Stephen Griffin owns four Planet Fitness franchise locations in the San Diego area. Besides maintaining the exercise equipment at his fitness clubs, he is also responsible for the equipment his locations need to operate. To better manage costs, Griffin often looks for energy-saving opportunities to optimize his facility.

Replacing older, inefficient, or ineffective equipment with more efficient alternatives can help lower energy usage and operational costs and minimize maintenance demands. When Griffin learned SD EnergyEdge could support his business with rebates for equipment, getting new hot water heaters became a priority.

Griffin’s facilities were all equipped with tankless water heaters that consumed a lot of energy. While the water heaters weren’t completely out of commission, their inconsistent performance were causing members to encounter cold showers, which compelled him to do something. After SD EnergyEdge Account Manager Shawnda Garnett reached out to Griffin to see if there were any projects they could help facilitate, he took it as a sign that it was time to act.

Through SD EnergyEdge, Griffin learned that heat pump water heaters could solve his problems. Not only is this type of water heater designed to fit his clubs’ needs, but it is also incredibly energy efficient. And once Griffin discovered SD EnergyEdge rebates could cover the entire cost of upgrading every water heater at his four locations, he was sold.

With his heat pump water heater model selected, Griffin arranged installation and worked with the SD EnergyEdge team to get his rebate. “They made the process easy,” Griffin said. “Everyone I worked with was great; I basically just had to say ‘yes,’ and they handled the rest.”

Compared to other types of water heaters, heat pump water heaters are much more energy efficient because they harness heat from surrounding air, lowering the amount of energy needed to warm water. Through reduced energy use, businesses can lower their utility costs.

Heat pump water heaters have the added benefit of providing passive cooling. Since heat pumps extract excess ambient heat near them, these models of water heaters can make the room they are in cooler and more comfortable.

Another reason business owners opt for heat pump water heaters is their dependable performance. Heat pump water heaters have a greater capacity than tankless models and have a lifespan that exceeds that of traditional water heaters.

Since installation, Griffin has had nothing but positive things to say about his new heat pump water heaters. “I’m happy to say we have not had a single issue with hot water,” he said. His customers have even reached out about the improvement. “The gym members have been really appreciative of consistent hot water for their post-workout showers,” Griffin said.

While he was hopeful that the new equipment would function better than the old tankless models, the consistency took Griffin by surprise. “I honestly didn’t think the hot water would be as consistent as it is, so I’m relieved to no longer have that burden,” he said.

The passive cooling benefit of the heat pump water heaters is something Griffin plans to take advantage of. He hopes to utilize the cooler air to put less strain on his clubs’ HVAC systems and improve customer comfort.

Improving energy efficiency is a smart strategy that business owners can take to manage operational costs and strengthen their margins. Rebates from programs like SD EnergyEdge help make energy-efficient equipment more accessible and, in some cases, completely cover the cost. “I’m always trying to find ways to improve our energy efficiency, so I was immediately interested in working with SD EnergyEdge,” he said. “For once, the opportunity actually lived up to the hype!”

Get in touch to learn how SD EnergyEdge can help your business save energy with more efficient equipment.