Carmel Baker Sheds New Light on Bagel Business

Eric Gross Standing in front of a rack of bagels, Kevin Stengel holds up a new energy efficient bulb (left) along with an old fashioned incandescent light bulb. Putnam County’s leading bagel baker has gone green.

Kevin Stenger, proprietor of Carmel Bagel Deli-licious, located on Route 52 near the Shop-Rite Plaza in Carmel, has converted all of the bulbs in his business to energy-efficient lighting.

During a visit to the popular business last week, Stengel who has been in business in Carmel since 2004, said lights had always been a problem in the store: “When the place was originally designed, it contained more than 50 separate fixtures containing small eyeball floodlights that were replaced regularly. I was changing one or two bulbs every week.”

Stengel got tired of the process and purchased energy-efficient fluorescent bulbs. “I’m always telling my children to conserve energy whenever they can by turning off the lights when they leave the room,” Stengel explained. “The kids, who are in 5th and 2nd grade, learn in school to protect the environment. My upgrading to the energy efficient lights is my way of protecting the environment, as well,” he said.

Stengel’s mission has reaped big dividends not only from an environmental point of view but from a monetary one.

Last week, the first fluorescent bulb installed 18 months ago burned out. “I was replacing bulbs every week; now I’m replacing them every year and a half. Besides, my utility bill has been reduced by $4 per light bulb—that’s a $200 monthly saving on electricity,” he said.

The energy-efficient bulbs are just as bright as regular bulbs. Stengel said they “take a bit longer to brighten,” which he called “no big deal.”

Putnam County is about to embark on Project SEEP (Sustainable Energy Efficiency Process).

Burt Houseworth of Carmel is leading the charge. Houseworth, a retired business executive, has garnered an impressive list of architects, engineers and cost accountants to guide Putnam County in SEEP: “Our purpose will be to educate the community regarding the need, practicality, and economic development benefits of a Green Energy Program to make the county and its municipalities more energy-efficient in practice.”

A kick-off seminar is scheduled for Oct. 14 at the Cornerstone Park in downtown Carmel, where discussion will focus on the construction of energy efficient buildings versus standard building practices along with recent developments in wind energy, solar energy, geothermal energy, and hydroelectric energy.

“The team members will also be discussing how natural resources can be better utilized while determining how the county can connect with federal, state and local sources to obtain grants for such a practical approach,” said Houseworth.

The meeting will be held from 8 to 10am.

Meanwhile, back at the Carmel Bagel-Delilicious, customer Doreen Partelow of Carmel stopped by for her morning cup of coffee and favor ite variety of fresh bagel: “I love this place. Not only are the bagels and coffee top-shelf, but the ambiance is also really special. I guess it must be the special lights!”

Stengel encouraged his fellow businessmen and businesswomen to consider changing lighting to the energy efficient variety: “The convenience of having 10,000-hour bulbs as compared to the 750-hour incandescent bulb is a no brainer. The initial outlay is a bit more but in the long run, the new bulbs save time, energy, and a lot of money. My business has gone green big time and I’m thrilled about it.”

Houseworth has suggested that municipal buildings, schools and area medical centers follow suit by thinking about the obligation of becoming energy efficient.