Energy-Efficient Donations help Fort Myers Homeless Organization save on its Electric Bill

Today, Florida Power & Light Company and local contractors led an effort to benefit a nonprofit organization that helps those in need every day. Fort Myers-based Community Cooperative Ministries Incorporated (CCMI) received a free energy makeover from FPL, which will help the organization save at least $3,000 a year in electricity costs.

Incorporated in 1984, the CCMI is dedicated to ending hunger in Lee County by providing nutritious meals, groceries, quality early childhood education, social services, case management and referral to the homeless, homebound, seniors, working poor, children and the frail in our community. The agency provides more than 14,000 meals each month through their Everyday Café & Marketplace and Home Delivered Meals programs. CCMI also educates 40 children in its Community Montessori, offers homeless and comprehensive case management services through its United Way Resource House, oversees an emergency mobile food pantry and supplies weekend backpacks full of food to more than 2,500 children each school year.

"We are so appreciative and thankful to FPL and its partners for their generosity and hard work in making our organization more energy-efficient," said Tracey Galloway, CEO of Community Cooperative Ministries Incorporated. "It feels good to know that there are companies out there that take an active role helping those in need in our community. The money we save on our electric bill will help us to provide more comprehensive services to the homeless in our community."

FPL and local contractors added film to all windows to save energy by reducing solar heat gain in summer and retaining heat in winter. Other upgrades included the installation of energy-efficient lighting and the addition of new freezer curtain strips in the organization’s large walk-in freezer to keep chilled air inside and energy bills even lower.

"We are very grateful for the CCMI’s important role in the community," said FPL Community Relations Specialist, Tim Moore. "We're happy that we are able to give back to such an integral organization in our neighborhood. This makeover has allowed us to give the CCMI a long-term return on the investments we make here today at no charge to them. FPL customers have the lowest electric bills in the state, and these upgrades will help them continue to save and further help others who need assistance."

Most of the energy efficiency upgrades that were completed today can be adopted by any business customer looking to make smarter energy choices. Businesses and organizations looking to better manage their energy use and save on their monthly bills can take FPL's free Business Energy Evaluation.

About Florida Power & Light Company
Florida Power & Light Company is the largest electric utility in Florida and one of the largest rate-regulated utilities in the United States. FPL serves 4.5 million customer accounts in Florida and is a leading employer in the state with approximately 10,000 employees. The company consistently outperforms national averages for service reliability while customer bills are below the national average. A clean energy leader, FPL has one of the lowest emissions profiles and one of the leading energy efficiency programs among utilities nationwide. FPL is a subsidiary of Juno Beach, Fla. - based NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE).