Energy-Efficient Upgrades Earned More than $67,000 in PNM Rebates

(ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.) - Today PNM recognized six local businesses that went above and beyond in saving energy in 2014 by participating in PNM Business Energy Efficiency Programs. The Silver City and Bayard Business Energy Efficiency Stars are:

Silver City

· Shell Food Mart - top winner in the Small Business category with the highest energy savings.
· Town of Silver City - top winner in the Nonprofit/Government Organization category with the highest energy savings.
· Western New Mexico University - top winner in the Most Innovative category with the highest energy savings.
· CVS Pharmacy - honorable mention winner in the Large Business category with the highest energy savings.
· Home Furniture - honorable mention winner in the Small Business category with the highest energy savings.

Multi-location Projects in Silver City and Bayard

· W & N Enterprises Inc. - top winner in the Large Business category with the highest energy savings.

“Helping business customers save money by becoming more energy-wise is an important part of what we do,” said Amy Miller, director, PNM Environment, Local Government and Community Affairs. “We've enjoyed working with Silver City and Bayard businesses to help find ways to reduce energy use and we hope more businesses will join us.”

Shell Food Mart's lighting and refrigeration project replaced 86 fixtures including exterior lights; interior exit signs; and cooler motors, doors and lights. The upgrades will save 64,158 kilowatt hours of electricity annually, and with that savings, the project will pay for itself in two years. The project earned Shell Food Mart a rebate of $8,374 through the PNM Business Energy Efficiency Program.

The Town of Silver City replaced 847 lighting fixtures, which will save 69,256 kilowatt hours of electricity each year. Silver City's retrofit lighting project earned the Town rebates totaling $3,515 through the PNM Business Energy Efficiency Program.

Western New Mexico University's new construction project included energy-efficient lighting in the dormitories; custom exterior lighting; and efficient heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. The University is going all LED across their entire campus. New buildings are being built to that specification and older buildings are being relit with new LED fixtures. The campus is also quite cognizant of choosing and installing fixtures that meet the New Mexico Night Sky Protection Act. The project will save 265,975 kilowatt hours of electricity annually, and earned the University rebates totaling $19,348 through the PNM Business Energy Efficiency Program.

CVS Pharmacy's new construction project incorporated energy-efficient lighting into the design. The project will save 23,276 kilowatt hours of electricity annually, and earned the company a rebate of $1,746 through the PNM Business Energy Efficiency Program.

Home Furniture replaced 119 lighting fixtures, which will save 31,038 kilowatt hours of electricity each year. With that savings, the project will pay for itself in a little over two years. Home Furniture earned a rebate of $3,725 through the PNM Business Energy Efficiency Program for its retrofit lighting project.

W & N Enterprises Inc.'s lighting and refrigeration project replaced 1,996 light fixtures and 1,227 refrigeration fixtures including case lighting, night covers for displays, motors and heater controls. The project will save 591,193 kilowatt hours of electricity annually, and earned the company rebates totaling $30,474 through the PNM Business Energy Efficiency Program.

Since 2009, businesses in Silver City and Bayard have received nearly $212,600 in rebates through PNM programs aimed at helping businesses make energy-efficient upgrades. Those businesses are credited with saving 2,409,650 kilowatt hours of energy annually. That savings is equivalent to reducing carbon dioxide emissions by over 1,206 metric tons and conserving 859,763 gallons of water.

For more information on the PNM Business Energy Efficiency Program, please visit pnm.com/bizrebates.

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With headquarters in Albuquerque, PNM is the largest electricity provider in New Mexico, serving 500,000 customers in dozens of communities across the state. PNM is a subsidiary of PNM Resources, an energy holding company also headquartered in Albuquerque. For more information, visit PNM.com.