Ganahl Lumber Company in California managed to cut utility bills 25% to 30% by installing Universal Lighting Technologies' DCL (demand control lighting) wireless controls on every lighting fixture in its 20,000-square-foot retail and office facility in Costa Mesa.

The greatest savings were achieved during peak usage hours when utilities charge higher rates because of high demand.

Here's an overview of how the company arrived at this savings.

The Challenge: The cost of energy is skyrocketing. Supply cannot keep up with demand, and the electrical grid is dangerously overtaxed.

The Client: Founded in 1884, Ganahl Lumber Company is California's oldest lumber retailer. Today, Ganahl operates eight stores in Orange County . Ganahl's utility provider selected the company as an ideal candidate for DCL technology in 2005.

The Solution: A new energy management technology that can dramatically reduce electrical consumption in commercial buildings.

Universal Lighting Technologies developed DCL to provide immediate, wireless control of every lighting fixture in a building or multiple buildings. DCL gives building owners and managers the power to slash energy use during peak hours.

Ganahl agreed to install a complete DCL system in its retail and office facility in Costa Mesa, California. The installation was performed by Energy Controls & Concepts, Inc. (ECC).

DCL Systems use DemandFlex ballasts from Universal Lighting Technologies. ECC installed 72 DemandFlex ballasts in two-lamp lighting fixtures on the first and second floors of the Ganahl facility.

The DCL system at Ganahl communicates with DemandFlex ballasts on both 120V and 277V circuits. There is no need for additional two-wire low voltage control wiring, as required by other lighting control systems, making DCL a perfect fit for this retrofit project.

The Utility's Role: The installation allows Ganahl to participate in its local power provider's demand response program. The utility is able to reduce power to the lighting fixtures at the Costa Mesa facility anywhere from 1% to 50%, depending upon its needs during peak hours. Power levels can be reduced by a single command from a personal computer at the utility's headquarters.

The Client's Role: Ganahl Lumber Company can also manage its own lighting levels for energy savings during peak hours. DCL technology gives Ganahl the option of reducing power to its lighting fixtures on demand or by automated scheduling.

How It Works: The DCL control unit communicates with the building's lighting ballasts at the circuit level in order to reduce power anywhere from 1% to 50%. The result is significant energy and financial savings.

The Outcome: Ganahl's Costa Mesa retail facility reduced its overall power bill by more than 25%. The greatest savings were achieved during peak usage hours when the utility charges higher rates because of high demand. The energy savings achieved with DCL satisfied all expectations of the company and the power provider.

"We have a bright, vibrant store," said Brad Satterfield, General Manager of Ganahl Lumber. "Any reductions made by the utility company go unnoticed, and the energy savings have more than exceeded my expectations."

During daylight hours, a 10% reduction in light levels generally goes completely unnoticed by a building's occupants.

Industry surveys reveal that most business owners are willing to accept a 35% reduction in lighting levels for short periods of time, generally up to four hours. This can significantly reduce the burden on a local utility during peak hours in addition to lowering energy bills.