Nonprofit Retailer Empowers Community with Bright Changes

Goodwill Industries, a nonprofit and community-based leader, provides education, job training, and career services to help individuals overcome barriers to employment. Across the country, the organization’s retail stores are at the heart of this mission, generating essential revenue to fund these life-changing programs. Closer to home, approximately 56% of Goodwill Industries of Southern New Jersey and Philadelphia’s total income in 2023 came from the sale of donated goods.

The Opportunity

Proper lighting can make a big difference in a retail space by creating a safe, welcoming environment that helps showcase a store’s quality and cleanliness. Once inside, shoppers find it easier to check out the merchandise in well-lit spaces, leading to increased sales and happier customers.

In addition, energy-efficient lighting upgrades can reduce operating costs. For a nonprofit store like Goodwill, this allows more funds to be directed toward fulfilling its mission. Energy-efficient solutions demonstrate a further commitment to sustainability, which reinforces the organization’s “recycle, reuse, and renew” business model. Because its retail stores are such a priority, Goodwill Industries recently upgraded the lighting in three of its Southern New Jersey retail locations.

The Upgrades

The lighting upgrades were completed by an Atlantic City Electric Trade Ally, Enercon, which upgraded 1,140 lighting fixtures without any interruption to the stores’ operations. These enhancements not only improve energy efficiency but also help Goodwill direct more resources to its vital programs.

The Results

The lighting upgrades made an immediate difference by brightening the stores and enhancing the customer satisfaction. “The completed upgrades have enhanced our customers’ shopping experience. The responses have been overwhelmingly positive,” said Schickling.

Beyond aesthetics, these upgrades demonstrate Goodwill’s dedication to the environment. By reducing its carbon footprint by approximately 3,290 metric tons over the lifetime of the lights, the nonprofit continues its commitment to sustainability.

“These upgrades show our commitment to our community,” said Schickling. “When we can save money by lowering our energy use, we can use that savings to meet our goals.”

Experience the Success Firsthand

Goodwill’s lighting upgrade experience demonstrates how energy efficiency can transform a business by saving energy and money and supporting its sustainability goals. With Atlantic City Electric’s Prescriptive and Custom programs, your organization can see similar results.

Our Prescriptive program offers incentives on lighting and controls, HVAC systems, variable frequency drives, food service equipment, agricultural tools, and more. If the Prescriptive program doesn’t have what you’re looking for, the Custom program can cover your unique or complex needs by providing solutions to help you reach your energy efficiency goals.

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