Cranbrook’s Colonel Baker House office building (pictured) has won a free Power Smart energy-efficient lighting makeover. The office building was voted by British Columbians as the winner of the Power Smart Energy Fix Contest in the Cranbrook and Kimberly area.

BC Hydro’s Energy Fix Contest ran in April. BC Hydro judged entrants based on how the business will benefit from the makeover; goals or motivations to be more energy efficient; and energy-efficient or sustainable practices the business already employs. A shortlist of finalists were chosen from each region and the winners were determined by an online vote announced at the end of May.

Built in 1887, the Colonel Baker House is the oldest building in Cranbrook.  The Colonel Baker House said they wanted an energy efficient lighting makeover because they recently learned most of their light fixtures were inefficient through a LiveSmart assessment. Light fixtures in the building date back to 1983. The local facility strives to be more environmentally sustainable and already practices energy efficient behaviours with photosensor exterior lighting, ground floor lighting fixtures being replaced and with programmable thermostats already installed.

For many small businesses, lighting is one of the easiest energy-efficient upgrades that can be made. Depending upon the business, lighting can account for up to 40% of total electricity used in a commercial building.

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