Double D Gravel Doubles Down on Savings With Rebates on Efficient Lighting

For almost 40 years, Double D Gravel has done heavy lifting for homeowners and businesses around Pipestone, MN, a town of 4,000 in the southeastern corner of the state. With most business conducted within a 30-mile radius of the city, second-generation owner Jaime Dubbelde knows the importance of building long-term relationships, earning trust and maintaining a reputation for safety and efficiency.

So when his employees shared concerns that poor lighting in a recently acquired maintenance building was creating a safety hazard and hampering productivity, Dubbelde knew he had to do something.

“The lights in here when we bought it were, old, big, heavy, hot, noisy lights and were extremely dim,” said Dubbelde. “We found it really hard to do any work in here for safety reasons.”

Corey Popma, owner of Jer’s Electric in Pipestone and a friend of Dubblelde’s since high school, was able to develop a plan for the space that would make it safer and more productive. “Lighting just comes natural to me,” Popma said. “I can walk into a building and just say, hey, you need this amount of lights.” Then he gave Dubbelde more good news: Double D Gravel could be eligible for rebates on new efficient lighting through a program offered by Xcel Energy.

View the full Double D Gravel story below:

Making it Easy to Save Today and In the Future

Working with Molly Lee, a commercial and industrial energy efficiency specialist for Xcel Energy, Popma was able to select rebate-qualifying LED lights that would adequately illuminate the entire workspace but use about 40% less energy. “What’s nice about these is they’re instant-on, and 200 watts less per light. We did a one-for-one change out. To me, it’s a win-win situation because of the Xcel Energy rebate.”

Lee said that the exact types of rebates vary with the type of equipment, the size of the job and the industry served. “Sometimes it’s lighting, sometimes HVAC. We do things with air compressors, boilers and boiler tune ups,” she noted. “I don’t know that there are very many businesses we can’t help.” While the full list of opportunities can be found on the Xcel Energy site, Lee said, working with an energy efficiency specialist like her can quickly bring the best opportunities to light.

“The neat thing about this project was they were going to do one warehouse, and because of the rebates and the bonuses we had at the time, they were able to actually expand that project and do a little bit more of their lighting,” Lee noted.

Best of all, Double D gets to save twice: First, with the rebates that made the project more affordable and second, with lower energy bills every month.

Working With Local, Trusted Tradespeople

For local electricians and tradespeople like Jer’s Electric, building relationships with Xcel Energy specialists is also an easy way to offer even greater value to customers – and a great way to build loyalty, as Popma has discovered.

“I just tell Molly what we’re taking out, what we’re putting in, and Molly actually takes care of the rest,” said Popma. “In earlier years, I would fill out all the rebates and mail them in. Now it’s just email, and it’s so easy. It’s actually easier on my end now because Molly takes care of it all.”.

Lee agreed that partnering with local tradespeople is a win-win. “Corey and I work closely to help all of his customers take advantage of our rebate programs when applicable,” she said. “It’s been really fun being able to work with him, being able to help him and his customers and our customers at the same time.”

Helping Businesses Focus on What Matters Most

For Dubbelde, helping his business operate more efficiently and safely is an investment in his business, enabling him to support his 40 employees and do needed work for the local community. It’s also an investment in the future – his son, Nathan, also works for Double D and may become the owner someday.

“We are a mom-and-pop shop,” said Dubbelde. “Our specialty is small jobs, a lot of township work, and a lot of work for farmers and ag businesses. When we bought this building, we had to prioritize what we can repair or upgrade along the way. The lights we felt were a big need, but you’ve got to be able to afford it. The rebates definitely helped us stretch our budget a little bit further.”