Norby’s Supports the Energy District’s LED Exchange Efforts

CCED program coordinator, Joleen Jansen with Norby’s Elkader store manager, Josh Pope

The Clayton County Energy District aims to stimulate a local energy transformation. Step one is to get the low hanging fruit by encouraging energy efficiency measures, like the replacement of energy hogging incandescent or fluorescent lighting with highly efficient LED lighting. This is a county wide goal and is directed towards farms, homes and businesses. LED lighting technology is 75% more efficient and lasts 25 times longer. Recently, Norbys Farm Farm and Fleet Store in Elkader generously supported the CCED’s efforts by donating (240) 60W equivalent, LED bulbs to clean energy district. These bulbs will be “swapped” at various events over the coming months.

“When Tanner Norby gave me a call to extend the gift of 240 bulbs I was really thrilled. We were running out of funds to support this activity, this donation is just what we needed to continue to spread the good will and the good word to other parts of the county.” – Joleen Jansen, CCED Program Coordinator 

Until lately, reasonably priced LED lighting technology was available in out of county retail centers, while reasonably priced options were not locally available.  Over the summer the CCED facilitated a local option to purchase reasonably priced LED bulbs. The 60W equivalent, Energy Star rated Greenlite bulbs, distributed by the CCED, at the bulb swaps, are now on sale at Norby’s Farm and Fleet in Elkader, for just .99/bulb.

We informed Norby’s about the Iowa Be Bright program. This program is implemented by  Iowa utility companies.  The program uses Iowa Energy Efficiency Funds to buy down the cost of energy efficient LED bulbs at the retail level. This eliminates the complicated rebate process and delivers the savings directly to the consumer, at the cash register. Norby’s recently went through the hoops to participate in the program and now Clayton County residents have a legitimate, affordable avenue for purchasing lower priced and much more efficient light bulbs.

This win win scenario is exactly the kind of work the CCED hopes to achieve. Not only connecting energy consumers to  more energy efficient technologies, but also, to affordable local purchase options. This is good for the local economy and the environment.