From Merrill to Kenosha, River Falls to Manitowoc, Kwik Trip Inc. is launching energy saving efforts across the state of Wisconsin. Since 2006, Kwik Trip has completed more than 335 energy-efficiency projects at over 200 of its Wisconsin locations. Its efforts have saved more than 4.1 million kilowatt-hours of electricity and 1,600 therms of natural gas — enough energy to power 415 homes for a year. The gas and convenience store chain has also reduced its peak electric demand by 450 kilowatts.

With the help of Focus on Energy, Wisconsin’s statewide program for energy efficiency and renewable energy, Kwik Trip learned about key energy-saving technologies and received $216,000 in cash incentives. The stores will also enjoy a $297,000 savings on its energy bills each year.

“Focus on Energy has provided us with tremendous technical expertise on new energy-saving technologies,” says Todd Bornholdt, communication center manager at Kwik Trip Inc. “And the savings are better than what we expected. The upgrades we’ve made have helped us cut down expenses — improving our bottom line and keeping us competitive.”

Some of Kwik Trip’s biggest energy savers include:

• Energy management systems
Kwik Trip installed energy management systems in more than 200 locations. These provide notable savings though better control and load management of heating and air conditioning equipment throughout the stores. For example, energy management systems can automatically adjust setpoint temperatures to save energy based on season, time of day or day of week. They can also limit the use of outside air for ventilation when buildings are unoccupied, reducing the heating and cooling systems’ operating time.

• Refrigeration waste heat recovery
A typical cooling system uses refrigerant, which absorbs heat from its surroundings when it changes from a highly pressurized liquid to a low-pressurized gas. This heated refrigerant is often sent outside to be cooled down, essentially wasting the heat. Heat reclaim systems can use the wasted heat for heating water. Kwik Trip’s system passes cold tap water through a heat exchanger, where coils filled with hot refrigerant heat the water. The heated water is then stored in an insulated water storage tank, similar to a typical water heater. This process provides Kwik Trip with some free hot water and substantial energy savings.

• Indoor and outdoor lighting
Inside, Kwik Trip uses high-performance T8 lighting throughout its stores. These systems are made up of a high-lumen, long-life T8 lamp and low-watt electronic ballast. This combination results in energy savings without reducing light output.

Outside, Kwik Trip uses low-watt 200 pulse-start metal halide lights instead of its standard counterparts — reducing wattage up to 50 percent. On average, a gas station canopy has 30 lights and operates 3,600 hours per year. By using low-watt alternatives, Kwik Trip saves 14,500 kilowatt-hours of electricity annually.

The stores realize 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
Not only are LEDs energy efficient, but they 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 and have a 10-year, continuous-running life expectancy.

• Preventive refrigeration maintenance
On average, a convenience store’s refrigeration system accounts for 60 percent of its total electrical use during the summer months. Proper preventive maintenance can reduce refrigeration energy costs by five to 10 percent, while improving equipment operating efficiency, prolonging equipment life and reducing the need for costly “emergency” repairs and equipment downtime.

Learn how to cut costs at your facility

Focus on Energy provides specialized support for businesses throughout Wisconsin, including financial incentives, technical advice, feasibility studies, best-practice training, energy management tools and more. To learn more, visit focusonenergy.com or call 800.762.7077.

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