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
Monday, July 12, 2010
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
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Sony Uses Energy Efficient Lighting in Warehouse Lighting Retrofit
Sony Supply Chain Solutions Singapore (SSCSS) has cut energy use in its warehouse by more than 50 percent by installing energy-efficient lighting. It also reduced the number of fixtures required in the warehouse and significantly improved lighting levels.
The high bay lighting system consists of Echelon’s LonWorks control networking technology and ROMlight’s energy-efficient, individually dimmable lights.
The energy efficient lighting retrofit was installed by Fluematic Engineering Services, which replaced the existing 210 400-W metal halide lighting fixtures with 147 400-W metal halide fixtures with acrylic reflectors. Each fixture includes Echelon LonWorks power line-based networking technology to enable remote control and dimming at both the individual fixture and system level.
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 on eof the largest energy retrofitting companies in the nation.for moer information please visit their energy efficient lighting website or call (678) 501-4880
The high bay lighting system consists of Echelon’s LonWorks control networking technology and ROMlight’s energy-efficient, individually dimmable lights.
The energy efficient lighting retrofit was installed by Fluematic Engineering Services, which replaced the existing 210 400-W metal halide lighting fixtures with 147 400-W metal halide fixtures with acrylic reflectors. Each fixture includes Echelon LonWorks power line-based networking technology to enable remote control and dimming at both the individual fixture and system level.
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 on eof the largest energy retrofitting companies in the nation.for moer information please visit their energy efficient lighting website or call (678) 501-4880
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