AMF Bowling Centers can expect more than $5.6 million in savings from web-based building automation systems and lighting upgrades recently installed by Lime Energy, the efficiency technology provider has announced.
Lime first partnered with AMF in 2009 to complete energy efficient lighting retrofits at all of the company’s bowling centers, a program which was predicted to save the bowling center operator about $3 million. Now it has installed energy use monitoring systems at over 100 centers across the U.S., and predicts that the two initiatives together will save more than $5.6 million off of AMF’s utility bills.
"When we initially partnered with Lime Energy in 2009, it was to complete an energy efficient lighting retrofit at all of our bowling centers. The results were fabulous,” said Simon Shearer, senior vice president of facilities and design at AMF.
“We set what we believed were aggressive payback targets, and Lime helped us over-achieve against them. During 2011, we decided to accept Lime's recommendation to install building automation in many of our bowling centers. Early results have indicated greater than 60 percent ROI," Shearer added.
The web-based automation system includes an electric meter at each location, providing real-time energy consumption data for troubleshooting and trend analysis. This will enable AMF to participate in smart grid and demand response initiatives, voluntarily reducing consumption during peak periods, Lime Energy said.
AMF personnel can call Lime Energy to report anything related to energy use or comfort at their center. Lime technicians will then look at energy usage and temperatures in real time.
The system also monitors refrigerators and walk-in coolers and sends alarms to avoid costly food spoilage if temperatures in the refrigerators veer outside of pre-set limits.
