Larry Garzenelli invested 18 months in remodeling his West Harvard Furniture showroom and implementing energy-saving features.


To reduce heating and air conditioning costs, he lowered the ceiling, replaced half the windows with well-insulated “false walls,” installed a light-colored membrane roofing that reflects heat and replaced the air conditioning and heating units in the showroom.

For lighting, he installed newer, more efficient, electronic fluorescent fixtures, changed spotlights from a 120- to a 12-volt system, placed timers on outdoor lights, adapted the outdoor sign to a low-voltage, longer-lasting LED light and replaced the light fixtures in the warehouse.

He said all toilets were converted to no-leak hardware to conserve water.

Expected energy savings were estimated by Sims Electric and Pacific Air Comfort, both of Roseburg. These calculations were used to apply for Oregon Department of Energy tax credits.

West Harvard Furniture now saves about one-quarter of its electric and heating bills. With these savings and the tax credit, Garzenelli anticipates a payback period of five years for the conservation measures.

Besides that, he said, his employees tell him the store is even more comfortable to work in.

“Energy Efficiency Spotlight” is a monthly feature in The News-Review, highlighting what local businesses and organizations are doing to save on energy costs.

The Douglas County Global Warming Coalition, a group that promotes energy efficiency among county businesses and organizations, is canvassing local business owners and organizational leaders about what they’re doing to reduce costs.

To nominate your firm for an Energy Spotlight interview, contact Jim Long at jlong@mcsi.net. To learn more about the coalition, call Stuart Liebowitz, 672-9819.