"My Refrigeration Guy says Lighting Doesn't Use Much Energy"

Now, I have nothing against refrigeration guys. I ran a refrigeration service & maintenance company for years. I count at least one or two great mechanics as close friends. And I guess with that benefit I might say they are not who I would ask how much energy my lighting is using. But the quote above is verbatim what I heard from an independent grocery store owner today. I have not seen this store's bill yet, but if I accept the CEUS Survey results that 50% of supermarket energy is refrigeration, and the only other thing he has in his store is lighting (San Francisco store, so no HVAC) and minimal plug loads, his lighting likely approaches 1/2 of his electric bill.

My point here is not that his or any other refrigeration mechanic is not qualified to talk about lighting or energy, but that the owner was looking for answers and would take them, at face value, from any credible source he can find. And quite possibly he misinterpreted what he was told. A two-lamp F32T8 troffer doesn't use much electricity compared to a 3-horsepower semi-hermetic compressor. Maybe that's what his tech meant.