Energy Tech Solutions LLC: Harker Heating and Cooling discovers big advantages to energy-efficient lighting

Contact: Cynthia Everhart

Office: (608) 442-8855

Email: Cynthia@twistcom.com

MADISON, WI – Much in alignment with Luke Heiar’s goal of saving his customers money through the latest HVAC technology, Harker Heating has seen substantial energy savings through a complementary one – energy-efficient and light-emitting diode (LED) lights. By switching to a more sustainable technology, Luke’s company, Harker Heating and Cooling, has seen immediate and significant savings in energy costs through green technology while improving the lighting ambience of their facilities.

Since 1949, Harker Heating & Cooling has been a Madison luminary in heating and cooling, working on everything from West Towne to The Loraine, right off the capitol square. Yet despite Harker’s longevity, they continue to utilize the latest technology to grow their business and help serve their clientele. By leading through example, Harker demonstrates commitment to innovation, and sustainable green technology.

Your browser may not support display of this image. “Our bills have gone down almost exactly to the penny that we were told they would. Plus, the lights in the fabrication shop have improved the overall ambience quite a bit. It looked dark back here, almost is if you were in a bar, but the first few weeks I stepped in here after we switched, I thought the doors were open and that it was daylight in here. So then safety is another benefit, not to mention less eye strain as they can definitely see more clearly. And because the lights generate less heat, we seem to use less A/C in the summer. I see all these as benefits to our business.”

Through Energy Tech Solutions, LLC, a Madison-based LED lighting supplier and consulting firm, Harker changed their halogen PAR floodlights to LEDs in the showroom, significantly reducing energy costs while also improving the lighting quality—an essential component of showroom-based sales. They also changed the fabrications shop’s Hi-Bay Halides to energy-efficient fluorescents, as well as the halide outdoor security wall packs to LED, vastly improving visual clarity. And with Wisconsin’s Focus on Energy rebates, the estimated payback is only two years. But after that, the savings starts to add up, Harker’s estimated energy and maintenance savings compared to their previous lights totals $3,300 per year. Over ten years, this savings (with a 5% inflation of electric rates), amounts to approximately $28,000.

While the main draw of LED’s over traditional incandescent and fluorescent lighting is their incredible energy efficiency – lasting 5-90 times longer while using 50-90% less energy – the technology has also improved to deliver a higher quality of lighting while offering an array of benefits. LEDs are virtually indestructible (no filament), can be used in a greater usable temperature range, burn much cooler and more evenly, and they contain no mercury, which eases disposal options while reducing environmental impact … although you might have to wait eleven or so years for that.

“Typically, our lights last a decade or longer, while delivering a significant and immediate reduction in energy costs. But especially in colder climates like Wisconsin, where fluorescents develop problems under 0 degrees, LEDs, withstand temperatures of -30 and often under, becoming even more practical. It’s nice saving thousands of dollars year after year, but it’s even nicer when you see how durable they are,” says Rob Everhart, co-founder of Energy Tech Solutions, of Madison WI.

This made it a no-brainer for Heiar, who saw a sensible way to cut costs and reduce maintenance while focusing his company toward greener and more efficient technology.

“At Energy Tech Solutions, we focus on delivering high-quality, extensively tested, US-made LED lighting that instantly and significantly reduces the electricity bill. And since we allow payment on a cost-savings basis, meaning we are paid through reductions in electricity bills, it is an easy way to immediately cut costs at no out-of-pocket expense. Our lights generally pay themselves within a year or two, while the savings last far longer. Much like fluorescents once were, LED’s are the next obvious step in lighting technology. Soon, everybody will be using them.”

In the energy-efficient Green revolution, Harker stands out as a leader.