EWEB Home > For your business > Energy Saving > Useful resources > Efficiency by Design

Insurance Against High Energy Costs
Denis Hijmans insured himself against high energy costs by installing energy-efficient lighting and programmable thermostats.

As a State Farm insurance agent, Denis Hijmans makes his living helping businesses and individuals plan for unexpected events, such as fires and floods. Although not unexpected, energy bills can quickly add up, and a little planning can save a lot of money.

On the advice of a client, Hijmans called Eugene Water & Electric Board Energy Management Services to ask about ways to cut operating costs in his commercial building at 2385 West 11th Avenue. The 3,900 sq. ft. building houses his State Farm insurance office, a medical supply company and a computer repair shop.

"My client raves about the EWEB program and the cost savings," says Hijmans. "So I decided to give them a call."

EWEB energy analysts reviewed his electric bills and inspected the building's energy-related systems. With a small office, the focus is on lighting and the heating/cooling system. They sent Hijmans a report that identified the major energy uses and suggested improvements to trim energy costs.

The report's economic analysis estimated that energy savings would exceed the cost of improvements by about $10 per month. EWEB's cash incentive covered 42 percent of the installation cost and the remainder was financed by a low interest loan to be paid back on the monthly EWEB bill.

"It all looked very favorable," says Hijmans. " We signed up for the loan originally, but then decided that it made more sense for us to pay cash."

Energy improvements included replacing old fluorescent lights with modern, high-efficiency lamps and ballasts. In addition to using less energy, the new lights provide brighter light, better color and eliminate the annoying fluorescent hum. High efficiency lights were installed in the parking lot, too.

The building already featured heat pumps for each of the three business spaces. One of the heat pumps is controlled by a programmable thermostat that automatically adjusts the temperature during non-business hours to reduce costs. The thermostat gradually returns the temperature to normal before operating hours. Then when people arrive, the office is already comfortable. Standard thermostats in the other two spaces were replaced with programmable models.

"We didn't really have to do much," says Hijmans. "The EWEB folks were easy to work with and we were able to select our own contractor. We just had a great experience."