It is estimated that a total of 39,101 kWh in annual energy usage will be reduced by switching to LED lighting, which represents $63,355 energy savings over the lifespan of the new high-efficiency lights. The lifetime reduction in energy usage is estimated at 528,640 kWh, which is equivalent to powering 53 Alberta homes for a year. All LED light bulbs have been provided at a discounted wholesale cost by Arani, a Canadian based LED lighting distributor.
'The ability to have light bulbs donated means that we can put the money into making sure that we're purchasing food items for our hampers', says Shawna Ogston, Communication and Media Relations from the Calgary Food Bank.
Why did Link Energy contribute LED light bulbs? Well, as a matter of fact, it's part of their social promise. The company believes that settling energy supply should be simple and rewarding. It should leave you happy and warm-hearted. Instead of donating money, the energy supplier set themselves to find a different, more sustainable way to give back. More importantly, Link Energy wants to offer something tangible and practical that nonprofits in our community would benefit from so we can all feel awesome. Because everyone wants to feel awesome. As a matter of fact, lighting is responsible for a large part of energy costs for nonprofits, which can take a big bite out of an already thin budget.
'Every single home we sign up, we put in one light bulb, so we've rounded off a lot of the math there, but on our website you can see the actual math behind our donation policy. It's driven by our top line revenue so rain or shine, profit, no profit, we make our donation, that's the concept behind Link Energy as a social enterprise', states Wayne Burke, CEO at Link Energy.
Energy users just like you can take part in this initiative, here's how it works. Customers start by signing up with Link Energy to supply their energy by choosing one of the available energy programs in their area. At the end of every year, the energy supplier tallies up the number of customers by total energy consumption to determine the giving budget available to purchase LED light bulbs for chosen local nonprofits. The detailed formula to determine the giving budget is publicly available at linkenergy.com/en/giving-policy. The selected nonprofits then receive and install the light bulbs with the help of volunteers from the company and start saving on energy costs. Customers and nonprofits are now powered by social energy, as Link Energy likes to call it. Savings on energy costs help each and every nonprofit make an even bigger difference in the communities we all work and live in.
Interested in becoming a Link Energy customer? The company currently offers its products to commercial and industrial businesses in Alberta, but has plans to offer to Albertan homeowners shortly. With an impressive growth since its' incorporation in 2012, the energy supplier also expects to expand its footprint throughout Canada and even the USA within the coming years.
About the Calgary Food Bank
Established in 1982, the Calgary Food Bank is a charitable, non-profit organization dedicated to gathering and distributing quality emergency food to those in need. The majority of people assisted are working-poor Calgarians struggling to make ends meet. The Calgary Food Bank is not a government or United Way agency, relying solely on the generous support of the community.
About Arani
With over 100 associates around the globe, Arani is one of the leading suppliers of LED lighting in the world. We deliver state-of-the-art products that have undergone strict quality control procedures. Our wide range of specification-grade lighting solutions allows entire projects to be designed using Arani products.
About Link Energy
Link Energy is a different energy supplier. We supply energy, but really we're in business to change lives. We're here to provide an alternative with great rates, WOW customer service, and a warm-hearted feeling every time you use energy with us. Supply power, give power, empower. That's what we do best. In 2017, Link Energy donated a total of 674 LED light bulbs to Edmonton's Food Bank and the Calgary Food Bank.
