Kwik Trip Takes Statewide Approach to Energy Savings

BUSINESS Kwik Trip Takes Statewide Approach PROGRAMS to Energy Savings CASE STUDY

For more information, call 800.762.7077 or visit focusonenergy.com.

rom Merrill to Kenosha, River Falls to cash incentives to help install these measures. Manitowoc, Kwik Trip, Inc. is launching energy The stores will also enjoy $297,409 in energy F savings efforts across the state of Wisconsin. savings on energy bills each year. Since 2006, Kwik Trip has completed more than “The savings are better than what we expected,” 335 energy efﬁciency projects at over 200 of its Bornholdt explained. “These upgrades have Wisconsin locations. Its efforts have saved more really helped us cut down expenses.” Some of than 4.1 million kilowatt-hours of electricity and Kwik Trip’s biggest energy savers include: 1,600 therms of natural gas—enough energy to power 415 homes for a year. The gas and Energy Management Systems convenience-store chain has also reduced its Kwik Trip installed energy management systems peak electric demand by 450 kilowatts. in more than 200 locations. These provide notable savings though better control and load “Focus on Energy has provided us with management of heating and air conditioning tremendous technical expertise on new energy equipment throughout the stores. saving technologies,” said Todd Bornholdt, Communication Center Manager at Kwik Trip, Inc. For example, energy management systems can “The upgrades we’ve made have improved our automatically adjust setpoint temperatures to bottom line and helped us stay competitive.” save energy based on season, time of day, or day of week. They can also limit the use of ISLANDS OF ENERGY SAVINGS outside air for ventilation when buildings are With the help of Focus on Energy, Wisconsin’s unoccupied, reducing the heating and cooling energy efficiency and renewable energy systems’ operating time and saving money. initiative, Kwik Trip learned about key energy saving technologies and received $216,670 in Kwik Trip realizes additional savings by controlling its lights with energy management systems so the lights turn off when not needed.

LED Lighting for Reach-in Refrigeration Cases Kwik Trip uses LED lighting in most of its reach-in refrigerator cases. LEDs produce light more efficiently than traditional fluorescent lighting by using a microchip that emits light in a single direction. By more precisely directing the light, less energy is wasted.

Additionally, LEDs generate less heat inside the cases, so the refrigeration unit does not need to work as hard to compensate as it would with conventional lighting. LEDs also require less maintenance, have a 10-year continuous-running life expectancy, are compact in size and contain no mercury, allowing safe and easy disposal.

Preventive Refrigeration Maintenance Convenience stores and grocers use more electricity per Refrigeration Waste Heat Recovery square foot than any other type of commercial building. In A typical cooling system uses refrigerant, which absorbs summer, a convenience store’s refrigeration system heat from its surroundings when it changes from a accounts for 60 percent of its total electrical use. Proper highly pressurized liquid to a low-pressurized gas. This preventive maintenance can reduce refrigeration energy heated refrigerant is often sent outside to be cooled down, costs by 5 to 10 percent on average, which will generally essentially wasting the heat. Heat reclaim systems can use increase store profits by the same amount. that heat, as was done at Kwik Trip, for heating water. The heat recovery system passes cold tap water through a heat Performing preventive maintenance also improves equipment exchanger, where coils filled with hot refrigerant heat the operating efficiency, prolongs equipment life, and reduces the water. The heated water is stored in an insulated water need for costly “emergency” repairs and equipment downtime. storage tank, similar to a typical water heater. This process provides Kwik Trip with some free hot water and substantial PUMPING AND SAVING IN 2009 AND BEYOND energy savings. To keep energy savings on the forefront for its 223 Wisconsin stores, as well as stores in Minnesota and Iowa, Indoor and Outdoor Lighting Kwik Trip holds monthly energy meetings to review existing Inside, Kwik Trip uses high-performance T8 lighting projects and identify new opportunities. throughout its stores. These systems are made up of a high- lumen, long-life T8 lamp and low-watt electronic ballast. This In the future, Kwik Trip plans to build all new locations to the combination results in energy savings without reducing light Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) output. These lights are also rated to last 4,000 hours Green Building standards. This will provide energy and dollar longer than standard T8 lamps. savings for years to come, while protecting the environment.

Outside, Kwik Trip uses low-watt 200 pulse-start metal halide FULL-SERVICE SOLUTIONS instead of its standard counterparts. This reduces wattage Focus on Energy offers specialized support for gas stations up to 50 percent. On average, a gas station canopy has 30 and convenience stores throughout Wisconsin. We are lights and operates 3,600 hours per year. By using low-watt your full-service solution for energy savings opportunities, alternatives, Kwik Trip saves 14,560 kilowatt-hours of project evaluation assistance, savings assessment, electricity annually. best-practice training, energy management tools, and more. Call 800.762.7077 or visit focusonenergy.com to get started today.

Focus on Energy works with eligible Wisconsin residents and businesses to install cost-effective energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. Focus information, resources, and financial incentives help to implement projects that otherwise would not be completed, or to complete projects sooner than scheduled. Its efforts help Wisconsin residents and businesses manage rising energy costs, promote in-state economic development, protect our environment, and control the state’s growing demand for electricity and natural gas. For more information, call 800.762.7077 or visit focusonenergy.com.