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
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
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."
Energy Effcient Lighting For Industrial Buildings
Green Operations for Industrial Facilities
Find out how to save money with green operations in the industrial sector
By Sarah Martinez
Prologis
The case has been made many times for environmentally friendly buildings; many pundits have discussed the green trend until they’re blue in the face.It’s now common knowledge that a green facility will be more energy efficient when compared to a traditional facility, and that these buildings have the potential to generate lasting business value.
It’s also true that the tendency toward green construction is an enduring trend. The demand for green buildings will continue to increase as more and more building owners realize financial returns from energy-efficient facilities. In recent studies conducted by McGraw-Hill and CoStar, LEED-certified buildings have shown evidence of garnering higher rents and selling at larger profit margins.
Today’s challenge in continuing the green trend is the global economy. New construction starts are tapering off significantly; this year, they‘re expected to decline to 30 to 35 million square feet in the top 30 U.S. markets from 81 million square feet last year, and 146 million square feet in 2007. The current environment isn’t one that encourages new development, so the question becomes: What can owners/managers do to continue the green trend during slow development times?
Energy Efficient Lighting Makes a Difference
In 2007, Sears built a 780,400-square-foot distribution center in Stockton, CA. One of Sears’ main criteria for the building design was that it include an energy-efficient lighting system.
To meet the team’s goal of achieving a distribution center with good lighting uniformity and overall high energy efficiency, ProLogis, Ware Malcomb, and Exposure Illumination Architects decided that the lighting system would consist of high-bay T5 fluorescents and advanced lighting controls.
The project included multiple photosensors divided into nine daylighting control zones. The sensors detect the amount of natural light in each zone and adjust the intensity of the florescent lights accordingly. Using nine zones increases the sensitivity and flexibility of the system because lighting conditions may vary in different parts of the building throughout the day. The circuit feeding the lamps is energized only if insufficient daylight is available, such as on cloudy days or at night, and then only if occupancy is detected.
Another important component of the system is the strategic use of natural light allowed into the facility via skylights – most days, the warehouse uses nearly 100-percent natural light when the sun is shining. To enhance this feature, Sears took an extra step to make sure its internal racking system didn’t hinder natural light from reaching the floor. Since a large majority of warehouses include skylights, this is something that building owners and managers should remember when designing or arranging racking systems with their customers – a prime example of when foresight makes a big difference.
The end result is one of the most efficient warehouse-specific lighting systems in the country, with an effective lighting power density of 0.18 watts per square foot. This equates to 70-percent less than the maximum prescribed by California’s Title 24 energy code, which is already a stringent standard compared to the rest of the United States.
Sears benefits directly from the savings. The company is projected to save 2.75 million kilowatt-hours of energy per year. When calculated on an annual basis, this adds up to approximately $399,000 based on local utility rates.
Monitoring as of March 2009 confirmed the projected savings, measuring an average monthly $0.0225 per-square-foot electrical operating cost (lighting plus battery chargers) for the four winter months. Savings are expected to escalate in the summer when the sun angle is higher, daylight hours are extended, and utility rates increase. The team projects that Sears’ energy costs could shrink to as low as $0.0125 per square foot per month due to the lighting system.
It’s prudent for building owners and facility managers to shift their current focus to center on best practices for converting existing facilities into environmentally friendly spaces. There’s close to 6 billion square feet of existing industrial warehouse space today in the top 30 U.S. markets – much of which could be upgraded with green-design elements. Plus, there’s no better way to practice environmental sustainability than to make the best, most proficient use of current resources.
Industrial Building Improvements
For buildings not originally built to green standards, there are many improvements that can be made to bring them to a darker shade of green.
* Energy-efficient lighting systems. Warehouses traditionally use metal-halide lighting, but commercially available T5 and T8 fluorescents last longer and significantly reduce electricity usage, especially when used in combination with photoelectric cells and motion sensors.
* Roof systems. Traditionally, warehouses have black EPDM rubber roofing membranes or gray built-up roofs, which absorb heat from sunlight. White thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) roofing offers the same performance while reducing urban heat island effect and providing a comfortable work environment. When the time comes for roof replacement, owners should consider substituting a building’s roof with white TPO material.
* Water-conservation measures. Motion-activated faucets, low-flow toilets, waterless urinals, and captured rainwater for irrigation reduce the use of fresh water. Replacing older components with newer, energy-efficient models carries a low upfront cost with a long-term impact.
* Landscape maintenance. When appropriate, replacing dying or struggling landscaping with native plants or shrubbery can minimize water consumption and mitigate overall net carbon emissions. It can also be prudent to re-analyze watering systems to ensure optimal efficiency. For example, installing rain sensors that shut off a watering system when it’s raining can drastically cut down on unnecessary water usage.
* Bicycle, hybrid, and carpool vehicle parking. Offering space for alternative modes of transportation encourages employees to make lifestyle choices that reduce carbon emissions. Typically, all this requires is posting signs and restriping the parking lot.
All of the above improvements are components that can be added or integrated into an existing facility, and all have the potential to greatly improve operational design.
Encouraging Green Operational Practices
Building managers have the unique ability to encourage green practices within their own operations, as well as their customers’ operations. This can be done in a host of different avenues.
* Dedicated staff. On-staff maintenance technicians are tasked with the regular inspection and maintenance of roofs, parking lots, landscaping, fire-suppression systems, etc. Employing dedicated staff for this purpose and creating a regular maintenance schedule ensures that buildings are performing at the highest possible levels.
* On-site recycling. Creating a defined area for on-site recycling encourages building occupants to integrate green practices into their waste-management programs. Every measure used to make it easier for employees and customers to participate in recycling does that much more to reduce landfill waste and the use of virgin resources. In addition, it may be possible to generate revenue from recycling since some companies will purchase materials like used plastics.
* Reminders. Most often, a simple reminder is all it takes. One way to do this is by creating signs and placards that prompt customers and employees to turn off lights, check that all doors are secure, and use non-disposable water bottles and utensils. While this may seem like a simple step, the energy savings can be tremendous.
All building owners and managers should take a new look at business operations. Practicing new or improved operational methods sends a positive message to all constituents, and the impact resonates throughout all extensions of an organization.
The effort to create green industrial properties does not need to be put on hold during the current economic downturn. There are still many simple ways to improve efficiencies and increase a building’s operational performance. In fact, now is a better time than ever to tighten up on green practices and secure programs that can continue many years down the road.
Sarah Martinez is sustainability analyst at Denver-based ProLogis.
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
Find out how to save money with green operations in the industrial sector
By Sarah Martinez
Prologis
The case has been made many times for environmentally friendly buildings; many pundits have discussed the green trend until they’re blue in the face.It’s now common knowledge that a green facility will be more energy efficient when compared to a traditional facility, and that these buildings have the potential to generate lasting business value.
It’s also true that the tendency toward green construction is an enduring trend. The demand for green buildings will continue to increase as more and more building owners realize financial returns from energy-efficient facilities. In recent studies conducted by McGraw-Hill and CoStar, LEED-certified buildings have shown evidence of garnering higher rents and selling at larger profit margins.
Today’s challenge in continuing the green trend is the global economy. New construction starts are tapering off significantly; this year, they‘re expected to decline to 30 to 35 million square feet in the top 30 U.S. markets from 81 million square feet last year, and 146 million square feet in 2007. The current environment isn’t one that encourages new development, so the question becomes: What can owners/managers do to continue the green trend during slow development times?
Energy Efficient Lighting Makes a Difference
In 2007, Sears built a 780,400-square-foot distribution center in Stockton, CA. One of Sears’ main criteria for the building design was that it include an energy-efficient lighting system.
To meet the team’s goal of achieving a distribution center with good lighting uniformity and overall high energy efficiency, ProLogis, Ware Malcomb, and Exposure Illumination Architects decided that the lighting system would consist of high-bay T5 fluorescents and advanced lighting controls.
The project included multiple photosensors divided into nine daylighting control zones. The sensors detect the amount of natural light in each zone and adjust the intensity of the florescent lights accordingly. Using nine zones increases the sensitivity and flexibility of the system because lighting conditions may vary in different parts of the building throughout the day. The circuit feeding the lamps is energized only if insufficient daylight is available, such as on cloudy days or at night, and then only if occupancy is detected.
Another important component of the system is the strategic use of natural light allowed into the facility via skylights – most days, the warehouse uses nearly 100-percent natural light when the sun is shining. To enhance this feature, Sears took an extra step to make sure its internal racking system didn’t hinder natural light from reaching the floor. Since a large majority of warehouses include skylights, this is something that building owners and managers should remember when designing or arranging racking systems with their customers – a prime example of when foresight makes a big difference.
The end result is one of the most efficient warehouse-specific lighting systems in the country, with an effective lighting power density of 0.18 watts per square foot. This equates to 70-percent less than the maximum prescribed by California’s Title 24 energy code, which is already a stringent standard compared to the rest of the United States.
Sears benefits directly from the savings. The company is projected to save 2.75 million kilowatt-hours of energy per year. When calculated on an annual basis, this adds up to approximately $399,000 based on local utility rates.
Monitoring as of March 2009 confirmed the projected savings, measuring an average monthly $0.0225 per-square-foot electrical operating cost (lighting plus battery chargers) for the four winter months. Savings are expected to escalate in the summer when the sun angle is higher, daylight hours are extended, and utility rates increase. The team projects that Sears’ energy costs could shrink to as low as $0.0125 per square foot per month due to the lighting system.
It’s prudent for building owners and facility managers to shift their current focus to center on best practices for converting existing facilities into environmentally friendly spaces. There’s close to 6 billion square feet of existing industrial warehouse space today in the top 30 U.S. markets – much of which could be upgraded with green-design elements. Plus, there’s no better way to practice environmental sustainability than to make the best, most proficient use of current resources.
Industrial Building Improvements
For buildings not originally built to green standards, there are many improvements that can be made to bring them to a darker shade of green.
* Energy-efficient lighting systems. Warehouses traditionally use metal-halide lighting, but commercially available T5 and T8 fluorescents last longer and significantly reduce electricity usage, especially when used in combination with photoelectric cells and motion sensors.
* Roof systems. Traditionally, warehouses have black EPDM rubber roofing membranes or gray built-up roofs, which absorb heat from sunlight. White thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) roofing offers the same performance while reducing urban heat island effect and providing a comfortable work environment. When the time comes for roof replacement, owners should consider substituting a building’s roof with white TPO material.
* Water-conservation measures. Motion-activated faucets, low-flow toilets, waterless urinals, and captured rainwater for irrigation reduce the use of fresh water. Replacing older components with newer, energy-efficient models carries a low upfront cost with a long-term impact.
* Landscape maintenance. When appropriate, replacing dying or struggling landscaping with native plants or shrubbery can minimize water consumption and mitigate overall net carbon emissions. It can also be prudent to re-analyze watering systems to ensure optimal efficiency. For example, installing rain sensors that shut off a watering system when it’s raining can drastically cut down on unnecessary water usage.
* Bicycle, hybrid, and carpool vehicle parking. Offering space for alternative modes of transportation encourages employees to make lifestyle choices that reduce carbon emissions. Typically, all this requires is posting signs and restriping the parking lot.
All of the above improvements are components that can be added or integrated into an existing facility, and all have the potential to greatly improve operational design.
Encouraging Green Operational Practices
Building managers have the unique ability to encourage green practices within their own operations, as well as their customers’ operations. This can be done in a host of different avenues.
* Dedicated staff. On-staff maintenance technicians are tasked with the regular inspection and maintenance of roofs, parking lots, landscaping, fire-suppression systems, etc. Employing dedicated staff for this purpose and creating a regular maintenance schedule ensures that buildings are performing at the highest possible levels.
* On-site recycling. Creating a defined area for on-site recycling encourages building occupants to integrate green practices into their waste-management programs. Every measure used to make it easier for employees and customers to participate in recycling does that much more to reduce landfill waste and the use of virgin resources. In addition, it may be possible to generate revenue from recycling since some companies will purchase materials like used plastics.
* Reminders. Most often, a simple reminder is all it takes. One way to do this is by creating signs and placards that prompt customers and employees to turn off lights, check that all doors are secure, and use non-disposable water bottles and utensils. While this may seem like a simple step, the energy savings can be tremendous.
All building owners and managers should take a new look at business operations. Practicing new or improved operational methods sends a positive message to all constituents, and the impact resonates throughout all extensions of an organization.
The effort to create green industrial properties does not need to be put on hold during the current economic downturn. There are still many simple ways to improve efficiencies and increase a building’s operational performance. In fact, now is a better time than ever to tighten up on green practices and secure programs that can continue many years down the road.
Sarah Martinez is sustainability analyst at Denver-based ProLogis.
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
Survey In Todays Facility Manager Shows LIghting Upgrades To Continue
As reported in Todays Facility Manager
Greater survey participation, combined with an overall strong facility manager interest in either committing to energy efficient lighting projects or having just completed them, are the two most important findings from this year’s second annual Today’s Facility Manager (TFM) lighting survey, sponsored by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) enLIGHTen America initiative. Serving as a snapshot for what the facility management industry across various marketplace segments is doing with regard to lighting, this survey—considering the existing economy—shows encouraging signs of numerous organizations looking at lighting retrofit projects in 2010.
There were a total of 342 survey respondents for 2010 versus 182 from last year. And a wide swath of industries was represented as well. Commercial office spaces had the highest representation (35.6%) of the types of facilities respondents managed, followed by manufacturing (20.1%), education (18.3%), government (15.7%), healthcare (12%), and other (12.5%).
The 2010 survey showed that nearly 45% of respondents had lighting retrofits in the last three years, with 22.2% having done it in past year, and 22.7% having undertaken an upgrade in the last three years
Meanwhile, 30.2% plan to execute a lighting retrofit within the next year, and 23.7% are planning for it within the next three. This means nearly 54% plan to make energy efficient lighting upgrades within the next three years, suggesting a distinctive pattern of respondent interest in lighting related projects
“Energy Efficient Lighting Retrofit projects are the largest growth segment for 2010 and possibly beyond,” says Bob Freshman, marketing manager, Leviton. “And some new products that have been introduced recently are focused on this market.” Anecdotal evidence and the survey results confirm this trend, which lays the groundwork for facility managers and the lighting industry to work together to navigate project upgrades that create efficiencies for organizations. NEMA lighting survey facility management energy
2010 Survey: Types Of Lighting?
Along with greater participation and overall interest, there were some other important results from this year’s survey. One question asking respondents to indicate all the types of bulbs they use in their facilities showed linear fluorescents (87.7%) having the highest penetration in the market, with compact fluorescents being second with 79.9%. (See Chart 4 for other responses.)
A follow up question asked respondents what type of bulbs provide the most light in their facilities. Here, linear fluorescents were also the most popular bulbs being used, with 76.8% saying this type of product provided most light. Compact fluorescents came in second here at 10.2%.NEMA lighting survey facility management energy
Taking a closer look at fluorescent lamps, the survey found that 70.8% indicated T8 lamps are the fluorescent type most used, and only 16.2% indicated the same for T12s; it appears a true transition has taken place with regard to T8s.
When asked if they use a lighting management system to control use, 47.3% said yes; 40.7% said no; and 12% were planning to implement one in the future. This shows a positive trend in favor of lighting controls.
2009 Survey Versus 2010 Survey
While the number of participants and the survey takers may have changed from 2009 to 2010, some questions confirmed trends from year-to-year. Load shedding is one example. (Load shedding, a component of demand response programs, occurs when a facility temporarily reduces its demand for power from its utility company.)
When asked in the 2009 survey if they were considering load shedding as a way to control consumption and costs, nearly half of the respondents (46.1%) said “no.” This year, the same question had an even higher “no” response (55.4%). This, coupled with a higher number of total of respondents answering the question, indicated a majority of facility managers are still not using this strategy.
Another year-to-year trend was confirmed, albeit at a lesser rate for the 2010 survey. A question asking participants if they were going to take advantage of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct) Commercial Building Tax Deduction (CBTD) showed that for 2009 an overwhelming 82% said “no,” and for 2010 the “no” rate was 48.8%. However, what may have been most telling was that an additional 32.2% of 2010 respondents did not know about this tax. So, if the “no” responses and the “did not know” responses from this year were combined, it would add up to 81%—almost identical to the 82% “no” response from 2009.
This leaves the impression that many facility managers in the industry are not only opting out of seeking the EPAct tax deduction, but that a sizable number are not aware of it at all.
Why Some Incentive Inertia?
While it appears that a majority of the survey’s respondents were not using or aware of the EPAct tax deduction, another of the important federal incentive programs—The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009—fared only a little bit better. When asked if they were going to apply for ARRA funding, 6.5% said they had already done so; 23.7% said they were looking into it; but 29.2% said no; and another 28.3% said they did not know they could apply for ARRA funding for lighting projects. So, the largest single percentage of respondents were not taking advantage of it, but almost equally as many facility managers did not know the option might be available to them. NEMA lighting survey facility management energy
Interestingly enough, when participants were asked their top reason for failing to undertake a lighting upgrade—besides those who had already done an upgrade recently (43.7%)—23.7% said it was “too expensive” and 29% responded “other.”
Those who responded “other” were given an opportunity to provide written feedback as to why they had not done opted for an upgrade. “Controls and lighting updates were deemed too expensive in light of the economic recession,” said one facility manager working in a large commercial environment. Another comment: “Don’t have the capital at this point and also waiting to perform other building renovation projects,” explained one manager in a large education environment.
Ironically, there appears to be a disconnect between what facility managers see as the main challenge to lighting upgrades and what is available. This perceived financial challenge may be the cause of some inertia.
Another area where there has been some reluctance has been third-party financing. When asked whether they would consider third-party financing from a manufacturer or service provider (ESCOs and contractors) for lighting upgrades, 59.1% said no, but combine that number with the 16.6% of respondents that said yes along with 24.3% of facility managers who said they would need to know more, and there is an opportunity for some growth development in this area.
Finding Funding For Lighting
Today, incentive programs exist at the federal and state levels as well as with local utilities. From a federal standpoint, the aforementioned EPAct Commercial Building Tax Deduction (CBTD) allows building owners (or tenants) to write off the complete cost of upgrading a building’s indoor lighting, HVAC/hot water, and building envelope in the year the new equipment is placed in service, capped at $1.80/square foot. Alternately, the owner (or tenant) could upgrade just one of these three systems to earn the CBTD capped at $0.60/square foot.
NEMA lighting survey facility management energyIn short, with the CBTD, the cost of new lighting or other building systems can be claimed in a single tax year instead of amortized over a period of years. The CBTD can be claimed for qualifying projects completed before January 1, 2014. NEMA’s special site, (www.lightingtaxdeduction.org), is a good resource to find out more about the EPAct CBTD.
Technical Consumer Products (TCP), Inc. has an EPAct checklist it provides to prospective clients, advises Chuck Wood, linear spec manager at the company. TCP, Inc. recommends facility managers create a cross functional team of in-house experts to assist with providing the necessary and correct information quickly and efficiently.
Another funding opportunity is ARRA, which is applicable to companies who create lighting efficiencies through upgrades. One sector taking advantage of ARRA is taxpayer-owned buildings. “We are seeing more public facilities doing lighting upgrades, and that’s really being brought about by the stimulus money,” asserts Anderson.
Although more widely known in California and New York, there are efficiency programs in many states. Individual utilities also offer efficiency incentive programs as well. While there is variability in what they are offering, collectively, utilities are gaining a reputation for working with facilities to help develop efficiencies and reward them with incentives. Some utilities are open to customizing plans with individual organizations to tailor such programs.
Pay-as-you-save type programs offered by lighting retrofit contractors and ESCOs provide facilities with the benefit of not having to pay upfront. These contractors and ESCOs evaluate where lighting efficiencies can be realized in a facility and then make upgrades. Consequently, these efficiencies save facilities on their utility bills, and these savings in turn are used to incrementally pay back the contractors and ESCOs incrementally over time.
Lighting Technologies
Bulbs. While the aforementioned linear fluorescent bulbs (76.8%) were chosen as providing the most light in a facility in the survey, Anderson suggests re-examining the metal halide bulb again. “It’s a high intensity discharge source that is used in many high bay applications—20' or up,” she says. These are especially applicable in industrial and manufacturing settings. Anderson also notes that new technologies are being used in metal halide lamps and ballasts and that consumers obtain more lumens per watt, more efficacy than from older technologies.
LEDs. While being considered a hugely important development in lighting, light emitting diodes (LEDs) still have the impression of being costly and needing more technological development before they can be more widely adopted. When asked if they use LED lighting anywhere in their facility, 42% of survey respondents said no.
Comments from those responding “no” included: “Waiting for LED technology to be advanced enough to use and cheap enough to afford,” said a survey respondent who manages a large healthcare setting. “It was too expensive when I had it quoted,” said another. (See Chart 5 for more on this question.)NEMA lighting survey facility management energy
Strainic acknowledges that LEDs (a solid state lighting technology) are still evolving in all lighting categories with its early adoption in exterior and interior signage. She also believes that less than legitimate manufacturers are partially at fault. “They are claiming things that just aren’t true about LEDs,” she says. “They sell the product, and six months later it doesn’t meet the claim. Customers have to do the research and work with a reliable manufacturer.”
To address this issue, GE Lighting has developed a campaign to help people understand LED technology better. “We think it is incredibly important for the customer to understand what to look for when choosing an LED solution,” says Strainic.
Lighting Controls. “Many of the lighting trends correlate directly with the increased adoption of energy codes nationwide as well as the increased level of control provisions in those codes,” says Dorene Maniccia, director of policy and industry affairs, WattStopper. She cites the example of ASHRAE’s 90.1 standard and its mandate requiring manual-on lighting.
In the controls market, Maniccia sees trends that will offer better efficiencies and ease of use. For example, she sees more facilities adopting variable lighting controls in the forms of bi-level switching strategies or continuous dimming. She also anticipates greater adoption of daylighting, self commissioned products, and digital lighting control technologies.
“The market will increasingly demand products and technologies that control lighting in response to daylight,” Maniccia notes. For example, she points out that current photosensor technology may be measuring either the light coming from outside, or inside the space, but not both. “We are beginning to combine closed and open loop technologies into one product that looks up at a skylight and down at the space at the same time. This strategy improves performance, energy savings, and reliability.”
The other trend she sees involves products that self commission. These allow facility managers to make adjustments and modifications to lighting with handheld remotes—avoiding a manual “climb up the ladder” adjustment.
Where Do We Go From Here?
As the green building movement grows, it now has national ramifications with Congress enacting laws that legislate energy efficiency. “Federal policy is regulating what product manufacturers will, and can, produce,” says Maniccia. “Policy is setting building energy performance goals, and energy codes are becoming more stringent. These trends will continue to drive the lighting and controls market and will greatly influence the products and solutions available to facility managers.”
The desire for greater energy efficient lighting will drive government regulation and technological innovation as lighting manufacturers look to change the paradigm in how facilities are illuminated. With a wealth of information and financial incentives to help offset outlying costs, facility managers have an opportunity to address their lighting systems today, because ultimately, these incentive programs will expire, yet lighting demands won’t.
For more information on how you can implement effective lighting upgrades in your facility, contact the
Greater survey participation, combined with an overall strong facility manager interest in either committing to energy efficient lighting projects or having just completed them, are the two most important findings from this year’s second annual Today’s Facility Manager (TFM) lighting survey, sponsored by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) enLIGHTen America initiative. Serving as a snapshot for what the facility management industry across various marketplace segments is doing with regard to lighting, this survey—considering the existing economy—shows encouraging signs of numerous organizations looking at lighting retrofit projects in 2010.
There were a total of 342 survey respondents for 2010 versus 182 from last year. And a wide swath of industries was represented as well. Commercial office spaces had the highest representation (35.6%) of the types of facilities respondents managed, followed by manufacturing (20.1%), education (18.3%), government (15.7%), healthcare (12%), and other (12.5%).
The 2010 survey showed that nearly 45% of respondents had lighting retrofits in the last three years, with 22.2% having done it in past year, and 22.7% having undertaken an upgrade in the last three years
Meanwhile, 30.2% plan to execute a lighting retrofit within the next year, and 23.7% are planning for it within the next three. This means nearly 54% plan to make energy efficient lighting upgrades within the next three years, suggesting a distinctive pattern of respondent interest in lighting related projects
“Energy Efficient Lighting Retrofit projects are the largest growth segment for 2010 and possibly beyond,” says Bob Freshman, marketing manager, Leviton. “And some new products that have been introduced recently are focused on this market.” Anecdotal evidence and the survey results confirm this trend, which lays the groundwork for facility managers and the lighting industry to work together to navigate project upgrades that create efficiencies for organizations. NEMA lighting survey facility management energy
2010 Survey: Types Of Lighting?
Along with greater participation and overall interest, there were some other important results from this year’s survey. One question asking respondents to indicate all the types of bulbs they use in their facilities showed linear fluorescents (87.7%) having the highest penetration in the market, with compact fluorescents being second with 79.9%. (See Chart 4 for other responses.)
A follow up question asked respondents what type of bulbs provide the most light in their facilities. Here, linear fluorescents were also the most popular bulbs being used, with 76.8% saying this type of product provided most light. Compact fluorescents came in second here at 10.2%.NEMA lighting survey facility management energy
Taking a closer look at fluorescent lamps, the survey found that 70.8% indicated T8 lamps are the fluorescent type most used, and only 16.2% indicated the same for T12s; it appears a true transition has taken place with regard to T8s.
When asked if they use a lighting management system to control use, 47.3% said yes; 40.7% said no; and 12% were planning to implement one in the future. This shows a positive trend in favor of lighting controls.
2009 Survey Versus 2010 Survey
While the number of participants and the survey takers may have changed from 2009 to 2010, some questions confirmed trends from year-to-year. Load shedding is one example. (Load shedding, a component of demand response programs, occurs when a facility temporarily reduces its demand for power from its utility company.)
When asked in the 2009 survey if they were considering load shedding as a way to control consumption and costs, nearly half of the respondents (46.1%) said “no.” This year, the same question had an even higher “no” response (55.4%). This, coupled with a higher number of total of respondents answering the question, indicated a majority of facility managers are still not using this strategy.
Another year-to-year trend was confirmed, albeit at a lesser rate for the 2010 survey. A question asking participants if they were going to take advantage of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct) Commercial Building Tax Deduction (CBTD) showed that for 2009 an overwhelming 82% said “no,” and for 2010 the “no” rate was 48.8%. However, what may have been most telling was that an additional 32.2% of 2010 respondents did not know about this tax. So, if the “no” responses and the “did not know” responses from this year were combined, it would add up to 81%—almost identical to the 82% “no” response from 2009.
This leaves the impression that many facility managers in the industry are not only opting out of seeking the EPAct tax deduction, but that a sizable number are not aware of it at all.
Why Some Incentive Inertia?
While it appears that a majority of the survey’s respondents were not using or aware of the EPAct tax deduction, another of the important federal incentive programs—The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009—fared only a little bit better. When asked if they were going to apply for ARRA funding, 6.5% said they had already done so; 23.7% said they were looking into it; but 29.2% said no; and another 28.3% said they did not know they could apply for ARRA funding for lighting projects. So, the largest single percentage of respondents were not taking advantage of it, but almost equally as many facility managers did not know the option might be available to them. NEMA lighting survey facility management energy
Interestingly enough, when participants were asked their top reason for failing to undertake a lighting upgrade—besides those who had already done an upgrade recently (43.7%)—23.7% said it was “too expensive” and 29% responded “other.”
Those who responded “other” were given an opportunity to provide written feedback as to why they had not done opted for an upgrade. “Controls and lighting updates were deemed too expensive in light of the economic recession,” said one facility manager working in a large commercial environment. Another comment: “Don’t have the capital at this point and also waiting to perform other building renovation projects,” explained one manager in a large education environment.
Ironically, there appears to be a disconnect between what facility managers see as the main challenge to lighting upgrades and what is available. This perceived financial challenge may be the cause of some inertia.
Another area where there has been some reluctance has been third-party financing. When asked whether they would consider third-party financing from a manufacturer or service provider (ESCOs and contractors) for lighting upgrades, 59.1% said no, but combine that number with the 16.6% of respondents that said yes along with 24.3% of facility managers who said they would need to know more, and there is an opportunity for some growth development in this area.
Finding Funding For Lighting
Today, incentive programs exist at the federal and state levels as well as with local utilities. From a federal standpoint, the aforementioned EPAct Commercial Building Tax Deduction (CBTD) allows building owners (or tenants) to write off the complete cost of upgrading a building’s indoor lighting, HVAC/hot water, and building envelope in the year the new equipment is placed in service, capped at $1.80/square foot. Alternately, the owner (or tenant) could upgrade just one of these three systems to earn the CBTD capped at $0.60/square foot.
NEMA lighting survey facility management energyIn short, with the CBTD, the cost of new lighting or other building systems can be claimed in a single tax year instead of amortized over a period of years. The CBTD can be claimed for qualifying projects completed before January 1, 2014. NEMA’s special site, (www.lightingtaxdeduction.org), is a good resource to find out more about the EPAct CBTD.
Technical Consumer Products (TCP), Inc. has an EPAct checklist it provides to prospective clients, advises Chuck Wood, linear spec manager at the company. TCP, Inc. recommends facility managers create a cross functional team of in-house experts to assist with providing the necessary and correct information quickly and efficiently.
Another funding opportunity is ARRA, which is applicable to companies who create lighting efficiencies through upgrades. One sector taking advantage of ARRA is taxpayer-owned buildings. “We are seeing more public facilities doing lighting upgrades, and that’s really being brought about by the stimulus money,” asserts Anderson.
Although more widely known in California and New York, there are efficiency programs in many states. Individual utilities also offer efficiency incentive programs as well. While there is variability in what they are offering, collectively, utilities are gaining a reputation for working with facilities to help develop efficiencies and reward them with incentives. Some utilities are open to customizing plans with individual organizations to tailor such programs.
Pay-as-you-save type programs offered by lighting retrofit contractors and ESCOs provide facilities with the benefit of not having to pay upfront. These contractors and ESCOs evaluate where lighting efficiencies can be realized in a facility and then make upgrades. Consequently, these efficiencies save facilities on their utility bills, and these savings in turn are used to incrementally pay back the contractors and ESCOs incrementally over time.
Lighting Technologies
Bulbs. While the aforementioned linear fluorescent bulbs (76.8%) were chosen as providing the most light in a facility in the survey, Anderson suggests re-examining the metal halide bulb again. “It’s a high intensity discharge source that is used in many high bay applications—20' or up,” she says. These are especially applicable in industrial and manufacturing settings. Anderson also notes that new technologies are being used in metal halide lamps and ballasts and that consumers obtain more lumens per watt, more efficacy than from older technologies.
LEDs. While being considered a hugely important development in lighting, light emitting diodes (LEDs) still have the impression of being costly and needing more technological development before they can be more widely adopted. When asked if they use LED lighting anywhere in their facility, 42% of survey respondents said no.
Comments from those responding “no” included: “Waiting for LED technology to be advanced enough to use and cheap enough to afford,” said a survey respondent who manages a large healthcare setting. “It was too expensive when I had it quoted,” said another. (See Chart 5 for more on this question.)NEMA lighting survey facility management energy
Strainic acknowledges that LEDs (a solid state lighting technology) are still evolving in all lighting categories with its early adoption in exterior and interior signage. She also believes that less than legitimate manufacturers are partially at fault. “They are claiming things that just aren’t true about LEDs,” she says. “They sell the product, and six months later it doesn’t meet the claim. Customers have to do the research and work with a reliable manufacturer.”
To address this issue, GE Lighting has developed a campaign to help people understand LED technology better. “We think it is incredibly important for the customer to understand what to look for when choosing an LED solution,” says Strainic.
Lighting Controls. “Many of the lighting trends correlate directly with the increased adoption of energy codes nationwide as well as the increased level of control provisions in those codes,” says Dorene Maniccia, director of policy and industry affairs, WattStopper. She cites the example of ASHRAE’s 90.1 standard and its mandate requiring manual-on lighting.
In the controls market, Maniccia sees trends that will offer better efficiencies and ease of use. For example, she sees more facilities adopting variable lighting controls in the forms of bi-level switching strategies or continuous dimming. She also anticipates greater adoption of daylighting, self commissioned products, and digital lighting control technologies.
“The market will increasingly demand products and technologies that control lighting in response to daylight,” Maniccia notes. For example, she points out that current photosensor technology may be measuring either the light coming from outside, or inside the space, but not both. “We are beginning to combine closed and open loop technologies into one product that looks up at a skylight and down at the space at the same time. This strategy improves performance, energy savings, and reliability.”
The other trend she sees involves products that self commission. These allow facility managers to make adjustments and modifications to lighting with handheld remotes—avoiding a manual “climb up the ladder” adjustment.
Where Do We Go From Here?
As the green building movement grows, it now has national ramifications with Congress enacting laws that legislate energy efficiency. “Federal policy is regulating what product manufacturers will, and can, produce,” says Maniccia. “Policy is setting building energy performance goals, and energy codes are becoming more stringent. These trends will continue to drive the lighting and controls market and will greatly influence the products and solutions available to facility managers.”
The desire for greater energy efficient lighting will drive government regulation and technological innovation as lighting manufacturers look to change the paradigm in how facilities are illuminated. With a wealth of information and financial incentives to help offset outlying costs, facility managers have an opportunity to address their lighting systems today, because ultimately, these incentive programs will expire, yet lighting demands won’t.
For more information on how you can implement effective lighting upgrades in your facility, contact the
Energy Efficient Lighting Crucial To Facility Managers
Energy-efficient lighting dominates facilities managers' energy efficiency efforts
By Heather Clancy
ZDNet
Turns out there a really good reason that our posts about more efficient lighting technology tend to get more traffic than the norm here at GreenTech Pastures: Facilities managers polled as part of the latest Energy Efficiency Indicator point to lighting as not only their top energy-efficiency measure, but also the green technology that has the best price-performance ratio.
The indicator is an annual research project and survey conducted by building automation technology company Johnson Controls and the International Facility Management Association.The 2010 poll represents the opinions of 1,435 North American executives who had capital or operations budget responsibility for facilities AND who were involved in reviewing or monitoring energy usage for their organization. You can read more about the operational implications in my related blog on SmartPlanet.
Turns out that switching to energy-efficient lamps, ballasts or fixtures is the most popular energy efficiency measure embraced by those survey, cited by more than 72 percent as one of their strategies. Another 56 percent said they relied on adjustments to heating and air-conditioning systems, while 40 percent have installed daylight or occupancy sensors.
The fact that facilities managers are gravitating toward energy efficient lighting isn’t all that surprising when you consider that 51 percent say that it will offer the greatest performance-price ratio improvement of all the technologies they are using to address energy efficiency. The respondents were asked to pick their three most important technologies from this standpoint. The other top choices were smart building technology (44 percent) and solar photovoltaics (38 percent).
Information about the Author:
Heather Clancy is an award-winning business journalist with a passion for green technology and corporate sustainability issues. Her articles have appeared in Entrepreneur, Fortune Small Business, The International Herald Tribune and The New York Times. In a past corporate life, Heather was editor of Computer Reseller News, where she was a featured speaker about everything from software as a service to IT security to mobile computing.
Heather started her journalism life as a business writer with United Press International in New York. She holds a B.A. in English literature from McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, and has a thing for Lewis Carroll.
By Heather Clancy
ZDNet
Turns out there a really good reason that our posts about more efficient lighting technology tend to get more traffic than the norm here at GreenTech Pastures: Facilities managers polled as part of the latest Energy Efficiency Indicator point to lighting as not only their top energy-efficiency measure, but also the green technology that has the best price-performance ratio.
The indicator is an annual research project and survey conducted by building automation technology company Johnson Controls and the International Facility Management Association.The 2010 poll represents the opinions of 1,435 North American executives who had capital or operations budget responsibility for facilities AND who were involved in reviewing or monitoring energy usage for their organization. You can read more about the operational implications in my related blog on SmartPlanet.
Turns out that switching to energy-efficient lamps, ballasts or fixtures is the most popular energy efficiency measure embraced by those survey, cited by more than 72 percent as one of their strategies. Another 56 percent said they relied on adjustments to heating and air-conditioning systems, while 40 percent have installed daylight or occupancy sensors.
The fact that facilities managers are gravitating toward energy efficient lighting isn’t all that surprising when you consider that 51 percent say that it will offer the greatest performance-price ratio improvement of all the technologies they are using to address energy efficiency. The respondents were asked to pick their three most important technologies from this standpoint. The other top choices were smart building technology (44 percent) and solar photovoltaics (38 percent).
Information about the Author:
Heather Clancy is an award-winning business journalist with a passion for green technology and corporate sustainability issues. Her articles have appeared in Entrepreneur, Fortune Small Business, The International Herald Tribune and The New York Times. In a past corporate life, Heather was editor of Computer Reseller News, where she was a featured speaker about everything from software as a service to IT security to mobile computing.
Heather started her journalism life as a business writer with United Press International in New York. She holds a B.A. in English literature from McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, and has a thing for Lewis Carroll.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Energy Efficient Lighting Retrofits Make Sense
As reported on ECM website
Lighting retrofit projects have always seemed like a no-brainer to me. Replace poor quality, inefficient components, products, and systems with their new high-quality, long-life counterparts. Because these projects can typically be completed quickly and easily — with little disruption to a customer's day-to-day activities — they offer you and your clients a desirable return on investment. The extra revenue stream during these slow periods of new construction isn't bad either.
With the enormous amount of aging commercial and industrial building space in the United States, the supply of potential energy efficient lighting retrofit projects continues to grow. According to a recent survey by the Global Facility Management Association, “Green Practices Study,” 92% of respondents are working toward making their facilities more sustainable. Offering a similar positive projection, the U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates that by 2030, more than 250 billion sq ft of building stock in the country will consist of renovated space.
As more building/facility owners look for ways to reduce their energy consumption levels and make their facilities more environmentally friendly, the case for lighting retrofit projects makes even more sense. That's why you need to have your “Why It's Time to Consider a Lighting Upgrade” presentation polished and ready to go.
The biggest obstacle you'll face when pitching a lighting upgrade project to a client — or even your own vice president or executive management team — is the up-front costs associated with the conversion. If the long list of benefits, such as lower energy bills, improved lighting levels, reduced carbon footprint, and rebates/tax credits/grants, aren't enough to get them to sign on the dotted line, then you might have to consider another interesting option — subsidize or cover the up-front costs of the project yourself. If you're fortunate enough to have access to cash reserves or can form a strategic relationship with a finance group or bank, then it might be worthwhile for you to throw a financing component into the equation. Some utilities and energy service companies (ESCOs) already offer this option on different types of projects, so a working model exists for you to review. Basically, the monthly service fee you charge your client is offset by the electricity cost savings realized from the system upgrade.
The bottom line is financing options are becoming a critical component of energy-efficient upgrade projects, so the more options you bring to your client's table, the better your odds are of walking away with more work in hand.
For more information: http://ecmweb.com/iep/lighting-retrofits-opportunities/
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 retrofit projects have always seemed like a no-brainer to me. Replace poor quality, inefficient components, products, and systems with their new high-quality, long-life counterparts. Because these projects can typically be completed quickly and easily — with little disruption to a customer's day-to-day activities — they offer you and your clients a desirable return on investment. The extra revenue stream during these slow periods of new construction isn't bad either.
With the enormous amount of aging commercial and industrial building space in the United States, the supply of potential energy efficient lighting retrofit projects continues to grow. According to a recent survey by the Global Facility Management Association, “Green Practices Study,” 92% of respondents are working toward making their facilities more sustainable. Offering a similar positive projection, the U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates that by 2030, more than 250 billion sq ft of building stock in the country will consist of renovated space.
As more building/facility owners look for ways to reduce their energy consumption levels and make their facilities more environmentally friendly, the case for lighting retrofit projects makes even more sense. That's why you need to have your “Why It's Time to Consider a Lighting Upgrade” presentation polished and ready to go.
The biggest obstacle you'll face when pitching a lighting upgrade project to a client — or even your own vice president or executive management team — is the up-front costs associated with the conversion. If the long list of benefits, such as lower energy bills, improved lighting levels, reduced carbon footprint, and rebates/tax credits/grants, aren't enough to get them to sign on the dotted line, then you might have to consider another interesting option — subsidize or cover the up-front costs of the project yourself. If you're fortunate enough to have access to cash reserves or can form a strategic relationship with a finance group or bank, then it might be worthwhile for you to throw a financing component into the equation. Some utilities and energy service companies (ESCOs) already offer this option on different types of projects, so a working model exists for you to review. Basically, the monthly service fee you charge your client is offset by the electricity cost savings realized from the system upgrade.
The bottom line is financing options are becoming a critical component of energy-efficient upgrade projects, so the more options you bring to your client's table, the better your odds are of walking away with more work in hand.
For more information: http://ecmweb.com/iep/lighting-retrofits-opportunities/
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
Friday, July 9, 2010
Limited Brands Saving Money With Energy Efficent Lighting
Energy-efficient lighting retrofit delivers major savings for Limited Brands
By Marianne Wilson
Chain Store Age
Energy-efficient lighting retrofits are paying off big time for Limited Brands -- and not just in the stores. The apparel specialty chain expects to realize an annualized energy and maintenance cost savings of approximately $775,000 as a result of a comprehensive lighting retrofit of five distribution centers at its headquarters in Columbus, Ohio.
New lighting has increased light levels at Limited Brands’ distribution centers, with some areas up to four times brighter.
The energy efficient lighting retrofit, which involved 3.5 million sq. ft. of facilities, utilized T5 lamps from GE Consumer & Industrial (GE T5 High-Output Starcoat Ecolux), along with TCLP-compliant 2-ft. and 3-ft. T8 lamps (GE Watt-Miser) in both 28 watts and 23 watts, and T8 ballasts (GE Ultramax).
Additionally, the fixtures are equipped with motion sensors so the lamps operate only when there is activity in the area.
"We're constantly examining new strategies for enhancing the efficiency of our lighting," says Ronald T. Rau, VP stores and facilities maintenance, Limited Brands. "With this project, and others underway now, we're doing more than just trimming electricity bills. We're contributing to our sustainability initiatives while improving the work environment of our associates."
As a result of the retrofit, which reduced lighting-related energy consumption in the five centers by 50%, Limited Brands is expected to achieve an annual savings of $650,000 in energy costs and $125,000 in maintenance expenditures. (Cost-saving calculations for the new lighting were based on an audit of existing equipment, the published input wattages, an agreed upon kWh rate and operating hours of both the before and after lighting products. Cited maintenance savings for the lamp and ballast replacements are based on the published, anticipated failure of the existing system and operating hours.)
In another plus, the new lighting has dramatically increased light levels in the facilities, with some areas up to four times brighter.
"Associates working in the distribution centers have told us that the brighter lighting makes it easier to perform tasks," notes Rau. "They've reported that the work area feels cleaner and that seeing barcoded vendor information more clearly seems to be enhancing productivity.”
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
By Marianne Wilson
Chain Store Age
Energy-efficient lighting retrofits are paying off big time for Limited Brands -- and not just in the stores. The apparel specialty chain expects to realize an annualized energy and maintenance cost savings of approximately $775,000 as a result of a comprehensive lighting retrofit of five distribution centers at its headquarters in Columbus, Ohio.
New lighting has increased light levels at Limited Brands’ distribution centers, with some areas up to four times brighter.
The energy efficient lighting retrofit, which involved 3.5 million sq. ft. of facilities, utilized T5 lamps from GE Consumer & Industrial (GE T5 High-Output Starcoat Ecolux), along with TCLP-compliant 2-ft. and 3-ft. T8 lamps (GE Watt-Miser) in both 28 watts and 23 watts, and T8 ballasts (GE Ultramax).
Additionally, the fixtures are equipped with motion sensors so the lamps operate only when there is activity in the area.
"We're constantly examining new strategies for enhancing the efficiency of our lighting," says Ronald T. Rau, VP stores and facilities maintenance, Limited Brands. "With this project, and others underway now, we're doing more than just trimming electricity bills. We're contributing to our sustainability initiatives while improving the work environment of our associates."
As a result of the retrofit, which reduced lighting-related energy consumption in the five centers by 50%, Limited Brands is expected to achieve an annual savings of $650,000 in energy costs and $125,000 in maintenance expenditures. (Cost-saving calculations for the new lighting were based on an audit of existing equipment, the published input wattages, an agreed upon kWh rate and operating hours of both the before and after lighting products. Cited maintenance savings for the lamp and ballast replacements are based on the published, anticipated failure of the existing system and operating hours.)
In another plus, the new lighting has dramatically increased light levels in the facilities, with some areas up to four times brighter.
"Associates working in the distribution centers have told us that the brighter lighting makes it easier to perform tasks," notes Rau. "They've reported that the work area feels cleaner and that seeing barcoded vendor information more clearly seems to be enhancing productivity.”
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
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
LED and Other Energy Efficient Lighting Is the Future
Conventional illumination systems represent more than 20% of the energy footprint of today’s buildings and account for $174 billion in electricity costs. Those dim figures have a brighter future, however, as advanced light sources and controls increasingly phase out conventional means of illumination. By 2020, advanced fluorescent lamps, light emitting diodes (LEDs), and automated control technologies will help reduce estimated energy usage for direct lighting by 60%, according to a new report from Lux Research. Further, improved efficiencies will drive related energy costs down to $119 billion even as the developed world expands its building space by approximately 11.3 billion ft2 per year.
The report, titled “The Future is so Bright: Energy, Carbon, and Cost Savings through Better Lighting,” forecasts adoption rates of advanced lighting technology, and determines the energy, cost, and carbon savings over all major application and building types. It projects that building illumination will see a 15% decline in electricity demand – a development that will affect the lighting industry, ripple through the conventional utility market, and have a profound impact on power generation and even HVAC system providers.
“If you want to improve a building’s energy efficiency, lighting is the first thing you should look at because it’s comparatively easy and inexpensive to update,” said Michael LoCascio, a Senior Analyst for Lux Research, and the report’s lead author. “With the potential cost savings that new technologies like LEDs afford, advanced building illumination is on track for rapid and sizeable adoption, which spells opportunities across markets.”
To prepare the report, Lux Research analysts interviewed lighting suppliers, architects, and other potential buyers before developing an adoption model that projected the energy, carbon, and cost savings enabled by more efficient lighting technologies. Among the report’s key findings:
* Advanced lighting controls will infiltrate non-residential buildings. Advanced lighting controls that reduce lighting requirements up to 60% will be used in more than 30% of commercial and industrial buildings in 2020. That’s up from 6% and 12%, respectively, this year. In addition, they will be applied in over 90% of government and public spaces, respectively.
* LED-based illumination will explode onto the scene in 2014. As LEDs continue to improve on cost and efficiency, their payback period will approach one year. As that happens, they will begin to supplant T8 fluorescent lamps in government and commercial buildings by 2014. Overall, by 2020, LEDs will provide 42% of the light in the residential market; 60% of the commercial, industrial, government, and public building low bay lighting; and dominate exterior and decorative lighting.
* The success of new lighting adoption may breed… slower adoption. As lighting efficiency improves dramatically over the next decade, the prices of electricity may very well stagnate – or indeed fall, which would increase the payback period and reduce the propensity for further efficient lighting adoption.
“The Future is so Bright: Energy, Carbon, and Cost Savings through Better Lighting,” is part of the Lux Green Buildings Intelligence service. Clients subscribing to this service receive ongoing research on market and technology trends, continuous technology scouting reports and proprietary data points in the weekly Lux Research Green Buildings Journal, and on-demand inquiry with Lux Research analysts.
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 report, titled “The Future is so Bright: Energy, Carbon, and Cost Savings through Better Lighting,” forecasts adoption rates of advanced lighting technology, and determines the energy, cost, and carbon savings over all major application and building types. It projects that building illumination will see a 15% decline in electricity demand – a development that will affect the lighting industry, ripple through the conventional utility market, and have a profound impact on power generation and even HVAC system providers.
“If you want to improve a building’s energy efficiency, lighting is the first thing you should look at because it’s comparatively easy and inexpensive to update,” said Michael LoCascio, a Senior Analyst for Lux Research, and the report’s lead author. “With the potential cost savings that new technologies like LEDs afford, advanced building illumination is on track for rapid and sizeable adoption, which spells opportunities across markets.”
To prepare the report, Lux Research analysts interviewed lighting suppliers, architects, and other potential buyers before developing an adoption model that projected the energy, carbon, and cost savings enabled by more efficient lighting technologies. Among the report’s key findings:
* Advanced lighting controls will infiltrate non-residential buildings. Advanced lighting controls that reduce lighting requirements up to 60% will be used in more than 30% of commercial and industrial buildings in 2020. That’s up from 6% and 12%, respectively, this year. In addition, they will be applied in over 90% of government and public spaces, respectively.
* LED-based illumination will explode onto the scene in 2014. As LEDs continue to improve on cost and efficiency, their payback period will approach one year. As that happens, they will begin to supplant T8 fluorescent lamps in government and commercial buildings by 2014. Overall, by 2020, LEDs will provide 42% of the light in the residential market; 60% of the commercial, industrial, government, and public building low bay lighting; and dominate exterior and decorative lighting.
* The success of new lighting adoption may breed… slower adoption. As lighting efficiency improves dramatically over the next decade, the prices of electricity may very well stagnate – or indeed fall, which would increase the payback period and reduce the propensity for further efficient lighting adoption.
“The Future is so Bright: Energy, Carbon, and Cost Savings through Better Lighting,” is part of the Lux Green Buildings Intelligence service. Clients subscribing to this service receive ongoing research on market and technology trends, continuous technology scouting reports and proprietary data points in the weekly Lux Research Green Buildings Journal, and on-demand inquiry with Lux Research analysts.
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
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