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
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
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.
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