Sunshine VFW Gets Energy Makeover

When the sun beats down on , it'll bounce right back.

Florida Power & Light Company with the help of local contractors provided an energy makeover to the VFW in Sarasota Thursday as part of the company’s non-profit energy efficiency program. The VFW received free efficiency upgrades are expected to save the organization up to $1,400 annually.

The FPL team, working with Cortez Heating and Cooling, JAM Lighting Distributors, and Manson Roofing, applied a reflective coating on the roof to help keep the VFW facility cool during warm weather, repaired faulty air conditioning duct work, cleaned air conditioning coils to help the unit run more effectively and installed energy-efficient lighting to reduce the Post’s energy bills.

As part of FPL’s Earth Day preparations, the energy experts were also available to provide veterans with free one-on-one consultations on energy-efficiency improvements they could make. 

The Post Commander Gary Williams expressed his thanks to the team of volunteers for their efforts. 

“We are so thankful to FPL and their partners for their generosity and hard work in making our post more energy efficient.  We’re looking forward to seeing the immediate savings in our electric bill each month.”  

“Every dollar the VFW Post can save on their electric bill is a dollar they can use to aid veterans and their families,” said Rae Dowling, FPL’s external affairs manager.  “It is an honor to give back and help those who have done so much for our country.”

In addition to the energy improvements, FPL donated $750 to the Sunshine VFW Post’s general fund, which helps provide essential services to our country’s veterans and their families. 

“This generous gift couldn’t come at a better time as the economy has taken its toll on this community,” added Commander Williams.  “FPL has enabled us to continue to provide necessary services to our nation’s heroes.”

To qualify for the energy improvements, the Sunshine VFW Post underwent FPL’s free Business Energy Evaluation which can help all businesses and organizations understand the tools to manage their energy use and save on their monthly bills. 

The Nonprofit Energy Makeover program is part of the Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency and Energy Sustainability Agreement established in concert with a recent 30-year franchise agreement between the City of Sarasota and FPL. The agreement calls for an energy makeover for at least one nonprofit organization each year.  

In November, the City and FPL partnered to bring the Home Energy Makeover program to Sarasota.  50 owner occupied homes in North Sarasota received no-cost makeovers to help them reduce their energy usage.