AICO honored for energy conservation

Importer's efforts reduced need for Los Angeles area blackouts

Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, December 22, 2010

The Southern California Edison Company presented AICO its Excellence in Demand Side Management Program Participation award on Dec. 13. Shown at the award presentation are, Lisa Cagnolatti, left, vice president, SCE Business Customer Division, Matt Davaie, AICO director of finance; Mike Orth, AICO vice president of operations; Martin Gaitan, account executive, SCE Business Customer Division and Lynda Ziegler, vice president of SCE customer service.

PICO RIVERA, Calif. — The Southern California Edison Company has recognized case goods and upholstery resource AICO for its energy conservation efforts.

AICO received the "Excellence in Demand Side Management Program Participation award on Dec. 13 at the SCE Customer Technology Application Center in Irwindale, Calif.

The company was among 30 large Southern California corporations that participated in the energy conservation program from June through September.

For 13 days during the summer, it committed to reducing air conditioning, lighting and other unnecessary power usage during peak afternoon hours. It also switched to motion-censored light fixtures.

Combined, these efforts resulted in a net 77% decrease in the company's overall energy consumption, a factor that helped reduce the need for rolling blackouts in the Los Angeles area.

"I appreciate Southern California Edison for presenting our company with this opportunity to participate in this important and meaningful program," said CEO and founder, Michael Amini. "By reducing our energy consumption so significantly, we helped make a positive impact on the environment, and that is very gratifying to me. It's good to be able to set an example to other large companies that reduced electrical consumption is very achievable through good planning and discipline."

The company said it plans to participate in the program again next year and also will continue its efforts in sustainability well into the future.