FARMINGTON — An upgrade in lighting at Renys not only makes the downtown store lighter, brighter and cheerier but also more energy efficient.

“We didn’t realize we were working in the dark,” said Bob Reny, son of founder Robert H. Reny. “It’s like the difference between night and day. There’s much better light now, and it uses 35 percent less energy than the old lights.”

While the Reny philosophy is “to try to make people happy one sock at a time,” it’s not a matter of a fancy store setting or spending a lot on improvements. Instead, it’s about wanting to make improvements that help keep prices down for customers, he said.

Realizing the need for upgrades at Renys locations like Farmington, an aging downtown building previously used as a movie house, “a little incentive from Efficiency Maine is enough to put you over the edge to do it. You get something back for doing the right thing,” Reny said.

Renys has completed 30 energy-efficient projects at 12 of its 16 locations through the Efficiency Maine programs and received incentives since 2006.

After a store remodel two years ago, 186 lights were changed or added at a cost of more than $12,000 at the Farmington store. The change to more efficient, higher quality fluorescent lights resulted in nearly $4,000 back from the program.

The state energy-efficiency program provides incentives for businesses and homeowners to help pay for measures that save energy and money, said Paul Badeau, director of communications for Efficiency Maine.

There are lots of benefits to helping businesses become more energy efficient. As energy costs go down, more funds are available to grow and create more jobs, Badeau said.

The improvement at Renys is a great example of a quick and easy way to lower costs and energy consumption with a simple change to more efficient lighting, he said.

“It’s a wonderful story of commitment to the community and energy,” Badeau said of Renys’ efforts to take old buildings and renovate them.

Replacing the incandescent bulbs can result in savings very quickly for a low-cost investment.

The lights also require less bulb changing and less costs for disposal, store Manager Tom Burr said.

Over the last 10 years, the Maine retailer has tried to go green with everything from improvements to stores and the warehouse to recycling cardboard, plastic wrap and paper, Reny said.

“It’s a competitive world. Whatever can help you get over the hump and make it worthwhile really helps. This type of program nudges you the right way and makes it easy to do the right thing, using less energy,” Reny said.

Renys has already received more than $108,000 in incentives from Efficiency Maine’s Business Program to help cover the more than $409,000 spent in energy-efficiency improvements such as lighting, wall insulation, and high-tech heating, ventilation and air conditioning. 

Renys is saving an estimated $95,000 per year by using less energy in its stores. Lower operating costs mean Renys can offer better deals to customers, continue to provide employment and plan on future growth.

“An incentive from Efficiency Maine is just a win-win situation,” Reny said.

Program personnel also provide advice that’s helpful in figuring things out and creating an upgrade plan, Reny said. It’s like having a consultant, someone else who’s there looking over your shoulder, he said.

“In old buildings, everything is getting worn out, and we need to decide what to do. We always end up doing more, in part due to the incentives from Efficiency Maine,” Reny said.

More information is available on the website at www.EfficiencyMaine.com or by calling 1-866-376-2463.

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