Stephen Miller Rug Gallery

Stephen Miller’s gallery in Menlo Park is not your typical rug store. Owner Stephen Miller’s keen eye for design and workmanship, combined with his deep expertise in hand-woven rugs, has made his gallery one of Northern California’s most respected collections of contemporary rugs. As a small business owner, Miller is intent on finding ways to manage costs without sacrificing quality or his unique aesthetic. The need to find this balance is no more evident than in store lighting – which can be expensive, but is also key to creating the right gallery ambiance. Mr. Miller discovered the San Mateo County Energy Watch program, implemented by Ecology Action, for small businesses and nonprofits, and reached out to a program representative to learn more. An Ecology Action Energy Watch Efficiency Consultant conducted a free, comprehensive assessment of the gallery’s existing lighting system and developed a proposal to replace the existing in-ceiling can lights and track lighting with energy-efficient bulbs, which were installed conveniently and efficiently.

Mr. Miller has been very pleased with the results of the lighting retrofit and has found that the new lights have cut the gallery’s utility bills by more than half. In addition, the new lighting better illuminates the true color of the rugs and makes it easier for customers to appreciate the finer details of the designs.

 

“The installation team really adapted based on our needs. They were always easy to get ahold of and returned calls right away. Our Consultant was on site regularly to make sure the installation was going as planned.”
–Stephen Miller, Owner