Rodman’s Discount Food and Drug has served the Friendship Heights community since 1955. The Washington Post calls this family-owned and -operated DC institution “The Weirdest Little Drugstore in Washington.” But Rodman’s is also a DCSEU participating retailer, carrying DCSEU-discounted LED bulbs.
Since 2012, Rodman’s has been working with the DCSEU to help customers choose the most efficient lighting for their homes and offices. A partnership with a trusted neighborhood institution like Rodman’s helps the DCSEU reach customers who might be unfamiliar with new lighting technology—or customers who don’t know what information they can trust about the technology. Together, Rodman’s and the DCSEU inform customers of the availability and benefits of discounted LED bulbs. Past collaborations have included on-site DCSEU demonstrations and a wide floor decal in the store’s lighting aisle, to direct customers to the efficient products.
“We have a very old-school customer base, so it may take them a little bit of time to get into some of the newer trends and products that are available,” said Nolan Rodman, Vice President of Rodman’s and grandson of founder Leonard Rodman. “I think people are starting to realize there are more options out there than traditional lights that put out heat, waste energy, and don’t last as long. Once they realize they’re getting the same product at a better price that’s more energy efficient, it’s senseless not to do it.”
After years of collaboration, Rodman’s considers the DCSEU an energy efficiency resource for its business. “I make a lot of the decisions around new units, new refrigeration, and new lighting fixtures in our store. Being more energy efficient just makes sense, especially in the long term,” Nolan said. “At the same time, it’s nice to know you’re being more responsible with energy use. If more businesses become more energy efficient I think it would help a lot with the amount of energy use that we have as a community.”