Melaver Donates 800 Lights to Goodwill Savannah
July 2, 2007

Goodwill becomes more energy efficient with 800 lights, 200 ballasts
‘Innovative gift’ will keep on giving

(SAVANNAH) – Long before “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” was ever uttered, one organization was putting the concept into action.

Bill Oakley, Presdent of Goodwill Savannah and Tommy Linstroth, of Melaver, Inc.

And now Goodwill is becoming even more environmentally conscious by switching to energy efficient lighting, thanks to a donation of 800 new lights and 200 ballasts by Melaver, Inc. that will replace very old, inefficient lighting. The new lighting will replace much of the lighting in the offices, classrooms and workforce development areas on Sallie Mood Drive.

Oakley estimates the change to energy efficient lighting will save Goodwill $4000 in
operating costs annually.

“It’s a gift that will keep on giving and giving,” Oakley said, adding that return will increase if energy costs rise as he expects. Goodwill will invest some of those savings towards becoming more energy efficient and environmentally friendly.

“We’re always looking for creative ways to partner and become efficient,” Oakley said. “It’s an innovative gift.”
 
“We consider ourselves to be environmentally conscious and the gift helps us to convert that consciousness to practical outcome with the support of Melaver, Inc.,” Oakley said. “They’re a great corporate citizen, and we appreciate it.”

Goodwill has a replacement policy for lighting and specifies more efficient lighting in more recently leased and occupied facilities, Oakley said. Goodwill is working to reduce water consumption as well.

“It’s hard for us because we get concerned with other efficiencies and sometimes it’s difficult to generate the necessary capital” to buy newer, more energy efficient equipment, Oakley explained. And unlike a for-profit company that can get tax incentives from investing in energy efficiency, Goodwill and other non-profits don’t get that benefit.
 

Lighting uses roughly 13 percent of the energy consumed in commercial buildings, the second largest use after heating and cooling equipment, according to the government’s Energy Star program. It is often cost effective with today's technology to replace older lighting systems, resulting in a savings of 30 percent or more on lighting expenses, or 5 percent or more on overall energy expenses, according to Energy Star.

“When we visited their facilities, we saw a tremendous opportunity for energy improvement and for cost savings,” said Tommy Linstroth, Head of Sustainable Initiatives for Melaver, Inc. Replacing inefficient lights not only reduces the energy needs for illumination, but also reduces air conditioning demands due to less heat generation.

Melaver, Inc. is “carbon neutral” again this year. That means the company offset its carbon emissions by supporting green power and by reducing carbon use elsewhere, such as Goodwill, which reduced its carbon emissions because of the new energy efficient lighting the company donated. Melaver, Inc. partners with the Savannah Tree Foundation to plant trees that will help offset carbon emissions, and it purchased clean wind power from a wind farm in Kansas. The company also works to reduce its carbon use at each property by encouraging employees to carpool and to make eco-friendly office product purchases in each office. These steps reduce Melaver, Inc.’s “environmental footprint” – a metaphor used to represent the amount of land and area that a human population (or in this case, a company) would hypothetically need to provide the resources required to support itself and to absorb its wastes.

Goodwill Industries is a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to the mission of assisting people with disabilities and other barriers to employment to live independently and become employed. In 2006 Goodwill Industries of the Coastal Empire provided 779 people services, primarily job training and employment. The organization is one of the world’s largest nonprofit providers of education, training, and career services for people with disadvantages. Goodwill trains people to work because jobs change lives. Goodwill believes work builds strong families and creates the economic energy that builds strong communities. Any donation to Goodwill Industries may be tax deductible. And at Goodwill, everything – from your donations, to the revenue they generate, to the specialized training it provides – everything stays in the community.

http://www.goodwillsavannahga.org/