Focus on Energy Helps Broihahn Custom Woodworks with Energy Efficiency Upgrades

LANCASTER – Curt Broihahn assumed growing the size of his woodworking business would lead to larger energy bills.

That wasn’t the case thanks to an incentive from Wisconsin’s Focus on Energy program for lighting upgrades

"We just received our first utility bill at this larger facility and it was less than the utility bill at our former smaller location,” Broihahn said. “I didn't realize how quickly I'd be seeing the benefits.”

Broihahn Custom Woodworks LLC of Lancaster received an incentive of $3,040 from Focus on Energy’s Small Business Incentive Program. Funded by Wisconsin utilities, Focus on Energy works with eligible Wisconsin residents and businesses to install cost effective energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.

“Focus on Energy took a large portion of the cost out of the equation quickening our payback,” Broihahn added.

Before moving to his new location in August, Broihahn decided to upgrade the front half of facility’s metal halide lighting fixtures with LED (light emitting diode) technology. Before self-installing the LED fixtures, an electrician who installed his cabinet making equipment informed Broihahn about how to apply for Focus on Energy incentives.

By saving an estimated 41,724 kilowatt hours of electricity annually, Broihahn Custom Woodworks will see an annual energy savings of about $4,500. Those energy savings would be enough to power nearly four Wisconsin homes annually.

In addition to saving energy and money, the new lighting has improved employee comfort and provides the higher quality of light needed to produce highly detailed custom cabinets, furniture and millwork.

Broihahn’s business is serviced by Alliant Energy for electricity and We Energies for natural gas. He plans to invest his Focus on Energy incentive into lighting upgrades in the back half of his facility.

Focus on Energy information, resources and financial incentives help to implement project that otherwise would not get completed, or to complete projects sooner than scheduled. Its efforts help Wisconsin residents and businesses manage rising energy usage, promote in-state economic development, protect our environment and control the state’s growing demand for electricity and natural gas.