Georgia Power on Friday joined leaders from The Krystal Company at the restaurant chain's Atlanta headquarters to present a $64,210 rebate check in recognition of the completion of energy efficiency upgrades at 55 restaurant locations across the state. Krystal earned the rebate by upgrading hundreds of lighting fixtures to energy-efficient LEDs. Georgia Power Lighting Services worked with Krystal to complete the upgrades.

Restaurant guests will notice new, improved lighting at Krystal locations including better illumination at drive-thru windows, rear employee entrances and increased visibility around storefronts. LEDs significantly reduce energy requirements, have a longer lifespan than the previous lamps and are significantly brighter. With the recent upgrades, Georgia Power estimates that the restaurants may be able to reduce total energy use by more than 2,800,000 kilowatt-hours.

"Our Commercial Energy Efficiency Program is customizable and can be tailored to fit the energy needs of businesses of all sizes," said Michele Wagner, energy efficiency director for Georgia Power. "We congratulate Krystal for their commitment to using energy more efficiently in their restaurants."

"Running an environmentally conscious business is important for us," said Brian Blosser, vice president of development and construction for The Krystal Company. "We're always looking for ways to reduce our environmental impact and, by replacing the lights, not only did we do that but also helped our stores' bottom line."

Georgia Power's Commercial Energy Efficiency program includes educational resources, rebates and incentives available to all commercial customers such as school systems, universities, hospitals, museums and many more. Georgia Power Lighting Services specializes in commercial, industrial and residential outdoor lighting, including high-efficiency LEDs.