Albuquerque, New Mexico. December 14, 2010—Qnuru™, the premier provider of energy-efficient digital lighting solutions, today announced that it has upgraded 70 1000-watt metal halide exterior lights at Nalley Lexus of Roswell, GA with its 144 watt Vector™ LED bulbs. Installed in October 2010, Qnuru’s LED retrofit has reduced the dealership’s exterior-lighting expenses by 86.6% while increasing its lumen output by 19% compared to their metal halide predecessors. Nalley Lexus of Roswell is part of Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. (NYSE: ABG; www.asburyauto.com), one of the largest automotive retail and service companies in the U.S.
“Auto dealers want to focus on satisfying customers, not worrying about burned-out light bulbs,” said George Karolis, vice president of corporate development and real estate at Asbury Automotive Group. “I believe every automotive dealer confronts the same set of challenges with their lighting infrastructure—it consumes too much electricity, the bulbs burn out frequently and the quality of the light is poor given the amount of energy used.
Qnuru retrofitted Nalley Lexus of Roswell’s exterior pole-mounted parking lot lights with its 144 watt Vector Pecos bulb. Designed to replace energy intensive 750-1000 watt high intensity discharge lamps, the Pecos bulb offers an even photometric footprint, daylight-quality light (CRI of 74.8) and instant on capabilities. The Pecos bulbs are based on high bin Cree LEDS (Nasdaq: CREE) which have a rated life of 50,000 hours and come with Qnuru’s 5-year warranty, independent LM79 verification, and are ETL-Classified in the U.S. and Canada.
“Auto dealers are important business beacons within their communities,” said Rhonda Dibachi, President and CEO of Qnuru. “Nalley Lexus of Roswell’s adoption of energy-efficient LED technology is a great illustration of leadership by example. LED lighting solutions help businesses lower their carbon footprint as well as reduce their operating costs. In a world filled with difficult tradeoffs, LED lighting is a rare win-win for both the environment and business owners.”
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
LED Lighting Increasingly Used for Film and Video Production
Illuminating Choices
By Christine Bunish
Republished from Markee 2.0 Magazine
New lighting fixtures continually come on the market offering shooters and lighting designers new creative options and greater efficiencies. But adding these revolutionary or evolutionary new products to their lighting kits doesn't mean discounting the instruments they've come to depend on job after job. A noted tabletop director, a leading advocate of HDSLR video, a distinguished underwater cinematographer and an in-demand lighting designer share the contents of their lighting kits today.
Ryan has experimented a bit with LEDs "but for the amount of light we use, they're not always practical," he points out. "The beauty of LEDs is that they don't take a lot of power, they don't put out a lot of heat and they're great on location."Ryan's tried-and-true lighting approach with conventional fixtures gives him a lot of latitude to create the different looks and moods his spot clients require.
In Taco Bell's "Cantina Tacos" with lime commercial, "conceptually the lime was a character and we wanted it to really pop," he explains. Ryan shot the tacos bursting with filling, their shiny aluminum foil and a drop of juice clinging to a luscious lime wedge, with a pair of ARRI 35mm cameras. The exterior patio was lit with HMIs; for "ultra-macro" shots of the food he blacked out daylight and went back to tungsten sources.
Ryan's stylish "Whole Meals" spot for Whole Foods was "influenced by old-school Irving Penn photos with clean white backgrounds," he notes. "The challenge was not to let the background overpower what I was shooting" — simple, fresh ingredients, white table linens, butcher paper and brown bags. "It would have been easy to wash out what the focal point of the pictures should be, and if you went too much the other way things would have become muddy and gray. So it was pretty critical to keep the balances consistent." Ryan took light-meter readings of the backgrounds and foregrounds and aimed for 2.5 stops difference; once that was established he kept the balance consistent across the board with his usual complement of tungsten fixtures.
He even kept the white-on-white place settings "in the same range as if they were ingredients" making "some creative decisions" as he went along about how much fill to add to separate the tone on tone.Taco Cabana's evocative spot showing Lenore Segura in her kitchen assembling the ingredients for a brisket taco features "Rembrandt-style" lighting that "lets the shadows go and the highlights be simple and single source," says Ryan. "Where there were shadows on her we let them go dark, but we softly illuminated the walls behind her so the highlights separate the shadow." Ryan initially lit the spot with overhead Kino Flo sources then "backed away and decided it needed a more painterly feel," and turned instead to his trusty tungstens.
Slow liquid pours are part of a tabletop director's repertoire and Ryan's "Once a Day" spot for the Florida Department of Citrus showcases the appeal of a simple glass of orange juice against white limbo. Ryan shot the entire spot with a Phantom using a lighting scheme similar to what he would have used with a Photosonics high-speed film camera.
"It took a lot of light — 20Ks with dimmers," he recalls. "With the white background we needed twice as much light on the background as on the juice. When I'm shooting video I'd rather shoot it a bit wider aperture so you get a bit of fall off for a more filmic look." A broad source gave shape and highlights to the slow pours that wash up against the glass like waves in extreme close ups. Delicious!
To read the full; article please visit Markee 2.0 website
http://www.markeemag.com/article/detail.php?RecordID=160
Friday, December 10, 2010
Saint Patrick's Episcopal Church Upgrades to LED Lighting in Retrofit Project
Redbird LED, an Atlanta, GA. firm that specializes in the design, manufacturing and distribution of energy efficient LED linear lighting, recently completed an energy efficient lighting retrofit project for Saint Patrick’s Episcopal Church. Founded in 1966, Saint Patrick’s Episcopal Church is located in the prestigious Atlanta suburb of Dunwoody, Georgia. The church contacted Redbird LED to explore ways they could both reduce energy and facility maintenance costs and lower their environmental impact at the same time.
Redbird LED worked with Saint Patrick’s to design a retrofit program targeting the older less energy efficient lighting in the church sanctuary and religious offices. Older 40 watt fluorescent tubes were replaced with more energy efficient 18 watt LED linear lights and the 150 watt incandescent spot light lamps were replaced by Dim-able 18 watt LED par lights. These were designed to be a direct screw-in replacement with excellent compatibility to the installed lamp dimming system.
The lighting retrofit will provide more than $5,000 per year in savings from the direct drop in electrical consumption, with additional savings from smaller air conditioning requirements due to the reduction in heat loads. Almost as important was the reduction in lighting maintenance time to replace the lamps. The LED lights have a lamp life of 50,000 hours eliminating the need for replacement for the next twelve years. This was very attractive because many of the lamps, such as those in the sanctuary, require scaffolding to service because they are more than 35 feet above the floor.
For more information please visit www.redbirdled.com
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Value Energy Solutions Completes Gable Midtown Lighting Retrofit
Value Energy Solutions recently completed a parking garage lighting retrofit project for the Gables Midtown Apartments in Atlanta, GA. Value Energy Solutions is one of the largest lighting installation and lighting retrofit companies in the nation. For the past 30 years they have provided multifamily owners, developers and property managers with turnkey lighting solutions that exceed customer expectations and reduce lighting and energy costs. Gables Midtown is one of the newest apartment communities in the Morningside/ Ansley Park neighborhood of Atlanta and offers residents numerous amenities including Earthcraft and Energy Star certified apartments.
Gables Midtown management is proud of their focus on energy efficiency and water conservation features. When it was time to upgrade the energy efficiency of their parking garage lighting they contacted Value Energy Solutions. Value Energy Solutions thoroughly reviewed the existing parking garage lighting and the Gables Midtown energy saving goals. Originally, the parking deck lighting was the less energy efficient 175 watt Metal Halide Lights. Value Energy Solutions recommended retrofitting the parking deck with 2-Lamp 54wHO (high output) Vapor Tight Fluorescent lights. Gables Residential selected a 46,000 hour (extended life) rated lamp to maximize their energy savings and reduce lighting maintenance costs.
The projected energy savings for the lighting retrofit project is an impressive 47% and the cost of the lighting upgrade will pay for itself in only 17 months. Originally, Gables Midtown was considering using LED lights in the parking garage but Value Energy Solutions was able to offer a more cost efficient lighting retrofit program using new fluorescent lighting technology. Unlike many lighting companies that offer only one lighting product, Value Energy Solutions works with more than 250 lighting manufactures to provide their customers with the right solution at lower price point.
The Vapor Tite Reflector Series Linear Fluorescent fixtures offered by Value Energy Solutions utilizes T5 Lamping provides energy efficiency and displays equal or superior lumen output. VTR Luminary features include:
• Proven technology, refined to be more efficient than fluorescents of the past
• T5 Lamps—most energy efficient lighting technology in the fluorescent lighting industry for the cost.
• Surface mounted or may be suspended from ceiling
• Reflector series to maximize light disbursement
• Polycarbonate materials which means corrosion, flame and vandal resistant
• Ideal for parking structures, warehouses, breezeways, canopies and schools
About Value Energy Solutions- Value Energy Solutions is one of the largest energy efficient lighting retrofitting companies in the United States. Realizing the need for building owners, property managers and facility engineers to find ways to conserve energy and cut their operating costs, Value Energy Solutions provides improved energy efficient lighting products as replacements for existing higher wattage fixtures. Value Energy Solutions was launched as a new venture by owners Dean Nations and Alan Carlquist as an expansion of their existing company, Value Lighting, Inc., a premier lighting wholesaler and distributor of lighting products.
The Value Energy Solutions lighting retrofit programs are offered for all commercial building types including Parking Garages, Warehouse/Industrial Buildings, Hotels, Retail Chains, Apartments and Office Buildings. For information on Value Energy Solutions please call Chris Owens, Director of Sales at 770.874.2191. Value Energy Solutions is located at 1110 Allgood Industrial Court, Marietta, GA 30066. To request more information please call or email at info@valueenergysolutions.com.
About Gables Residential
With a mission of Taking Care of the Way People Live, Gables Residential has received national recognition for excellence in the management, development, acquisition and construction of luxury multi-family communities in high job growth markets. Gables Residential owns, develops and manages multi-family communities and mixed-use developments in Atlanta, Austin, Dallas, Houston, South Florida, Southern California, and metropolitan Washington, D.C. Additionally, it has third-party management operations in the Chicago, New York, Boston, Phoenix, Central and North Florida, and Washington State markets. Gables Residential enjoys a healthy portfolio with approximately 38,000 apartment homes under management, including a corporate-owned portfolio of 63 stabilized communities comprising approximately 16,000 apartment homes. An additional 2 communities are under development/lease-up, comprising approximately 400 apartment homes. Gables also has the ability to develop another 4,000 apartment homes through its shadow pipeline of undeveloped land owned. For more information please visit www.gables.com.
Gables Midtown management is proud of their focus on energy efficiency and water conservation features. When it was time to upgrade the energy efficiency of their parking garage lighting they contacted Value Energy Solutions. Value Energy Solutions thoroughly reviewed the existing parking garage lighting and the Gables Midtown energy saving goals. Originally, the parking deck lighting was the less energy efficient 175 watt Metal Halide Lights. Value Energy Solutions recommended retrofitting the parking deck with 2-Lamp 54wHO (high output) Vapor Tight Fluorescent lights. Gables Residential selected a 46,000 hour (extended life) rated lamp to maximize their energy savings and reduce lighting maintenance costs.
The projected energy savings for the lighting retrofit project is an impressive 47% and the cost of the lighting upgrade will pay for itself in only 17 months. Originally, Gables Midtown was considering using LED lights in the parking garage but Value Energy Solutions was able to offer a more cost efficient lighting retrofit program using new fluorescent lighting technology. Unlike many lighting companies that offer only one lighting product, Value Energy Solutions works with more than 250 lighting manufactures to provide their customers with the right solution at lower price point.
The Vapor Tite Reflector Series Linear Fluorescent fixtures offered by Value Energy Solutions utilizes T5 Lamping provides energy efficiency and displays equal or superior lumen output. VTR Luminary features include:
• Proven technology, refined to be more efficient than fluorescents of the past
• T5 Lamps—most energy efficient lighting technology in the fluorescent lighting industry for the cost.
• Surface mounted or may be suspended from ceiling
• Reflector series to maximize light disbursement
• Polycarbonate materials which means corrosion, flame and vandal resistant
• Ideal for parking structures, warehouses, breezeways, canopies and schools
About Value Energy Solutions- Value Energy Solutions is one of the largest energy efficient lighting retrofitting companies in the United States. Realizing the need for building owners, property managers and facility engineers to find ways to conserve energy and cut their operating costs, Value Energy Solutions provides improved energy efficient lighting products as replacements for existing higher wattage fixtures. Value Energy Solutions was launched as a new venture by owners Dean Nations and Alan Carlquist as an expansion of their existing company, Value Lighting, Inc., a premier lighting wholesaler and distributor of lighting products.
The Value Energy Solutions lighting retrofit programs are offered for all commercial building types including Parking Garages, Warehouse/Industrial Buildings, Hotels, Retail Chains, Apartments and Office Buildings. For information on Value Energy Solutions please call Chris Owens, Director of Sales at 770.874.2191. Value Energy Solutions is located at 1110 Allgood Industrial Court, Marietta, GA 30066. To request more information please call or email at info@valueenergysolutions.com.
About Gables Residential
With a mission of Taking Care of the Way People Live, Gables Residential has received national recognition for excellence in the management, development, acquisition and construction of luxury multi-family communities in high job growth markets. Gables Residential owns, develops and manages multi-family communities and mixed-use developments in Atlanta, Austin, Dallas, Houston, South Florida, Southern California, and metropolitan Washington, D.C. Additionally, it has third-party management operations in the Chicago, New York, Boston, Phoenix, Central and North Florida, and Washington State markets. Gables Residential enjoys a healthy portfolio with approximately 38,000 apartment homes under management, including a corporate-owned portfolio of 63 stabilized communities comprising approximately 16,000 apartment homes. An additional 2 communities are under development/lease-up, comprising approximately 400 apartment homes. Gables also has the ability to develop another 4,000 apartment homes through its shadow pipeline of undeveloped land owned. For more information please visit www.gables.com.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Depaul University Completes Parking Garage LED Retrofit
DePaul University in Chicago expects to achieve energy savings of up to 60 percent with an LED Retrofit at their Sheffield parking garage. They replaced the 210-watt metal halide lights in the parking garage on its Lincoln Park campus with 90-watt LED lights. The new LED parking garage lights use less than half the energy of the previous lights, and will save the University thousands of dollars per year in energy and maintenance costs while providing more uniform light on the ground and increased visibility and campus safety.
In addition to using 60% less energy, the parking garage LED lights are designed to be maintenance-free, requiring no bulb replacements for approximately six years. LED lights are extremely durable and robust in challenging environments, such as high-traffic outdoor areas. The vast reduction in maintenance needs shortens the payback period, allowing DePaul to realize a quicker return on their investment in the energy-efficient lighting.
DePaul’s sustainability efforts on the operations side are led by Bob Janis, vice president for Facility Operations and task force member. His staff has overseen the completion of more than $5 million in energy-related projects in recent years, focusing mainly on lighting and heating/ventilation/air conditioning retrofits.
"DePaul's LED lighting program is one of many environmentally sustainable efforts the university has implemented across our campuses in recent years," said vice-president for faculty operations Bob Janis. "DePaul is committed to preserving resources for future generations and continuing a variety of eco-friendly initiatives that have garnered national recognition in recent years."
About 98 percent of all campus lighting fixtures use energy-efficient illumination, such as compact fluorescent light bulbs, low-voltage LED lighting and automatic daylight shut-off. It’s estimated that DePaul will produce about 237,000 fewer pounds of carbon dioxide as it switches the 24/7 lighting in the Sheffield Parking Garage this year from conventional to LED lighting.
In addition to using 60% less energy, the parking garage LED lights are designed to be maintenance-free, requiring no bulb replacements for approximately six years. LED lights are extremely durable and robust in challenging environments, such as high-traffic outdoor areas. The vast reduction in maintenance needs shortens the payback period, allowing DePaul to realize a quicker return on their investment in the energy-efficient lighting.
DePaul’s sustainability efforts on the operations side are led by Bob Janis, vice president for Facility Operations and task force member. His staff has overseen the completion of more than $5 million in energy-related projects in recent years, focusing mainly on lighting and heating/ventilation/air conditioning retrofits.
"DePaul's LED lighting program is one of many environmentally sustainable efforts the university has implemented across our campuses in recent years," said vice-president for faculty operations Bob Janis. "DePaul is committed to preserving resources for future generations and continuing a variety of eco-friendly initiatives that have garnered national recognition in recent years."
About 98 percent of all campus lighting fixtures use energy-efficient illumination, such as compact fluorescent light bulbs, low-voltage LED lighting and automatic daylight shut-off. It’s estimated that DePaul will produce about 237,000 fewer pounds of carbon dioxide as it switches the 24/7 lighting in the Sheffield Parking Garage this year from conventional to LED lighting.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Redbird LED Completes Parking Garage Lighting Retrofit
Redbird LED, an Atlanta , GA.
The perimeter of Buckhead Marketplace parking garage is now brilliantly illuminated with the Redbird LED Vapor Tight Luminaries (40 watt). Redbird LED selected this product to enhance the lighting of parking spaces and walls along the periphery of the parking garage. The field adjustable illumination pattern allows the walls to be washed with light without any glare to pedestrians. The Vapor Tight Luminaries have a 50,000 hour lifetime, which reduces maintenance and energy costs for the shopping center owner. The Redbird LED parking garage LED lighting uses high efficacy linear light modules with controlled directional intensity which can be adjusted as needed on installation. The directionality of the Vapor Tight Luminaries was a key feature to provide the right lighting for the parking garage walls.
In addition to energy savings, LED lighting provides many advantages for parking garage owners. LED lights contain no harmful mercury so they do not need to be recycled; they operate much better in cold weather than fluorescent lamps and are more resistant to damage. “LED linear lights were a great solution for the Buckhead Marketplace project. The quality of the lighting has been enhanced and they will realize energy savings for many years” said Jonathan Eppstein, President of Redbird LED.
For more information on the Redbird LED Linear Lighting products please visit their website at www.redbirdled.com.or call 678.733.2473
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Red Lobster Features Energy Efficient Lighting in San Antonio Store
Darden Restaurants, owner of Red Lobster and Olive Garden banners among others, said Monday that its Red Lobster restaurant in Centerview, San Antonio, is one of the company’s first to receive sustainability recognition.
The restaurant was awarded Silver certification for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for New Construction from the U.S. Green Building Council.
The 7,029-sq.-ft. restaurant, which opened in March, features a number of sustainable design elements, including recycled building materials, increased use of natural light, and energy-efficient lighting equipment and fixtures, including low-flow water nozzles in the kitchen and low-flow faucets in the restrooms, new LED parking lot light bulbs and low-wattage energy-efficient light bulbs, and heat recovery tanks that allow the capture of heat generated from the freezer/cooler compressors to aid in supplemental heating of hot water.
The effort is part of Darden Restaurant's Sustainable Restaurant Design initiative, which aims to reduce energy and water use in 1,800 restaurants by 15% by the year 2015.
Red Lobster, part of Darden Restaurants has nearly 700 locations across North America. Darden restaurant brands also include Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, The Capital Grille, Bahama Breeze and Seasons 52.
Blog Sponsor: Value Energy Solutions
One of the easiest ways to save energy is to retrofit lighting with energy efficient lighting upgrades. Experts all agree that energy efficient lighting retrofits are the first step to reducing your energy consumption. Value Energy Solutions was formed to help companies achieve energy savings through energy efficient lighting retrofits. They offer the widest selection of energy efficient lighting and best pricing based on the volume purchases because they are one of the largest energy retrofitting companies in the nation.for more information please visit their energy efficient lighting website or call (678) 501-4880
The restaurant was awarded Silver certification for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for New Construction from the U.S. Green Building Council.
The 7,029-sq.-ft. restaurant, which opened in March, features a number of sustainable design elements, including recycled building materials, increased use of natural light, and energy-efficient lighting equipment and fixtures, including low-flow water nozzles in the kitchen and low-flow faucets in the restrooms, new LED parking lot light bulbs and low-wattage energy-efficient light bulbs, and heat recovery tanks that allow the capture of heat generated from the freezer/cooler compressors to aid in supplemental heating of hot water.
The effort is part of Darden Restaurant's Sustainable Restaurant Design initiative, which aims to reduce energy and water use in 1,800 restaurants by 15% by the year 2015.
Red Lobster, part of Darden Restaurants has nearly 700 locations across North America. Darden restaurant brands also include Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, The Capital Grille, Bahama Breeze and Seasons 52.
Blog Sponsor: Value Energy Solutions
One of the easiest ways to save energy is to retrofit lighting with energy efficient lighting upgrades. Experts all agree that energy efficient lighting retrofits are the first step to reducing your energy consumption. Value Energy Solutions was formed to help companies achieve energy savings through energy efficient lighting retrofits. They offer the widest selection of energy efficient lighting and best pricing based on the volume purchases because they are one of the largest energy retrofitting companies in the nation.for more information please visit their energy efficient lighting website or call (678) 501-4880
San Jose State University Wins Award For Energy Efficient Lighting Retrofit
San Jose State University received a Best Practice Award in the Lighting Retrofit category for implementing lighting system upgrades and controls projects at its highly acclaimed Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library as part of a SiteSMART commissioning services project. The project included installing occupancy sensors on the library book stack lighting, retrofitting inefficient ceiling fixtures, and converting to spectrally enhanced (5000 K) lighting. These measures reduced energy consumption at the building by 22 percent while significantly enhancing building aesthetics. The project is saving over $300,000 and more than 1,900,000 kWh annually.
The 2010 Best Practice Awards Competition for the Energy Efficiency Partnership program seeks to highlight the achievements that California State University, University of California, and California Community College campuses have made through innovative and effective energy efficiency projects and sustainable operations.
Blog Sponsor: Value Energy Solutions
One of the easiest ways to save energy is to retrofit lighting with energy efficient lighting upgrades. Experts all agree that energy efficient lighting retrofits are the first step to reducing your energy consumption. Value Energy Solutions was formed to help companies achieve energy savings through energy efficient lighting retrofits. They offer the widest selection of energy efficient lighting and best pricing based on the volume purchases because they are one of the largest energy retrofitting companies in the nation.for more information please visit their energy efficient lighting website or call (678) 501-4880
The 2010 Best Practice Awards Competition for the Energy Efficiency Partnership program seeks to highlight the achievements that California State University, University of California, and California Community College campuses have made through innovative and effective energy efficiency projects and sustainable operations.
Blog Sponsor: Value Energy Solutions
One of the easiest ways to save energy is to retrofit lighting with energy efficient lighting upgrades. Experts all agree that energy efficient lighting retrofits are the first step to reducing your energy consumption. Value Energy Solutions was formed to help companies achieve energy savings through energy efficient lighting retrofits. They offer the widest selection of energy efficient lighting and best pricing based on the volume purchases because they are one of the largest energy retrofitting companies in the nation.for more information please visit their energy efficient lighting website or call (678) 501-4880
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Financing Energy Efficient Lighting Retrofits
As reported in Distribted Energy
Many business owners delay lighting retrofits due to a misperception of capital constraints, yet efficient lighting can be one of the most cost-effective investments facility managers make. Business owners can reap the benefits of a retrofit and allocate existing funds to more pressing projects, by working with their suppliers to identify the best financial solution customized for their individual needs.
Facility managers frequently forget that financing is often available from the suppliers they know and trust. Graybar, for example, offers a program through its financial subsidiary Graybar Financial Services (GFS) that helps contractors acquire lighting equipment without capital or credit line constraints. Leveraging financial services like this can be critical to getting retrofit projects off the ground.
Immediate Cost Benefits
Simple retrofits generate impressive savings. According to a recent study by GE, facility managers can save $44 over the rated life of a new lamp just by replacing a 75-W incandescent light bulb with a 20-W compact fluorescent. GE calculates savings based on a $0.10 per kilowatt-hour utility rate over the life of the lamp.
Efficient lighting offers tangible workplace benefits as well. In fact, businesses in a recent study by the Rocky Mountain Institute saw improved morale, increased production and fewer mistakes after upgrading their lighting and climate systems. The same study found that a 1% productivity increase could generate enough savings to exceed a company’s entire electric bill.
It is recommended that facility managers make these upgrades sooner, rather than later, to comply with new legislation. While less-efficient products are still available to managers, many new regulations prohibit the sale of replacement products. For example:
* The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 requires efficiency enhancements on all 105 W–500 W metal halide ballasts manufactured after January 2009.
* The Energy Policy and Conservation Act mandates that all ballasts and light-bulb cartons carry a “Circle E” label rated for efficiency.
* The Energy Policy Act of 2005 blocks production of mercury vapor ballasts.
The cost of maintenance will also likely increase as manufacturers begin pricing more limited products at a premium. Facility managers should consider comparing their current kilowatt-hours and maintenance costs against proposed kilowatt-hour load and maintenance costs to determine their cost savings. This is especially true when combined with savings from incentives, such as the 2005 EPAct, which recently was extended through 2013 to provide businesses with up to a $0.60-per-square-foot tax deduction on energy-efficient lighting investments.
Facility managers can rely on Graybar to help calculate potential costs, provide leasing support and/or project financing services that help improve monthly cash flow. For example, a typical lease transaction processed through Graybar’s financing subsidiary will flow as follows:
* Once the end user’s credit has been approved, the contractor can acquire the equipment they need for the project from Graybar without having to pay for it or use their Graybar credit line.
* Upon receipt of the signed lease agreement and installation verification, GFS will pay Graybar for the cost of the equipment and pay the contractor for their charges related to labor, installation, maintenance, etc.
* This frees up working capital for the contractor to focus on other important needs.
Another advantage is that lease payments can be structured as a monthly operating expense and won’t impact the customer’s balance sheet. In some cases, businesses can expense lease payments for up to a 100% tax deduction, while in other situations, they can structure monthly installments around the monthly energy savings.
GFS can also finance extended maintenance contracts. This enables customers to bundle charges related to equipment, installation, and maintenance into one easy monthly payment, improving administrative efficiency and providing businesses the security of knowing their contractor will support the equipment investment throughout the lease. The portion of the monthly lease payment tied to maintenance is interest free, and this capability also helps contractors generate monthly revenue over the term of the lease.
Financing in Action
Many businesses, public and private, are taking advantage of these types of offerings. In fact, GFS saw an 86% uptick in lighting financing last year.
One such example is Community Education Partners (CEP), which relied on a monthly leasing arrangement through GFS to finance lighting improvements in three buildings being converted into alternative high schools for at-risk students.
Organizations can also use these arrangements to reap the benefits of state rebates. A school district in Maine, for example, wanted to retrofit lighting, but the state’s rebate fund was depleted before the district could commit to the project. The school turned instead to a financing option. By tying the district’s monthly payments to the energy savings from new, efficient lighting, the project became “self-funding”, and the monthly lease payments were tax exempt.
Retrofits also have a real impact in traditional office buildings, where lighting typically accounts for 30% to 40% of the building’s energy bill.
Ready, Set, Evaluate!
Facility managers should not settle for a one-size-fits-all solution. To get started, facility managers should work with their contractors to determine the scope of the project, design criteria, and any maintenance and safety concerns.
Simple upgrades, such as switching to compact fluorescent lamps, can reduce energy consumption and maintenance costs. Facility managers can also see results by taking advantage of natural light. For example, daylight harvesting technologies and bi-level switching solutions help maximize ambient lighting in facilities with large windows or skylights.
Controls take efficiency a step further by helping facilities manage their lighting only when it is necessary. The New Buildings Institute estimates controls can reduce lighting energy consumption in existing buildings by as much as 50%. Typical controls include occupancy sensors and motion detectors. Time switches, panels, daylight-harvesting sensors, and dimming ballasts are also relevant options.
Depending on the applications and the facility’s needs, managers can integrate controls into an existing automation structure, such as HVAC, or they can use simple time clocks that alter lighting levels based on a pre-set schedule.
When considering controls, facility managers and contractors should examine their state and local codes as well as how the cost affects their return on investment. It is recommended that facility managers bring suppliers into the process as early as possible so that managers can explore all their options.
Making Retrofits a Reality
With a basic understanding of a facility’s operational needs, building managers, and contractors can develop efficient lighting solutions that save their business’ energy, productivity and maintenance costs. As today’s energy prices continue to climb, the cost of waiting could add up to an unexpected expense.
Whether it’s making the actual upgrade—or financing through GFS—lighting efficiency upgrades need not be complicated. Today, facility managers have financing options and opportunities to benefit from tax incentives.* By knowing where to look, businesses can obtain lighting solutions that meet their budgetary and business needs.
* Please consult a tax advisor for details regarding full tax savings and advantages.
Author's Bio: Allen Pilgrim is Manager, Lighting Business Development, with Graybar Electric Company Inc.
Giving Your Retrofit the Green Light With Smart Financing
Many business owners delay lighting retrofits due to a misperception of capital constraints, yet efficient lighting can be one of the most cost-effective investments facility managers make.
Many business owners delay lighting retrofits due to a misperception of capital constraints, yet efficient lighting can be one of the most cost-effective investments facility managers make. Business owners can reap the benefits of a retrofit and allocate existing funds to more pressing projects, by working with their suppliers to identify the best financial solution customized for their individual needs.
Facility managers frequently forget that financing is often available from the suppliers they know and trust. Graybar, for example, offers a program through its financial subsidiary Graybar Financial Services (GFS) that helps contractors acquire lighting equipment without capital or credit line constraints. Leveraging financial services like this can be critical to getting retrofit projects off the ground.
Immediate Cost Benefits
Simple retrofits generate impressive savings. According to a recent study by GE, facility managers can save $44 over the rated life of a new lamp just by replacing a 75-W incandescent light bulb with a 20-W compact fluorescent. GE calculates savings based on a $0.10 per kilowatt-hour utility rate over the life of the lamp.
Efficient lighting offers tangible workplace benefits as well. In fact, businesses in a recent study by the Rocky Mountain Institute saw improved morale, increased production and fewer mistakes after upgrading their lighting and climate systems. The same study found that a 1% productivity increase could generate enough savings to exceed a company’s entire electric bill.
It is recommended that facility managers make these upgrades sooner, rather than later, to comply with new legislation. While less-efficient products are still available to managers, many new regulations prohibit the sale of replacement products. For example:
* The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 requires efficiency enhancements on all 105 W–500 W metal halide ballasts manufactured after January 2009.
* The Energy Policy and Conservation Act mandates that all ballasts and light-bulb cartons carry a “Circle E” label rated for efficiency.
* The Energy Policy Act of 2005 blocks production of mercury vapor ballasts.
The cost of maintenance will also likely increase as manufacturers begin pricing more limited products at a premium. Facility managers should consider comparing their current kilowatt-hours and maintenance costs against proposed kilowatt-hour load and maintenance costs to determine their cost savings. This is especially true when combined with savings from incentives, such as the 2005 EPAct, which recently was extended through 2013 to provide businesses with up to a $0.60-per-square-foot tax deduction on energy-efficient lighting investments.
Facility managers can rely on Graybar to help calculate potential costs, provide leasing support and/or project financing services that help improve monthly cash flow. For example, a typical lease transaction processed through Graybar’s financing subsidiary will flow as follows:
* Once the end user’s credit has been approved, the contractor can acquire the equipment they need for the project from Graybar without having to pay for it or use their Graybar credit line.
* Upon receipt of the signed lease agreement and installation verification, GFS will pay Graybar for the cost of the equipment and pay the contractor for their charges related to labor, installation, maintenance, etc.
* This frees up working capital for the contractor to focus on other important needs.
Another advantage is that lease payments can be structured as a monthly operating expense and won’t impact the customer’s balance sheet. In some cases, businesses can expense lease payments for up to a 100% tax deduction, while in other situations, they can structure monthly installments around the monthly energy savings.
GFS can also finance extended maintenance contracts. This enables customers to bundle charges related to equipment, installation, and maintenance into one easy monthly payment, improving administrative efficiency and providing businesses the security of knowing their contractor will support the equipment investment throughout the lease. The portion of the monthly lease payment tied to maintenance is interest free, and this capability also helps contractors generate monthly revenue over the term of the lease.
Financing in Action
Many businesses, public and private, are taking advantage of these types of offerings. In fact, GFS saw an 86% uptick in lighting financing last year.
One such example is Community Education Partners (CEP), which relied on a monthly leasing arrangement through GFS to finance lighting improvements in three buildings being converted into alternative high schools for at-risk students.
Organizations can also use these arrangements to reap the benefits of state rebates. A school district in Maine, for example, wanted to retrofit lighting, but the state’s rebate fund was depleted before the district could commit to the project. The school turned instead to a financing option. By tying the district’s monthly payments to the energy savings from new, efficient lighting, the project became “self-funding”, and the monthly lease payments were tax exempt.
Retrofits also have a real impact in traditional office buildings, where lighting typically accounts for 30% to 40% of the building’s energy bill.
Ready, Set, Evaluate!
Facility managers should not settle for a one-size-fits-all solution. To get started, facility managers should work with their contractors to determine the scope of the project, design criteria, and any maintenance and safety concerns.
Simple upgrades, such as switching to compact fluorescent lamps, can reduce energy consumption and maintenance costs. Facility managers can also see results by taking advantage of natural light. For example, daylight harvesting technologies and bi-level switching solutions help maximize ambient lighting in facilities with large windows or skylights.
Controls take efficiency a step further by helping facilities manage their lighting only when it is necessary. The New Buildings Institute estimates controls can reduce lighting energy consumption in existing buildings by as much as 50%. Typical controls include occupancy sensors and motion detectors. Time switches, panels, daylight-harvesting sensors, and dimming ballasts are also relevant options.
Depending on the applications and the facility’s needs, managers can integrate controls into an existing automation structure, such as HVAC, or they can use simple time clocks that alter lighting levels based on a pre-set schedule.
When considering controls, facility managers and contractors should examine their state and local codes as well as how the cost affects their return on investment. It is recommended that facility managers bring suppliers into the process as early as possible so that managers can explore all their options.
Making Retrofits a Reality
With a basic understanding of a facility’s operational needs, building managers, and contractors can develop efficient lighting solutions that save their business’ energy, productivity and maintenance costs. As today’s energy prices continue to climb, the cost of waiting could add up to an unexpected expense.
Whether it’s making the actual upgrade—or financing through GFS—lighting efficiency upgrades need not be complicated. Today, facility managers have financing options and opportunities to benefit from tax incentives.* By knowing where to look, businesses can obtain lighting solutions that meet their budgetary and business needs.
* Please consult a tax advisor for details regarding full tax savings and advantages.
Author's Bio: Allen Pilgrim is Manager, Lighting Business Development, with Graybar Electric Company Inc.
Giving Your Retrofit the Green Light With Smart Financing
Many business owners delay lighting retrofits due to a misperception of capital constraints, yet efficient lighting can be one of the most cost-effective investments facility managers make.
Boston U Upgrades Lighting to Save Energy Costs in Parking Garages
This project primarily consisted of retrofitting existing HID (High Intensity Discharge) lamps to a more energy efficient T8 fluorescent system with occupancy controls.
The existing lighting system in this area contained predominantly metal halide and a few high pressure sodium lamps. Existing lighting, which had previously stayed on 24/7, was replaced with super T8 fluorescent, cold temperature ballasts and Vapor-Tight lenses, which helps reduce moisture build up inside the fixture.
As with the Warren Tower project, occupancy sensors were installed in each zone. Fixtures with day lighting exposure (i.e. on the roof, top floor, and along the perimeter of the structure) have photocell controls to further reduce energy consumption.
Warren Tower Garage
This project is saving 283,500 kWh a year, which is equivalent to the CO2 emissions produced from running 37 cars, or powering 28 homes.
This four-level parking structure had consisted of metal halide lamps, T12 fluorescent lamps with magnetic ballasts, and incandescent exit signs, all of which had been running around the clock.
Energy efficiency improvements included replacing all metal halide, T12 fluorescent, and magnetic ballasts, with super T8 fluorescent, electronic ballasts, and Vapor-Tight lenses, which help prevent moisture buildup inside the fixture. LED exit signs were replaced with incandescent units.
Because lighting on each level is controlled by a single contactor, occupancy sensors are tied together by level. Select lighting fixtures will remain hardwired and illuminated throughout the garage day and night as a safety measure.
FitRec
This project has saved 546,000 kWh a year, the CO2 equivalent of powering 72 cars or 54 homes.
* Metal halide lamps in basketball courts, multipurpose courts, and the pool area, were replaced with T5 high output fluorescent systems equipped with electronic ballasts, acrylic lenses, and wire guards.
* All halogens were replaced with with LEDs or CFLs.
* Occupancy sensors were installed in the basketball courts, multipurpose courts, lockers, stairways, and mechanical rooms.
* Re-lamped and reballasted all T8 to Super T8 lamps and efficient ballasts in the buildings
Blog Sponsor: Value Energy Solutions
One of the easiest ways to save energy is to retrofit lighting with energy efficient lighting upgrades. Experts all agree that energy efficient lighting retrofits are the first step to reducing your energy consumption. Value Energy Solutions was formed to help companies achieve energy savings through energy efficient lighting retrofits. They offer the widest selection of energy efficient lighting and best pricing based on the volume purchases because they are one of the largest energy retrofitting companies in the nation.for more information please visit their energy efficient lighting website or call (678) 501-4880
The existing lighting system in this area contained predominantly metal halide and a few high pressure sodium lamps. Existing lighting, which had previously stayed on 24/7, was replaced with super T8 fluorescent, cold temperature ballasts and Vapor-Tight lenses, which helps reduce moisture build up inside the fixture.
As with the Warren Tower project, occupancy sensors were installed in each zone. Fixtures with day lighting exposure (i.e. on the roof, top floor, and along the perimeter of the structure) have photocell controls to further reduce energy consumption.
Warren Tower Garage
This project is saving 283,500 kWh a year, which is equivalent to the CO2 emissions produced from running 37 cars, or powering 28 homes.
This four-level parking structure had consisted of metal halide lamps, T12 fluorescent lamps with magnetic ballasts, and incandescent exit signs, all of which had been running around the clock.
Energy efficiency improvements included replacing all metal halide, T12 fluorescent, and magnetic ballasts, with super T8 fluorescent, electronic ballasts, and Vapor-Tight lenses, which help prevent moisture buildup inside the fixture. LED exit signs were replaced with incandescent units.
Because lighting on each level is controlled by a single contactor, occupancy sensors are tied together by level. Select lighting fixtures will remain hardwired and illuminated throughout the garage day and night as a safety measure.
FitRec
This project has saved 546,000 kWh a year, the CO2 equivalent of powering 72 cars or 54 homes.
* Metal halide lamps in basketball courts, multipurpose courts, and the pool area, were replaced with T5 high output fluorescent systems equipped with electronic ballasts, acrylic lenses, and wire guards.
* All halogens were replaced with with LEDs or CFLs.
* Occupancy sensors were installed in the basketball courts, multipurpose courts, lockers, stairways, and mechanical rooms.
* Re-lamped and reballasted all T8 to Super T8 lamps and efficient ballasts in the buildings
Blog Sponsor: Value Energy Solutions
One of the easiest ways to save energy is to retrofit lighting with energy efficient lighting upgrades. Experts all agree that energy efficient lighting retrofits are the first step to reducing your energy consumption. Value Energy Solutions was formed to help companies achieve energy savings through energy efficient lighting retrofits. They offer the widest selection of energy efficient lighting and best pricing based on the volume purchases because they are one of the largest energy retrofitting companies in the nation.for more information please visit their energy efficient lighting website or call (678) 501-4880
Green Leases to Include Energy Efficient Operations
The topic of green leases and ways tenants and landlords can protect the financial interests associated with green building has been a big area of discussion over the last few years — and for good reason. As building owners continue to adopt green building practices both in newly constructed and existing buildings, they want to protect their investment and the value created by earning LEED green certification of their portfolio. On the flip side, many more tenants are looking to lease space in green buildings, are persuading landlords to seek LEED certification of existing buildings as part of the lease negotiation, and are building out tenant space as LEED for Commercial Interiors projects. To assist the industry in navigating this new market reality, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) developed the “Green Office Guide: Integrating LEED Into Your Leasing Process,” a new resource to help tenants and landlords collaborate and provide specific tools and information that will help integrate green decision making throughout the leasing process.
There are now numerous examples of green leases ranging from full lease forms to specific sustainability riders. While these are important tools for the real estate industry, what the market lacked was a comprehensive resource that guided tenants, owners, brokers and attorneys through the process of integrating green thinking into the entire leasing process, not just into the lease terms. The leasing process constitutes much more than just the legally binding agreement. Building qualification and selection, leasing, landlord qualification and green tenant build-outs are complex processes, and while the lease terms frame key legal areas of the tenant-landlord relationship, decisions are made throughout the process that impact the success of the project’s green goals.
Building-Reflected_lg.jpg
Geared toward corporate tenants and their brokers, the “Green Office Guide” provides specific tools that help teams navigate the nuances of successful execution. Building owners, agency representatives and attorneys find value in understanding what prospective sustainability-focused tenants are looking for when selecting a prospective landlord or building. Among the topics covered in the guide include selecting the right team, qualifying and selecting buildings and landlords, lease negotiations and specific legal language, the tenant build-out, and the tenant’s ongoing operations and relationship with an existing landlord.
One of the challenges with green leases is that there is no “one size fits all” when it comes to negotiating a green lease. By educating practitioners on the process and the options, tenants and landlords can better collaborate to achieve a solution that works for both parties. The “Green Office Guide” tackles areas in which tenants and landlords may not be familiar, from background on LEED and green building, to the different steps of the leasing process, to how to actively build green thinking into standard practices. Other invaluable tools such as sample RFP language, site selection checklists, criteria for qualifying brokers and other project team professionals, and sample green lease provisions with extensive drafting notes are all covered.
This resource is the first in a suite of commercial integration guides by USGBC aimed to educate and be a companion resource to those interested in green building but are not immersed in the process on a daily basis. The “Green Operations Guide: Integrating LEED Into Your Property Management” will be released in August 2010 and will be an invaluable resource for those real estate professionals working towards the greening of existing buildings. Practical solutions for energy, water and waste reduction will be discussed and purchasers of the guide will receive access to editable electronic policy templates and tools that can aid in certification documentation. The “Green Retail Guide: Integrating LEED Into Your Leasing Process,” also available this summer, will focus on the nuances of a successful green leasing process with a specific focus on the retail marketplace.
With every sector now playing a vital role in the green building movement, understanding how sustainability can be incorporated and lucrative for all is a vital component of achieving green buildings for all within a generation.
Katie Rothenberg
Katie Rothenberg is manager of the commercial real estate sector at the U.S. Green Building Council.
There are now numerous examples of green leases ranging from full lease forms to specific sustainability riders. While these are important tools for the real estate industry, what the market lacked was a comprehensive resource that guided tenants, owners, brokers and attorneys through the process of integrating green thinking into the entire leasing process, not just into the lease terms. The leasing process constitutes much more than just the legally binding agreement. Building qualification and selection, leasing, landlord qualification and green tenant build-outs are complex processes, and while the lease terms frame key legal areas of the tenant-landlord relationship, decisions are made throughout the process that impact the success of the project’s green goals.
Building-Reflected_lg.jpg
Geared toward corporate tenants and their brokers, the “Green Office Guide” provides specific tools that help teams navigate the nuances of successful execution. Building owners, agency representatives and attorneys find value in understanding what prospective sustainability-focused tenants are looking for when selecting a prospective landlord or building. Among the topics covered in the guide include selecting the right team, qualifying and selecting buildings and landlords, lease negotiations and specific legal language, the tenant build-out, and the tenant’s ongoing operations and relationship with an existing landlord.
One of the challenges with green leases is that there is no “one size fits all” when it comes to negotiating a green lease. By educating practitioners on the process and the options, tenants and landlords can better collaborate to achieve a solution that works for both parties. The “Green Office Guide” tackles areas in which tenants and landlords may not be familiar, from background on LEED and green building, to the different steps of the leasing process, to how to actively build green thinking into standard practices. Other invaluable tools such as sample RFP language, site selection checklists, criteria for qualifying brokers and other project team professionals, and sample green lease provisions with extensive drafting notes are all covered.
This resource is the first in a suite of commercial integration guides by USGBC aimed to educate and be a companion resource to those interested in green building but are not immersed in the process on a daily basis. The “Green Operations Guide: Integrating LEED Into Your Property Management” will be released in August 2010 and will be an invaluable resource for those real estate professionals working towards the greening of existing buildings. Practical solutions for energy, water and waste reduction will be discussed and purchasers of the guide will receive access to editable electronic policy templates and tools that can aid in certification documentation. The “Green Retail Guide: Integrating LEED Into Your Leasing Process,” also available this summer, will focus on the nuances of a successful green leasing process with a specific focus on the retail marketplace.
With every sector now playing a vital role in the green building movement, understanding how sustainability can be incorporated and lucrative for all is a vital component of achieving green buildings for all within a generation.
Katie Rothenberg
Katie Rothenberg is manager of the commercial real estate sector at the U.S. Green Building Council.
Financing Available For Energy Efficient Lighting Retrofits
Over the past year, there has been a sea change in the recognition of the importance of energy efficiency by facility owners, business leaders, policy-makers and investors: President Obama calls it sexy, venture capitalists are banking on it to be this year’s cleantech darling (investment is up 39 percent), and businesses and homeowners are eager to take on the cash rewards and electricity savings that energy efficiency retrofits promise. For facility managers, energy efficiency improves a company’s bottom line, reduces stress on the electric grid, and is the most cost effective and rapid strategy to accelerate sustainable buildings, businesses and communities. However, despite the rising focus on the energy efficiency sector and proof of retrofits’ payback, implementing large-scale retrofits remain largely off-limits due to high upfront costs.
The lack of customized financing solutions remains a significant impediment to wide-scale adoption of energy efficiency. Prospective customers are typically not interested in using their own capital to fund energy efficiency projects. Research and development initiatives have advanced energy efficiency technologies. But customers need innovative financing solutions to adopt, implement and fund these products.
CalCEF Innovations, the market strategy and public policy arm of the California Clean Energy Fund, recently released a whitepaper report entitled Energy Efficiency Paying the Way: New Financing Solutions Remove First Cost Hurdles (www.calcef.org/innovations/index.htm). This new report, the second in a series supported by CalCEF Innovations, identifies and explores strategies in a case-study approach for developing and financing energy efficiency projects at no first-cost to the industrial or commercial end-user.
Programs of special interest to the green facility community include:
Regional Programs
Property Assessed Clean Energy (www.pacenow.org) programs, which are offered in certain regions of the country, provide facility owners 20-year loans for efficiency projects that are repaid through property tax assessments.
On-bill financing, sponsored by local utilities, can provide 100 percent financing for efficiency projects that are typically less than $250,000 with loan repayments included on the regular utility bill.
Nationally Available Financing Solutions
Metrus Energy offers a new financing structure, the Efficiency Services Agreement (ESA) (www.metrusenergy.com), that covers 100 percent of the upfront and ongoing project costs whereby customer repayment is based on a cost-per-avoided unit of realized energy savings and efficiency performance, i.e., the reduction in operating costs. Earlier this year, Metrus announced a large retrofit project with BAE Systems and ESCO partner Siemens that will annually save $200,000 in utility expenses, more than 1 million kWh of electricity and 30,000 therms of natural gas.
Transcend Equity’s Managed Energy Services Agreement (www.transcendequity.com) finances and implements efficiency upgrades at large commercial properties and takes responsibility for paying property owners’ utility bills.
The financing options highlighted in CalCEF Innovations’ report reflect recent trends in the efficiency marketplace to help facility managers overcome a key barrier to implementing projects: the lack of upfront capital to fund projects. Facility managers can learn firsthand from the examples highlighted in the whitepaper in order to determine a financing strategy that works best to accomplish their retrofit needs. Achieving a lower electricity bill through energy efficiency improvements does not have to involve breaking the bank.
Bob Hinkle
Bob Hinkle is the CEO of Metrus Energy and former Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) for CalCEF Innovations.
Blog Sponsor: Value Energy Solutions
One of the easiest ways to save energy is to retrofit lighting with energy efficient lighting upgrades. Experts all agree that energy efficient lighting retrofits are the first step to reducing your energy consumption. Value Energy Solutions was formed to help companies achieve energy savings through energy efficient lighting retrofits. They offer the widest selection of energy efficient lighting and best pricing based on the volume purchases because they are one of the largest energy retrofitting companies in the nation.for more information please visit their energy efficient lighting website or call (678) 501-4880
The lack of customized financing solutions remains a significant impediment to wide-scale adoption of energy efficiency. Prospective customers are typically not interested in using their own capital to fund energy efficiency projects. Research and development initiatives have advanced energy efficiency technologies. But customers need innovative financing solutions to adopt, implement and fund these products.
CalCEF Innovations, the market strategy and public policy arm of the California Clean Energy Fund, recently released a whitepaper report entitled Energy Efficiency Paying the Way: New Financing Solutions Remove First Cost Hurdles (www.calcef.org/innovations/index.htm). This new report, the second in a series supported by CalCEF Innovations, identifies and explores strategies in a case-study approach for developing and financing energy efficiency projects at no first-cost to the industrial or commercial end-user.
Programs of special interest to the green facility community include:
Regional Programs
Property Assessed Clean Energy (www.pacenow.org) programs, which are offered in certain regions of the country, provide facility owners 20-year loans for efficiency projects that are repaid through property tax assessments.
On-bill financing, sponsored by local utilities, can provide 100 percent financing for efficiency projects that are typically less than $250,000 with loan repayments included on the regular utility bill.
Nationally Available Financing Solutions
Metrus Energy offers a new financing structure, the Efficiency Services Agreement (ESA) (www.metrusenergy.com), that covers 100 percent of the upfront and ongoing project costs whereby customer repayment is based on a cost-per-avoided unit of realized energy savings and efficiency performance, i.e., the reduction in operating costs. Earlier this year, Metrus announced a large retrofit project with BAE Systems and ESCO partner Siemens that will annually save $200,000 in utility expenses, more than 1 million kWh of electricity and 30,000 therms of natural gas.
Transcend Equity’s Managed Energy Services Agreement (www.transcendequity.com) finances and implements efficiency upgrades at large commercial properties and takes responsibility for paying property owners’ utility bills.
The financing options highlighted in CalCEF Innovations’ report reflect recent trends in the efficiency marketplace to help facility managers overcome a key barrier to implementing projects: the lack of upfront capital to fund projects. Facility managers can learn firsthand from the examples highlighted in the whitepaper in order to determine a financing strategy that works best to accomplish their retrofit needs. Achieving a lower electricity bill through energy efficiency improvements does not have to involve breaking the bank.
Bob Hinkle
Bob Hinkle is the CEO of Metrus Energy and former Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) for CalCEF Innovations.
Blog Sponsor: Value Energy Solutions
One of the easiest ways to save energy is to retrofit lighting with energy efficient lighting upgrades. Experts all agree that energy efficient lighting retrofits are the first step to reducing your energy consumption. Value Energy Solutions was formed to help companies achieve energy savings through energy efficient lighting retrofits. They offer the widest selection of energy efficient lighting and best pricing based on the volume purchases because they are one of the largest energy retrofitting companies in the nation.for more information please visit their energy efficient lighting website or call (678) 501-4880
Lighting Retrofits Key to Energy Savings
No matter where you turn, the data is overwhelmingly clear that traditional lighting is a massive energy hog. When given the choice, wouldn’t you rather fire a kilowatt than an employee?
Whether to meet business objectives, sustainability targets or both, the question is not whether to address lighting but how to go about it most successfully. Since lighting retrofits are one of the easiest ways to have a positive impact on your sustainability targets, it’s a no-brainer. But you want to reduce energy consumption without compromising light quality, right? No problem.
The Process
To ensure that you simultaneously reduce energy use while providing necessary light levels, you have to engage in a comprehensive process. Like any type of successful project, a lighting retrofit effort should have a clearly defined set of objectives, involve all the key stakeholders, include a thorough analysis of the options and reflect the implications of each possible choice.
Goals should be tangible. A good example of this is, “Reduce kWh consumption by 75 percent, and ensure light levels of 15 foot candles on the target surface.” Foot-candle targets (the amount of light) should be within the ASHRAE range for the facility type and the facility staff who experience the light in their daily work environment. The management team, engineering staff and senior management should be incorporated into this decision-making process.
A lighting retrofit is multi-stepped but not complicated. It starts with a complete facility audit, which includes layout, purpose, occupancy patterns, map of existing lighting (type, age and foot candles), and a snapshot of the kWh rate. The next step is an analysis of the target light levels in the facility given what kind of work is done and the occupancy rates in the various parts of the facility.
Evaluating the Options
With concrete project goals, a comprehensive audit and a thorough understanding of the light levels needed across the different areas of the facility, you can now move into a survey of the available options. Fluorescents and LEDs (light-emitting diodes) are the front-runners, but in more and more applications, LEDs are taking the lead.
While more expensive at initial purchase, LEDs’ energy efficiency gains offset the higher price even before accounting for a longer life expectancy, reduced maintenance and re-lamping costs. With an expected lifetime of 10 years or greater, LEDs eliminate the bi-annual re-lamping schedules. They also do not generate the heat levels of other lighting types, which reduces cooling costs and BTU load in cold-storage environments. An additional maintenance advantage for LEDs is in manufacturing facilities that work with heavy metals. In those environments, disposal of fluorescent bulbs must be accounted for in the hazardous materials plan, which can have further cost implications.
Be Choosy
Selecting a reputable energy efficiency consultant to guide and manage a lighting retrofit project is an important part of the effort. These professionals are knowledgeable about the range of rebate programs and how to best meet objectives. However, if a prospective partner only offers solutions from a single vendor or doesn’t have access to a broad portfolio of products, look for another provider. One-size-fits-all will not work, even in a single facility.
You may also find that the savings from a lighting retrofit project can underwrite the costs of other improvements in your facility. An effective retrofit project will reduce your facility’s overall kWh demand so that other measures (solar, wind) can then supply a greater percentage of the facility’s energy requirements.
Controls
Integrated controls are an essential element of any successful retrofit. With well-implemented controls, facilities can manage lighting behavior, have lights on only when needed, turn them off automatically, and gather data about run time and kWh usage to report back to a central system. These capabilities may seem more advanced than necessary, but the benefits are immediate and lasting, and the time to implement controls — preferably as an integral part of the lighting system, rather as an add-on — is during the retrofit.
Funding
The widespread commitment to reducing the nation’s energy usage has translated into an array of utility rebate and tax incentive programs that make a significant contribution to offsetting the initial project costs. Those initiatives, combined with the dramatic energy savings the lighting retrofits bring, make the financial dimensions more manageable.
The Double Win
Day-to-day facility operations consume the lion’s share of managers’ time and attention, leaving little room for additional projects. But the double benefits of an efficiency driven lighting retrofit — making a major contribution toward sustainability targets and aggressively reducing energy costs — make it well worth the effort. Don’t put off a lighting retrofit project — make a great choice for your facility and start saving immediately.
Your facility is a great candidate for a lighting retrofit if:
Current lighting is HID, HPS, T5 or T8.
Your facility is larger than 50,000 square feet.
You operate multiple shifts, either five or seven days per week.
Your utility offers rebates for energy efficiency improvement projects.
Your kWh rate is high.
Tom Pincince is the President and CEO of Digital Lumens.
Blog Sponsor: Value Energy Solutions
One of the easiest ways to save energy is to retrofit lighting with energy efficient lighting upgrades. Experts all agree that energy efficient lighting retrofits are the first step to reducing your energy consumption. Value Energy Solutions was formed to help companies achieve energy savings through energy efficient lighting retrofits. They offer the widest selection of energy efficient lighting and best pricing based on the volume purchases because they are one of the largest energy retrofitting companies in the nation.for more information please visit their energy efficient lighting website or call (678) 501-4880
Whether to meet business objectives, sustainability targets or both, the question is not whether to address lighting but how to go about it most successfully. Since lighting retrofits are one of the easiest ways to have a positive impact on your sustainability targets, it’s a no-brainer. But you want to reduce energy consumption without compromising light quality, right? No problem.
The Process
To ensure that you simultaneously reduce energy use while providing necessary light levels, you have to engage in a comprehensive process. Like any type of successful project, a lighting retrofit effort should have a clearly defined set of objectives, involve all the key stakeholders, include a thorough analysis of the options and reflect the implications of each possible choice.
Goals should be tangible. A good example of this is, “Reduce kWh consumption by 75 percent, and ensure light levels of 15 foot candles on the target surface.” Foot-candle targets (the amount of light) should be within the ASHRAE range for the facility type and the facility staff who experience the light in their daily work environment. The management team, engineering staff and senior management should be incorporated into this decision-making process.
A lighting retrofit is multi-stepped but not complicated. It starts with a complete facility audit, which includes layout, purpose, occupancy patterns, map of existing lighting (type, age and foot candles), and a snapshot of the kWh rate. The next step is an analysis of the target light levels in the facility given what kind of work is done and the occupancy rates in the various parts of the facility.
Evaluating the Options
With concrete project goals, a comprehensive audit and a thorough understanding of the light levels needed across the different areas of the facility, you can now move into a survey of the available options. Fluorescents and LEDs (light-emitting diodes) are the front-runners, but in more and more applications, LEDs are taking the lead.
While more expensive at initial purchase, LEDs’ energy efficiency gains offset the higher price even before accounting for a longer life expectancy, reduced maintenance and re-lamping costs. With an expected lifetime of 10 years or greater, LEDs eliminate the bi-annual re-lamping schedules. They also do not generate the heat levels of other lighting types, which reduces cooling costs and BTU load in cold-storage environments. An additional maintenance advantage for LEDs is in manufacturing facilities that work with heavy metals. In those environments, disposal of fluorescent bulbs must be accounted for in the hazardous materials plan, which can have further cost implications.
Be Choosy
Selecting a reputable energy efficiency consultant to guide and manage a lighting retrofit project is an important part of the effort. These professionals are knowledgeable about the range of rebate programs and how to best meet objectives. However, if a prospective partner only offers solutions from a single vendor or doesn’t have access to a broad portfolio of products, look for another provider. One-size-fits-all will not work, even in a single facility.
You may also find that the savings from a lighting retrofit project can underwrite the costs of other improvements in your facility. An effective retrofit project will reduce your facility’s overall kWh demand so that other measures (solar, wind) can then supply a greater percentage of the facility’s energy requirements.
Controls
Integrated controls are an essential element of any successful retrofit. With well-implemented controls, facilities can manage lighting behavior, have lights on only when needed, turn them off automatically, and gather data about run time and kWh usage to report back to a central system. These capabilities may seem more advanced than necessary, but the benefits are immediate and lasting, and the time to implement controls — preferably as an integral part of the lighting system, rather as an add-on — is during the retrofit.
Funding
The widespread commitment to reducing the nation’s energy usage has translated into an array of utility rebate and tax incentive programs that make a significant contribution to offsetting the initial project costs. Those initiatives, combined with the dramatic energy savings the lighting retrofits bring, make the financial dimensions more manageable.
The Double Win
Day-to-day facility operations consume the lion’s share of managers’ time and attention, leaving little room for additional projects. But the double benefits of an efficiency driven lighting retrofit — making a major contribution toward sustainability targets and aggressively reducing energy costs — make it well worth the effort. Don’t put off a lighting retrofit project — make a great choice for your facility and start saving immediately.
Your facility is a great candidate for a lighting retrofit if:
Current lighting is HID, HPS, T5 or T8.
Your facility is larger than 50,000 square feet.
You operate multiple shifts, either five or seven days per week.
Your utility offers rebates for energy efficiency improvement projects.
Your kWh rate is high.
Tom Pincince is the President and CEO of Digital Lumens.
Blog Sponsor: Value Energy Solutions
One of the easiest ways to save energy is to retrofit lighting with energy efficient lighting upgrades. Experts all agree that energy efficient lighting retrofits are the first step to reducing your energy consumption. Value Energy Solutions was formed to help companies achieve energy savings through energy efficient lighting retrofits. They offer the widest selection of energy efficient lighting and best pricing based on the volume purchases because they are one of the largest energy retrofitting companies in the nation.for more information please visit their energy efficient lighting website or call (678) 501-4880
Warehouses Pursue Energy Efficient Lighting
Aside from labor, the most significant cost of operating a cold storage facility is the expense associated with creating a cool environment. A refrigerated or frozen warehouse’s energy bill can vary by thousands or tens of thousands of dollars each month, making the need to control energy costs and increase efficiencies critical.
Using LED lighting in a cold storage environment helps to ensure that the lighting doesn’t work against the nature of the facility. Photo courtesy of BetaLED.
Cold storage facilities require substantial amounts of electricity to maintain the proper temperatures necessary for preserving foods and beverages. In fact, electricity costs can comprise more than 25 percent of a cold storage building’s ongoing operating costs.[1]
Conventional lighting and refrigeration systems typically work against each other: lighting systems generate heat, which the refrigeration system needs to remove. In addition, lower temperatures reduce the efficacy of some lighting systems. Therefore, more power is required to generate the desired illumination, which in turn increases the load on the refrigeration system.
Lighting Technology Comparison
LED luminaires can provide significant advantages over fluorescent and high intensity discharge (HID) solutions in cold storage environments. Each conventional lighting technology creates performance compromises when performing in a refrigerated environment. Fluorescent lighting systems create heat and typically lose a substantial amount of light output in cold temperature environments. The heat created by the lighting system needs to be removed and requires additional refrigeration capacity and power consumption. HID technology such as metal halide creates a more substantial amount of heat, requiring even more refrigeration capacity and power consumption. LED luminaires, however, provide benefits when used in cold storage environments; they create minimal heat, which translates to very low refrigeration loads, greatly reduced lumen depreciation and increased light output.
LED technology combined with cold storage applications offer numerous and significant advantages, including:
* Thermal load reduction
* Instant-on capabilities
* Energy efficiency and low-maintenance benefits
LEDs at Work: Innovative Cold Storage Enterprises
When it was time for a San Diego, Calif.-based cold-storage company to expand, the owners decided to seek LEED Gold certification. Among the ways they decided to save energy inside this new refrigerated storage warehouse was to install LED lighting.
Officials with Innovative Cold Storage Enterprises, Inc. (ICE) were initially going to use 321 traditional HID lights that consumed approximately 465 system Watts each. Instead, they opted for LED luminaires, which include 230 LED lights at 86 system Watts each and another 49 LED lights at 321 system Watts each.
The warehouse lighting consumed 76 percent less energy using LED luminaires instead of the originally planned HID lights. Additionally, the LED lights provide an estimated 150,000 maintenance-free hours of operation in the minus 20 degree Celsius refrigerated warehouse, with lumen maintenance of greater than 70 percent. The longer service life is particularly useful in this application, where replacing lights would otherwise be laborious and expensive because of the 60-foot ceilings.
“Utilizing the (BetaLED) LED lights was a final touch to an already phenomenal project concerning energy savings. We sought to pursue energy efficiency in every facet, as well as cutting edge technology, which is clearly demonstrated in the application of these industrial LEDs,” said Phoebe Hamann, green building specialist, LEED AP, for Hamman Construction, which handled the warehouse project.
In all, the various energy-saving steps taken during construction mean the 132,000-square-foot warehouse costs half as much to operate as the old ICE facility, yet it can hold four times more product.
1. Asmus, Peter (Sunday, September 1, 2002) California Cold Storage Companies Cutting Cooling Costs. Frozen Food Age.
Blog Sponsor: Value Energy Solutions
One of the easiest ways to save energy is to retrofit lighting with energy efficient lighting upgrades. Experts all agree that energy efficient lighting retrofits are the first step to reducing your energy consumption. Value Energy Solutions was formed to help companies achieve energy savings through energy efficient lighting retrofits. They offer the widest selection of energy efficient lighting and best pricing based on the volume purchases because they are one of the largest energy retrofitting companies in the nation.for more information please visit their energy efficient lighting website or call (678) 501-4880
Using LED lighting in a cold storage environment helps to ensure that the lighting doesn’t work against the nature of the facility. Photo courtesy of BetaLED.
Cold storage facilities require substantial amounts of electricity to maintain the proper temperatures necessary for preserving foods and beverages. In fact, electricity costs can comprise more than 25 percent of a cold storage building’s ongoing operating costs.[1]
Conventional lighting and refrigeration systems typically work against each other: lighting systems generate heat, which the refrigeration system needs to remove. In addition, lower temperatures reduce the efficacy of some lighting systems. Therefore, more power is required to generate the desired illumination, which in turn increases the load on the refrigeration system.
Lighting Technology Comparison
LED luminaires can provide significant advantages over fluorescent and high intensity discharge (HID) solutions in cold storage environments. Each conventional lighting technology creates performance compromises when performing in a refrigerated environment. Fluorescent lighting systems create heat and typically lose a substantial amount of light output in cold temperature environments. The heat created by the lighting system needs to be removed and requires additional refrigeration capacity and power consumption. HID technology such as metal halide creates a more substantial amount of heat, requiring even more refrigeration capacity and power consumption. LED luminaires, however, provide benefits when used in cold storage environments; they create minimal heat, which translates to very low refrigeration loads, greatly reduced lumen depreciation and increased light output.
LED technology combined with cold storage applications offer numerous and significant advantages, including:
* Thermal load reduction
* Instant-on capabilities
* Energy efficiency and low-maintenance benefits
LEDs at Work: Innovative Cold Storage Enterprises
When it was time for a San Diego, Calif.-based cold-storage company to expand, the owners decided to seek LEED Gold certification. Among the ways they decided to save energy inside this new refrigerated storage warehouse was to install LED lighting.
Officials with Innovative Cold Storage Enterprises, Inc. (ICE) were initially going to use 321 traditional HID lights that consumed approximately 465 system Watts each. Instead, they opted for LED luminaires, which include 230 LED lights at 86 system Watts each and another 49 LED lights at 321 system Watts each.
The warehouse lighting consumed 76 percent less energy using LED luminaires instead of the originally planned HID lights. Additionally, the LED lights provide an estimated 150,000 maintenance-free hours of operation in the minus 20 degree Celsius refrigerated warehouse, with lumen maintenance of greater than 70 percent. The longer service life is particularly useful in this application, where replacing lights would otherwise be laborious and expensive because of the 60-foot ceilings.
“Utilizing the (BetaLED) LED lights was a final touch to an already phenomenal project concerning energy savings. We sought to pursue energy efficiency in every facet, as well as cutting edge technology, which is clearly demonstrated in the application of these industrial LEDs,” said Phoebe Hamann, green building specialist, LEED AP, for Hamman Construction, which handled the warehouse project.
In all, the various energy-saving steps taken during construction mean the 132,000-square-foot warehouse costs half as much to operate as the old ICE facility, yet it can hold four times more product.
1. Asmus, Peter (Sunday, September 1, 2002) California Cold Storage Companies Cutting Cooling Costs. Frozen Food Age.
Blog Sponsor: Value Energy Solutions
One of the easiest ways to save energy is to retrofit lighting with energy efficient lighting upgrades. Experts all agree that energy efficient lighting retrofits are the first step to reducing your energy consumption. Value Energy Solutions was formed to help companies achieve energy savings through energy efficient lighting retrofits. They offer the widest selection of energy efficient lighting and best pricing based on the volume purchases because they are one of the largest energy retrofitting companies in the nation.for more information please visit their energy efficient lighting website or call (678) 501-4880
Healthcare Firms Most Likely To Invest In Energy Savings
People hoping to observe energy efficiency leadership in action may want to take a trip to their local healthcare facility. According to new research from the American Society for Healthcare Engineering (ASHE) and Johnson Controls, healthcare organizations are more likely to invest in energy efficiency for their facilities compared to other industry sectors across North America.
In March 2010, Johnson Controls, in conjunction with ASHE and the International Facility Management Association (IFMA), commissioned the 2010 Energy Efficiency Indicator (EEI) survey, which polled 2,882 executives and managers responsible for making investments and managing energy in facilities worldwide. Of these respondents, 288 operated in the healthcare sector in North America.
The research found that 58 percent of healthcare building decision-makers say that energy management was very or extremely important to their organization, compared with 52 percent among North American respondents across all sectors. Sixty-two percent of healthcare organizations plan to make capital investments in energy efficiency over the next 12 months, compared with only 52 percent overall in North America.
"This year's survey shows that energy cost savings and enhanced brand image are important to our industry. In order to continue to serve our communities, my colleagues understand that we need to try to keep our costs down," said Dale Woodin, executive director, ASHE. "The compassion that we offer patients and families is reflected in the way we run our business and provide care."
The survey indicates that the healthcare sector has implemented a variety of measures to achieve energy efficiency including lighting retrofits (73%), adjustments to HVAC controls (57%), installation of occupancy or daylight sensors (56%) and upgrades or improvements to building automation systems (56%). Other notable measures include the early replacement of inefficient equipment (41%) and the retro-commissioning of major building systems (23%, up from 16% in 2008).
Compared to results from the 2008 Healthcare EEI, the 2010 findings suggest an upward trend in the percentage of healthcare executives that have a goal of either achieving green building certification or incorporating green elements into their new construction projects (80% in 2010, up from 72% in 2008). "The healthcare sector has had an increasing commitment to energy efficiency and we continue to see that with our customers' interest in making investments," said Richard Smith, director, energy solutions healthcare, Johnson Controls. "However, limited access to capital to invest in energy upgrades continues to hold the industry back from reaching the full savings potential of energy efficiency. It is important for healthcare decision-makers to become educated about the alternative financing methods that are emerging."
Lack of capital budget was cited as the primary barrier to efficiency investments among both healthcare respondents (45%) and the overall North American sample (38%). An additional twenty-one percent of healthcare leaders say insufficient paybacks or return on investment is the primary barrier to investment. "In light of the difficult credit environment, it comes as no surprise that our industry is playing close attention to ROI. From 2008 to 2010, the average maximum allowable payback for investments has dropped from 3.8 years to 3.4 years," said Woodin.
The EEI survey results for the healthcare sector will be discussed today at the ASHE Annual Conference and Technical Exhibition in Tampa, Fla.
Blog Sponsor: Value Energy Solutions
One of the easiest ways to save energy is to retrofit lighting with energy efficient lighting upgrades. Experts all agree that energy efficient lighting retrofits are the first step to reducing your energy consumption. Value Energy Solutions was formed to help companies achieve energy savings through energy efficient lighting retrofits. They offer the widest selection of energy efficient lighting and best pricing based on the volume purchases because they are one of the largest energy retrofitting companies in the nation.for more information please visit their energy efficient lighting website or call (678) 501-4880
In March 2010, Johnson Controls, in conjunction with ASHE and the International Facility Management Association (IFMA), commissioned the 2010 Energy Efficiency Indicator (EEI) survey, which polled 2,882 executives and managers responsible for making investments and managing energy in facilities worldwide. Of these respondents, 288 operated in the healthcare sector in North America.
The research found that 58 percent of healthcare building decision-makers say that energy management was very or extremely important to their organization, compared with 52 percent among North American respondents across all sectors. Sixty-two percent of healthcare organizations plan to make capital investments in energy efficiency over the next 12 months, compared with only 52 percent overall in North America.
"This year's survey shows that energy cost savings and enhanced brand image are important to our industry. In order to continue to serve our communities, my colleagues understand that we need to try to keep our costs down," said Dale Woodin, executive director, ASHE. "The compassion that we offer patients and families is reflected in the way we run our business and provide care."
The survey indicates that the healthcare sector has implemented a variety of measures to achieve energy efficiency including lighting retrofits (73%), adjustments to HVAC controls (57%), installation of occupancy or daylight sensors (56%) and upgrades or improvements to building automation systems (56%). Other notable measures include the early replacement of inefficient equipment (41%) and the retro-commissioning of major building systems (23%, up from 16% in 2008).
Compared to results from the 2008 Healthcare EEI, the 2010 findings suggest an upward trend in the percentage of healthcare executives that have a goal of either achieving green building certification or incorporating green elements into their new construction projects (80% in 2010, up from 72% in 2008). "The healthcare sector has had an increasing commitment to energy efficiency and we continue to see that with our customers' interest in making investments," said Richard Smith, director, energy solutions healthcare, Johnson Controls. "However, limited access to capital to invest in energy upgrades continues to hold the industry back from reaching the full savings potential of energy efficiency. It is important for healthcare decision-makers to become educated about the alternative financing methods that are emerging."
Lack of capital budget was cited as the primary barrier to efficiency investments among both healthcare respondents (45%) and the overall North American sample (38%). An additional twenty-one percent of healthcare leaders say insufficient paybacks or return on investment is the primary barrier to investment. "In light of the difficult credit environment, it comes as no surprise that our industry is playing close attention to ROI. From 2008 to 2010, the average maximum allowable payback for investments has dropped from 3.8 years to 3.4 years," said Woodin.
The EEI survey results for the healthcare sector will be discussed today at the ASHE Annual Conference and Technical Exhibition in Tampa, Fla.
Blog Sponsor: Value Energy Solutions
One of the easiest ways to save energy is to retrofit lighting with energy efficient lighting upgrades. Experts all agree that energy efficient lighting retrofits are the first step to reducing your energy consumption. Value Energy Solutions was formed to help companies achieve energy savings through energy efficient lighting retrofits. They offer the widest selection of energy efficient lighting and best pricing based on the volume purchases because they are one of the largest energy retrofitting companies in the nation.for more information please visit their energy efficient lighting website or call (678) 501-4880
Cleveland Schools Saving Money with Energy Efficient Lighting
The Cleveland City School System saved $100,000 on renovation projects at George R. Stuart Elementary by utilizing the school system’s Maintenance Department, Cleveland Board of Education members learned Monday night.
Cleveland City Schools maintenance director Bob True and his crew completed restroom renovations which saved taxpayers $56,000. Cleveland City Schools site representative Gene Bishop refurbished the elementary school’s fire alarm system which saved $40,000. This week, workers estimate completing the installation of energy efficient lighting, ceiling tile, security windows near the school’s front office and completing interior painting.
Through a $104,000 Energy Efficient Schools Initiative Grant, energy efficient lighting will also be installed at the Cleveland City Schools Administrative Office Building, E.L. Ross Elementary and Yates Primary School.
The school board voted to begin receiving bids for a parking lot expansion project at Cleveland High School for the school’s new science wing. Cleveland Schools Director Dr. Rick Denning submitted the parking expansion idea to the board. The design plan would create approximately 150 additional parking spaces.
A Site Committee meeting will be held at the central office Wednesday at 10 a.m. to discuss additional construction project updates.
Read more: Cleveland Daily Banner - Stuart project saving 100K
http://www.clevelandbanner.com/view/full_story/8745318/article-Stuart-project-saving--100K?instance=latest_articles
Blog Sponsor: Value Energy Solutions
One of the easiest ways to save energy is to retrofit lighting with energy efficient lighting upgrades. Experts all agree that energy efficient lighting retrofits are the first step to reducing your energy consumption. Value Energy Solutions was formed to help companies achieve energy savings through energy efficient lighting retrofits. They offer the widest selection of energy efficient lighting and best pricing based on the volume purchases because they are one of the largest energy retrofitting companies in the nation.for more information please visit their energy efficient lighting website or call (678) 501-4880
Cleveland City Schools maintenance director Bob True and his crew completed restroom renovations which saved taxpayers $56,000. Cleveland City Schools site representative Gene Bishop refurbished the elementary school’s fire alarm system which saved $40,000. This week, workers estimate completing the installation of energy efficient lighting, ceiling tile, security windows near the school’s front office and completing interior painting.
Through a $104,000 Energy Efficient Schools Initiative Grant, energy efficient lighting will also be installed at the Cleveland City Schools Administrative Office Building, E.L. Ross Elementary and Yates Primary School.
The school board voted to begin receiving bids for a parking lot expansion project at Cleveland High School for the school’s new science wing. Cleveland Schools Director Dr. Rick Denning submitted the parking expansion idea to the board. The design plan would create approximately 150 additional parking spaces.
A Site Committee meeting will be held at the central office Wednesday at 10 a.m. to discuss additional construction project updates.
Read more: Cleveland Daily Banner - Stuart project saving 100K
http://www.clevelandbanner.com/view/full_story/8745318/article-Stuart-project-saving--100K?instance=latest_articles
Blog Sponsor: Value Energy Solutions
One of the easiest ways to save energy is to retrofit lighting with energy efficient lighting upgrades. Experts all agree that energy efficient lighting retrofits are the first step to reducing your energy consumption. Value Energy Solutions was formed to help companies achieve energy savings through energy efficient lighting retrofits. They offer the widest selection of energy efficient lighting and best pricing based on the volume purchases because they are one of the largest energy retrofitting companies in the nation.for more information please visit their energy efficient lighting website or call (678) 501-4880
Utility Company Offering Energy Efficient Programs
Indiana Michigan Power, I&M, offered Indiana customers three new energy efficient programs as part of its SMART Programs: Saving Money and Resources Together.
According to I&M, the programs rolled out this year and gave customers more control over their energy usage and helped lower their energy costs. The program offers three options for customers.
The three programs are Residential Rebate Program, C&I Rebates Program and Residential Home Energry Savings Program. Each program offers customers discounts or cash rebates.
Residential Rebate Program allows customers to receive an in-store discount for buying energy efficient products, with a focus on energy efficient compact fluroescent lighting.
Blog Sponsor: Value Energy Solutions
One of the easiest ways to save energy is to retrofit lighting with energy efficient lighting upgrades. Experts all agree that energy efficient lighting retrofits are the first step to reducing your energy consumption. Value Energy Solutions was formed to help companies achieve energy savings through energy efficient lighting retrofits. They offer the widest selection of energy efficient lighting and best pricing based on the volume purchases because they are one of the largest energy retrofitting companies in the nation.for more information please visit their energy efficient lighting website or call (678) 501-4880
According to I&M, the programs rolled out this year and gave customers more control over their energy usage and helped lower their energy costs. The program offers three options for customers.
The three programs are Residential Rebate Program, C&I Rebates Program and Residential Home Energry Savings Program. Each program offers customers discounts or cash rebates.
Residential Rebate Program allows customers to receive an in-store discount for buying energy efficient products, with a focus on energy efficient compact fluroescent lighting.
Blog Sponsor: Value Energy Solutions
One of the easiest ways to save energy is to retrofit lighting with energy efficient lighting upgrades. Experts all agree that energy efficient lighting retrofits are the first step to reducing your energy consumption. Value Energy Solutions was formed to help companies achieve energy savings through energy efficient lighting retrofits. They offer the widest selection of energy efficient lighting and best pricing based on the volume purchases because they are one of the largest energy retrofitting companies in the nation.for more information please visit their energy efficient lighting website or call (678) 501-4880
Averett University Purchasing Energy Efficient Lighting
Averett University is pleased to announce that it has received a grant from Energy Alliance that will allow the university to purchase energy efficient lighting for its Main Campus as well as its campuses across the state.
"We are very appreciative of the grant from Energy Alliance," said Averett President Dr. Tiffany Franks. "The university is always looking at ways to update and improve facilities around our campuses for our students, faculty and staff. The grant provides us with one way to achieve this and to be environmentally responsible."
As part of Averett's ongoing efforts to 'go green' all light bulbs, fluorescent lighting as well as sodium parking lot lights will be replaced with energy efficient options. Not only will this lighting be more energy efficient, it will be longer lasting. With a historic campus that is more than a century old, Averett is constantly looking for ways to upgrade and modernize its facilities while maintaining its traditions and the integrity of its beautiful campus.
The university will start installing the more energy efficient lighting this fall. Once the project is complete, approximately 1,500 light fixtures in offices, residence halls, classrooms and computer labs around Averett will be more "green."
ALERTSM is an acronym for Advanced Lighting Equipment Replacement Technology. VistaBright Lighting, a national supplier of lighting products, has organized an alliance of leading lighting industry manufacturers, distributors, and electrical contractors to help promote energy efficient lighting through multiple public relation venues.
Blog Sponsor: Value Energy Solutions
One of the easiest ways to save energy is to retrofit lighting with energy efficient lighting upgrades. Experts all agree that energy efficient lighting retrofits are the first step to reducing your energy consumption. Value Energy Solutions was formed to help companies achieve energy savings through energy efficient lighting retrofits. They offer the widest selection of energy efficient lighting and best pricing based on the volume purchases because they are one of the largest energy retrofitting companies in the nation.for more information please visit their energy efficient lighting website or call (678) 501-4880
"We are very appreciative of the grant from Energy Alliance," said Averett President Dr. Tiffany Franks. "The university is always looking at ways to update and improve facilities around our campuses for our students, faculty and staff. The grant provides us with one way to achieve this and to be environmentally responsible."
As part of Averett's ongoing efforts to 'go green' all light bulbs, fluorescent lighting as well as sodium parking lot lights will be replaced with energy efficient options. Not only will this lighting be more energy efficient, it will be longer lasting. With a historic campus that is more than a century old, Averett is constantly looking for ways to upgrade and modernize its facilities while maintaining its traditions and the integrity of its beautiful campus.
The university will start installing the more energy efficient lighting this fall. Once the project is complete, approximately 1,500 light fixtures in offices, residence halls, classrooms and computer labs around Averett will be more "green."
ALERTSM is an acronym for Advanced Lighting Equipment Replacement Technology. VistaBright Lighting, a national supplier of lighting products, has organized an alliance of leading lighting industry manufacturers, distributors, and electrical contractors to help promote energy efficient lighting through multiple public relation venues.
Blog Sponsor: Value Energy Solutions
One of the easiest ways to save energy is to retrofit lighting with energy efficient lighting upgrades. Experts all agree that energy efficient lighting retrofits are the first step to reducing your energy consumption. Value Energy Solutions was formed to help companies achieve energy savings through energy efficient lighting retrofits. They offer the widest selection of energy efficient lighting and best pricing based on the volume purchases because they are one of the largest energy retrofitting companies in the nation.for more information please visit their energy efficient lighting website or call (678) 501-4880
Austin Texas Event Center Under Goes Lighting Retrofit
The Palmer Events Center is switching $105,961 worth in lighting for high-efficiency versions meant to save about 70,417 kilowatt-hours of electricity and $21,501 in energy costs a year.
The city is paying for the project through a $7.5 million federal stimulus-funded grant awarded to increase energy efficiency in public buildings. Palmer is one of seven municipal buildings undergoing lighting retrofits in the next few weeks. Combined the projects are estimated to save about 576,937 kilowatt-hours, or the equivalent of powering almost 50 homes year round.
The Millennium Youth Entertainment Complex, Police Station No. 33 and the Austin Public Library warehouse are among others getting the upgrade.
Austin Energy, which manages the energy efficiency of municipal buildings, is working with city departments on these projects and others. The work is expected to generate about 100 green collar jobs and also reduce carbon and other emissions.
Read more: Palmer Events Center getting $106K lighting upgrade - Austin Business Journal
The city is paying for the project through a $7.5 million federal stimulus-funded grant awarded to increase energy efficiency in public buildings. Palmer is one of seven municipal buildings undergoing lighting retrofits in the next few weeks. Combined the projects are estimated to save about 576,937 kilowatt-hours, or the equivalent of powering almost 50 homes year round.
The Millennium Youth Entertainment Complex, Police Station No. 33 and the Austin Public Library warehouse are among others getting the upgrade.
Austin Energy, which manages the energy efficiency of municipal buildings, is working with city departments on these projects and others. The work is expected to generate about 100 green collar jobs and also reduce carbon and other emissions.
Read more: Palmer Events Center getting $106K lighting upgrade - Austin Business Journal
Monday, July 12, 2010
Pittsburgh International Airport announced plans for a lighting retrofit that will save $158,000 in energy costs once its replaces its current light fixtures with light emitting diodes (LEDs). The LED units will replace the current lighting fixtures at the airport's Parking Garage and Deck and at the Passenger Drop-off and Pick-up areas. Appalachian Lighting Systems, Inc. (ALSI) was selected by the Allegheny County Airport Authority to manufacture and deliver the 1,347 new fixtures, in what may be the largest retrofit of its kind in the country.
Related Stories
L.A. Launches Nation’s Biggest Lighting Retrofit Program
BevMo! to Save $1M a Year After Lighting Retrofit
Trane Cuts Costs With Lighting Retrofit
Related Topics
Business-to-Business
Carbon Footprint
Consumption
Contracts & Installations
Electricity
Energy Efficiency
Facilities
Lighting
Major Players
Refitting
Pittsburgh International Airport announced plans for a lighting retrofit that will save $158,000 in energy costs once its replaces its current light fixtures with light emitting diodes (LEDs). The LED units will replace the current lighting fixtures at the airport’s Parking Garage and Deck and at the Passenger Drop-off and Pick-up areas. Appalachian Lighting Systems, Inc. (ALSI) was selected by the Allegheny County Airport Authority to manufacture and deliver the 1,347 new fixtures, in what may be the largest retrofit of its kind in the country.
ALSI, a Pennsylvania-based manufacturer, developed new solid state lighting products to meet the requirements of the project. “These luminaries are engineered to provide between 73 to 82 percent savings in energy costs, and last essentially maintenance free for as long as 20 years,” said David McAnally, President & CEO of ALSI. The units are said to be maintenance free and expected to last up to 30 years, thanks to company patents that prevent the fixtures from overheating.
Several airports have sought to reduce costs by decreasing their energy demands. Yellowstone Regional Airport and Denver International Airport (DIA) are moving ahead with their expansion plans that center around energy efficiency, solar power and sustainability.
Meanwhile, DIA recently built Green Park DIA, an LEED-certified 4,200-stall parking lot servicing the airport, setting itself the goal to be the world’s greenest parking facility, and a new terminal at Wichita Mid-Continent Airport would incorporate miniature wind turbines to generate a portion of its electricity
Environmental management & energy news delivered daily to your inbox
http://www.environmentalleader.com/2010/07/12/pit-to-save-158000-on-lighting-retrofit/
Related Stories
L.A. Launches Nation’s Biggest Lighting Retrofit Program
BevMo! to Save $1M a Year After Lighting Retrofit
Trane Cuts Costs With Lighting Retrofit
Related Topics
Business-to-Business
Carbon Footprint
Consumption
Contracts & Installations
Electricity
Energy Efficiency
Facilities
Lighting
Major Players
Refitting
Pittsburgh International Airport announced plans for a lighting retrofit that will save $158,000 in energy costs once its replaces its current light fixtures with light emitting diodes (LEDs). The LED units will replace the current lighting fixtures at the airport’s Parking Garage and Deck and at the Passenger Drop-off and Pick-up areas. Appalachian Lighting Systems, Inc. (ALSI) was selected by the Allegheny County Airport Authority to manufacture and deliver the 1,347 new fixtures, in what may be the largest retrofit of its kind in the country.
ALSI, a Pennsylvania-based manufacturer, developed new solid state lighting products to meet the requirements of the project. “These luminaries are engineered to provide between 73 to 82 percent savings in energy costs, and last essentially maintenance free for as long as 20 years,” said David McAnally, President & CEO of ALSI. The units are said to be maintenance free and expected to last up to 30 years, thanks to company patents that prevent the fixtures from overheating.
Several airports have sought to reduce costs by decreasing their energy demands. Yellowstone Regional Airport and Denver International Airport (DIA) are moving ahead with their expansion plans that center around energy efficiency, solar power and sustainability.
Meanwhile, DIA recently built Green Park DIA, an LEED-certified 4,200-stall parking lot servicing the airport, setting itself the goal to be the world’s greenest parking facility, and a new terminal at Wichita Mid-Continent Airport would incorporate miniature wind turbines to generate a portion of its electricity
Environmental management & energy news delivered daily to your inbox
http://www.environmentalleader.com/2010/07/12/pit-to-save-158000-on-lighting-retrofit/
Warehouse Lighting Retrofits Make Economic Sense
Proper warehouse lighting helps provide security for your products and increased safety for your employees.Having the right lighting is vital to the productivity of your employees and keeping your products free from damage or theft.Value Lighting Energy Solutions can help you select and install the correct lighting based on your facility's size and specific needs.
To allow your employees to work most efficiently, you need your warehouse lighting to keep all large areas brightly lit. A popular form of warehouse lighting is bay lighting.The type of bay lights will be based on the height of your ceiling. If your ceiling is higher than twenty feet high, we recommend that you use high bay lighting. These are designed to provide the right illumination even from those extreme ceiling heights without sacrificing brightness. For ceiling heights of less than 20 feet you should consider low bay lighting.
A typical lighting option in warehouse or industrial space is a high intensity discharge (HID) light bulb. Value Lighting Energy Solutions carries the four main types of HID lighting: metal halide, mercury vapor, high pressure sodium, and low pressure sodium lamps.HID lamps and light bulbs are more energy efficient than incandescent lighting.
Value Lighting Energy Solutions is not limited to one lighting solution. We represent hundreds of lighting manufacturers. Our large selection and volume purchasing allows us to provide you with the best selection at value pricing. For more information please call 678-501-4880
To allow your employees to work most efficiently, you need your warehouse lighting to keep all large areas brightly lit. A popular form of warehouse lighting is bay lighting.The type of bay lights will be based on the height of your ceiling. If your ceiling is higher than twenty feet high, we recommend that you use high bay lighting. These are designed to provide the right illumination even from those extreme ceiling heights without sacrificing brightness. For ceiling heights of less than 20 feet you should consider low bay lighting.
A typical lighting option in warehouse or industrial space is a high intensity discharge (HID) light bulb. Value Lighting Energy Solutions carries the four main types of HID lighting: metal halide, mercury vapor, high pressure sodium, and low pressure sodium lamps.HID lamps and light bulbs are more energy efficient than incandescent lighting.
Value Lighting Energy Solutions is not limited to one lighting solution. We represent hundreds of lighting manufacturers. Our large selection and volume purchasing allows us to provide you with the best selection at value pricing. For more information please call 678-501-4880
Successful Lighting Retrofits Use Energy Efficient Lighting
As reported By FMLInk
As with most large projects, lighting retrofits succeed only if several key components come together.
First, maintenance and engineering managers must secure financing to support the project, whether from in-house sources or through incentives, such as rebates and tax deductions. Financing is a huge "if", certainly, but no project gets off the ground without it.
Second, managers have to understand the lighting needs of their facilities. Each building — whether a school, hospital, or office high-rise — has unique operations and conditions that directly and heavily impact the scope and content of the retrofit.
Finally, there is the technology. Financing and an understanding of the facilities undergoing the lighting retrofit will take managers only so far. They also must learn about advances in lighting technology and, more importantly, the way new-generation products and technology can help them achieve the project's goals.
Managers will be better able to complete a successful lighting retrofit by understanding the mistakes product specifiers commonly make, the products that can help them avoid retrofit mistakes, and the codes and standards that most directly affect specification decisions.
In trying to address end users' needs, manufacturers are offering products that offer a host of benefits, but managers also must do their homework.
"Many managers don't understand all of the available technology because of so many changes in the last two to three years," says Bob Freshman, marketing manager with Leviton, who adds that the retrofit's payoff often is worth the effort to plan and execute it. "Lighting efficiency improvements offer faster returns on investment than any other building system."
Lessons to Learn
Fortunately for managers planning or considering a lighting retrofit, they can learn from — and, ideally, avoid — the mistakes others have made. Maybe the most important first step is understanding the costs and benefits of each lighting system component.
"Most energy efficient lighting retrofits are based on return on investment," Freshman says. "So you have to understand what you gain from each level of technology versus the cost." For example, the least expensive level of lighting-control technology, occupancy sensors, offer relatively simple installation and maintenance, along with significant energy savings. The next level up on the cost scale is relay control panels, Freshman says, which specifiers can link to the building-automation system to produce smart controls. Daylight harvesting and dimming generally top the list in terms of cost.
"Mistakes made in specifying lighting controls are not just limited to retrofit projects, but can be associated with any project in general terms," says Jeff Park, manager of sustainable market development with WattStopper. "Misapplication of technology and incorrect installation are leading causes of user dissatisfaction, which in turn, often leads to occupants disabling or removing the controls."
In some cases, managers err by focusing too narrowly on a particular aspect of the project.
"From an occupancy sensor stand-point, the biggest mistake specifiers make is selecting a particular sensor based just on area of coverage," says Ben Hahn, product value stream leader with Sensor Switch. "This leads to poor performance and occupant dissatisfaction. Other factors, such as the type and size of motion that needs to be detected, are just as important as the total area of coverage of a sensor."
Specifying lamps and ballasts for retrofits also can present challenges for managers. Susan Isenhower Anderson of Osram Sylvania says a common misstep is "not considering the impact of legislation and (U.S. Department of Energy, or DOE) rulemakings on what products will be available in the future. Today, the biggest mistake would be to stay with T12 ballast systems. The 2000 DOE fluorescent-ballast rulemaking and the (National Energy Policy Act of 2005, or EPAct) legislation eliminated T12 magnetic ballasts, basically leaving only electronic T12 ballasts available in the marketplace, with even magnetic replacement ballasts eliminated as of July 1, 2010."
As with most large projects, lighting retrofits succeed only if several key components come together.
First, maintenance and engineering managers must secure financing to support the project, whether from in-house sources or through incentives, such as rebates and tax deductions. Financing is a huge "if", certainly, but no project gets off the ground without it.
Second, managers have to understand the lighting needs of their facilities. Each building — whether a school, hospital, or office high-rise — has unique operations and conditions that directly and heavily impact the scope and content of the retrofit.
Finally, there is the technology. Financing and an understanding of the facilities undergoing the lighting retrofit will take managers only so far. They also must learn about advances in lighting technology and, more importantly, the way new-generation products and technology can help them achieve the project's goals.
Managers will be better able to complete a successful lighting retrofit by understanding the mistakes product specifiers commonly make, the products that can help them avoid retrofit mistakes, and the codes and standards that most directly affect specification decisions.
In trying to address end users' needs, manufacturers are offering products that offer a host of benefits, but managers also must do their homework.
"Many managers don't understand all of the available technology because of so many changes in the last two to three years," says Bob Freshman, marketing manager with Leviton, who adds that the retrofit's payoff often is worth the effort to plan and execute it. "Lighting efficiency improvements offer faster returns on investment than any other building system."
Lessons to Learn
Fortunately for managers planning or considering a lighting retrofit, they can learn from — and, ideally, avoid — the mistakes others have made. Maybe the most important first step is understanding the costs and benefits of each lighting system component.
"Most energy efficient lighting retrofits are based on return on investment," Freshman says. "So you have to understand what you gain from each level of technology versus the cost." For example, the least expensive level of lighting-control technology, occupancy sensors, offer relatively simple installation and maintenance, along with significant energy savings. The next level up on the cost scale is relay control panels, Freshman says, which specifiers can link to the building-automation system to produce smart controls. Daylight harvesting and dimming generally top the list in terms of cost.
"Mistakes made in specifying lighting controls are not just limited to retrofit projects, but can be associated with any project in general terms," says Jeff Park, manager of sustainable market development with WattStopper. "Misapplication of technology and incorrect installation are leading causes of user dissatisfaction, which in turn, often leads to occupants disabling or removing the controls."
In some cases, managers err by focusing too narrowly on a particular aspect of the project.
"From an occupancy sensor stand-point, the biggest mistake specifiers make is selecting a particular sensor based just on area of coverage," says Ben Hahn, product value stream leader with Sensor Switch. "This leads to poor performance and occupant dissatisfaction. Other factors, such as the type and size of motion that needs to be detected, are just as important as the total area of coverage of a sensor."
Specifying lamps and ballasts for retrofits also can present challenges for managers. Susan Isenhower Anderson of Osram Sylvania says a common misstep is "not considering the impact of legislation and (U.S. Department of Energy, or DOE) rulemakings on what products will be available in the future. Today, the biggest mistake would be to stay with T12 ballast systems. The 2000 DOE fluorescent-ballast rulemaking and the (National Energy Policy Act of 2005, or EPAct) legislation eliminated T12 magnetic ballasts, basically leaving only electronic T12 ballasts available in the marketplace, with even magnetic replacement ballasts eliminated as of July 1, 2010."
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