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Energy savings in the spotlight: Lighting retrofits of Slayton businesses featured in new documentary

A Minnesota-based film production company documented twelve businesses on main street in Slayton, Minnesota as they retrofitted or replaced their current lighting through Xcel Energy’s One-Stop Efficiency Shop program.

It all began in 2009 when Southwest Clean Energy Resource Team (SW CERT) coordinator Annette Bair read about work that the City of Slayton was doing to install efficient street lighting. Netty walked up the street and chatted with the City Clerk at the time, Cathy Magnus, and connected her with Jamie Fitzke, a lighting consultant with Center for Energy and Environment (CEE) and the One-Stop Efficiency Shop lighting program.

With Jamie’s assistance, Slayton began retrofitting inefficient lighting in their city buildings including their Fire Department, Police Department, City Hall, Library and the Senior Center. Cathy was so impressed by both the quality of light and the energy savings that the City of Slayton partnered with CEE to promote Xcel Energy’s One-Stop Efficiency Shop program to their Main Street businesses, including offering grants to businesses to help them complete their retrofits.

“We were extremely pleased with the results of the program not only for the energy savings, but with the great improvement of the quality of lighting in our buildings,” remarked Cathy. “When our Economic Development Authority found that they had grant monies available for local businesses they put out applications for businesses to apply for money. Several of the businesses indicated that lighting was an issue with many of the older buildings they occupied. It just seemed logical to team up with the Center for Energy and Environment and the Xcel Energy rebate program and provide improvement to those buildings that will save money over the course of the next few years. The improvement made to these businesses has been great. It is the desire of the EDA to continue to work with the local businesses for more energy efficient ideas in the future.”

In total, twelve businesses on or within two blocks of Main Street retrofitted and replaced inefficient lighting—and a local film production company is documented the process. Slayton businesses participating in this program have high expectations: changes in the quality of light color and coverage help create better working conditions and much improved product displays. Hear, for instance, how the local bakery is benefiting from new lighting in the video below.

Local contractors also benefited from this work as they were hired by Slayton businesses to complete the installations.

“The opportunity to work with CEE and help local businesses dramatically improve their stores by simply upgrading their lighting has been great,” said local contractor Doug Brinks. “The partnership has provided an economic boost for Slayton Electric and our community this summer as well as lots of goodwill among fellow business owners whose customers quickly see the difference in lighting. It’s always nice to have satisfied customers.”

Cary Strandjord Productions documented the lighting upgrades with “before” and “after” videos of Slayton businesses, including transitions, results, and proprietor insights and comments (which you can watch below). They also examined the rebates available to help business owners reduce the cost of lighting retrofits—and add up the money they saved through more efficient lighting.

Folks in Slayton talk about how important lighting is for their businesses:

Updates and photos can be found on the Slayton Film Project Facebook page. There were also stories in the Marshall Independent and the Worthington Daily Globe.

Slayton Lighting Project at a glance:

  • Goal: To help small businesses in Slayton, MN reduce utility costs and improve the quality of lighting in their businesses.
  • Progress: All new lighting installations are complete!
  • Partners:
    • Center for Energy and Environment
    • Xcel Energy
    • City of Slayton
    • SW CERT
    • Participating City buildings:
    • Fire Department
    • Police Department
    • City Hall
    • Library
    • Senior Center
  • Participating Main Street businesses:

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