EnergySmart Grocer Helps 50-Year Grocery Biz Veteran Find New Ways to Save
Energy Efficiency Upgrades Save Energy and Money, Improve the In-Store Experience
SAN FRANCISCO — After more than 50 years of on-the-job experience, it’s safe to say that Larry Montgomery, owner of North Shore Sentry, an independent grocery store in the North Bay Area, has learned a few things about how to prosper in the thin-margined grocery business. Over the past two years, Montgomery is projected to have saved more than 260,000 kWh and $34,000 in energy costs by upgrading to energy-efficient refrigeration and freezer equipment through the EnergySmart Grocer program. The upgrades and savings have also allowed Montgomery to elevate the appearance of North Shore Sentry and expand the amount of stock it offers.
“We have to look at everything we can to keep our energy costs down,” said Montgomery. With that goal in mind, in 2012, Montgomery took advantage of more than $15,000 of EnergySmart Grocer incentives to overhaul a set of refrigerated cases, installing LED lighting with motion sensors and retrofitting to energy-efficient motors. The incentives also helped offset the installation of a new energy management system. That year, North Shore Sentry saved more than $16,000 in energy costs.