its energy costs, while qualifying for Duke Energy Smart $aver® Incentives.
Like many technology-driven companies, DataChambers historically owned, installed and operated the internal electrical infrastructure, such as on-site power generation and electrical distribution systems. The partnership with Duke Energy provided this critical equipment through an outsourced service. This allows DataChambers to focus on its core business, while Duke Energy provides the capital, the system installation, and the on-going O&M. As a result, DataChambers has benefitted financially, reduced its risk, and positioned itself well for future growth.
Davidson College – Davidson, North Carolina
The Davidson College campus uses a sophisticated energy management system that is wired to most campus buildings. Officials use the system to manage the college’s peak energy use and demand.
Davidson College officials were in the process of analyzing the Baker Sports Complex’s operating infrastructure – including its HVAC system, controls and lighting – when Duke Energy offered to include Baker Sports Complex in its Energy Smart Building pilot program. The program uses digital metering and communications technology to give customers more information, options and control over their energy use. Better yet, energy use information from the retrofitted facility would integrate with Davidson College’s centralized energy management system.
College officials signed on with Duke Energy and the pilot program. They also committed to a PowerShare® agreement and accepted over $75,000 in energy efficiency incentives to retrofit the sports complex with up-to-date equipment and controls.
The retrofit will allow David
son College to fully maximize the advantages of digital technologies. The real-time metering data and building automation systems will enable the college to manage its energy use more effectively than before.
Hickory Chair – Hickory, North Carolina
Hickory Chair is enrolled in Duke Energy’s PowerShare® program, a demand response program which rewards the company for adjusting its energy consumption levels during peak time periods. Hickory Chair’s participation prompted three other facilities owned by Furniture Brands International, to do the same.
On top of participating in PowerShare, Hickory Chair qualified for incentives through Duke Energy’s Smart $aver® program. The money was awarded for improvements to the company’s heating and cooling, and indoor lighting systems.
Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center – Winston Salem, North Carolina
Together, Duke Energy and Wake Forest officials developed an assessment which analyzed the facility’s energy usage and provided recommendations for improvements.
One improvement currently underway is reducing data center energy use through server virtualization. Wake Forest officials are working with Duke Energy and Intel on the pilot program, which is expected to demonstrate significant energy savings.
The medical center also took advantage of Duke Energy Smart $aver® Incentives during the past year for lighting upgrades throughout its facility.
Wells Fargo / Wachovia – Charlotte, North Carolina
Perhaps the most talked about building in uptown Charlotte is the Duke Energy Center, the new, 48-story tower owned by Wells Fargo. This building is a prime example of Wells Fargo’s commitment to energy efficiency and sustainable operations. Among its accolades:
- First and tallest office tower to achieve LEED Platinum certification for Core and Shell rating system Version 2.0
- First and only LEED for Core and Shell commercial building in the world to require each tenant to pursue LEED for Commercial Interiors certification
- First and only LEED Core and Shell Platinum project in North Carolina.
Wells Fargo is also an active participant in Duke Energy’s demand-response program rewards and adjusts its energy consumption levels at four sites during peak time periods.
In addition, Wells Fargo buildings in uptown Charlotte participate in Duke Energy’s Smart Saver® program and will play a key role in the recently-announced Envision: Charlotte initiative, which aims to reduce energy use in uptown Charlotte’s business community by up to 20 percent in five years.
Duke Energy
Duke Energy is one of the largest electric power holding companies in the United States. Its regulated utility operations serve approximately 4 million customers located in five states in the Southeast and Midwest, representing a population of approximately 11 million people. Its commercial power and international business segments own and operate diverse power generation assets in North America and Latin America, including a growing portfolio of renewable energy assets in the United States.
Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is a Fortune 500 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. More information about the company is available on the Internet at: www.duke-energy.com. To learn more and contribute to the discussion about the energy issues of today and the possibilities of tomorrow see www.sheddingalight.org.
