Hospitals Using More LED Tube Lights- Even at Mount Everest

Hospitals have discovered that lighting is an important aspect of improving patient safety and a significant expense item. Imagine trying to cost-effectively replicate the conditions of a hospital  intensive care unit at 17,500 feet elevation on the world’s largest mountain. This is what the team of Xtreme Everest 2 recently accomplished. Xtreme Everest 2, is a dedicated team of intensive care doctors, nurses and scientists that are studying health problems in hospital intensive care units.

 On March 10th,they installed LED Tube lighting in their laboratory, operating room and patient areas. They selected Cardinal LED lighting from RedBird LED, a leading manufacturer of LED Linear Replacement Lamps. The Xtreme Everest 2 location at the Mt. Everest High Base Camp required rugged, energy efficient lighting that could perform well in extremely cold temperatures. The solution was RedBird Cardinal Vapor tight LED Luminaires, PG3-66W-50K-132.

 Jonathan Eppstein, RedBird ’ s President says, ” We ’ re pleased to have been selected to light this important facility. The research being done by this dedicated team will have a huge impact on treating a wide array of medical conditions. Our LED lights, with their high CRI and low energy use fit the bill perfectly for this application. While we in the US may think our energy rates are high, just imagine what the cost of electricity is at the Everest High Base Camp, where generators running on gasoline flown in by helicopter provide all the power. ”

They provide one of the highest lumens/dollar and lumens/watt of any LED lighting fixture. The Cardinal LED tubes are a direct mechanical fit into standard fixtures, operating on any voltage ranging from 110 to 277 VAC, and do not require the fluorescent ballast. Cardinal LED Tube lights deliver 7,000 lumens of light, yet only draw 66 watts.

LED Retrofits Increase Convenience Stores Bottom Line

Stewart's Shops recently completed an energy efficient lighting retrofit project at their corporate headquarters in Saratoga Springs, New York. Stewart's Shops operates 328 convenience stores in Upstate New York and Vermont. The annual savings from the lighting retrofit and replacement program is projected to be almost $78.000 per year. Based on these savings the lighting retrofit project will have a very quick payback period of less than sixteen months.

The existing lighting was replaced with more energy efficient T8 and T5 fluorescent lighting and LED lighting in all of the cold storage and freezer space. The ability of LED lighting to outperform other lighting options in cold temperatures was a key to the success of this project. “The ice cream freezer was the latest phase in a larger energy-efficiency project we've been working on with SmartWatt Energy for the last couple of years,” explained Gary Drake, President at Stewart’s Shops. The new energy efficient lighting will save 783,481 kWh of electricity per year. Stewart's Shops owns all of their real estate holding so these savings are important because they fall directly to their bottom line.

LED lighting provides many benefits for convenience store owners. In addition to energy and maintenance savings, LED lighting provides more uniform lighting and illumination that contribute to a better presentation of store products. This is especially important for food products in refrigerated cases and can lead to increased sales. LED lamps also produce less heat than fluorescent lamps which will lessen the load on the store's refrigeration system. LED’s work very well in the cold and last over 50,000 hours in a cooler and almost 100,000 hours in a freezer. 


RedBird LED, offers a number of high quality LED Linear Replacement lamps that are featured in convenience stores across the country. For more technical information on LED lighting please call 678-733-2473 or visit the RedBird LED website.

Cardinal™ LED Linear Replacement Lamp Products by RedBird LED Receive Certification from the DesignLights Consortium

 RedBirdLED, an Atlanta, GA. firm that specializes in the design, manufacturing and distribution of energy efficient LED linear lighting products announces certification by the Design Lights Consortium (DLC) of their Cardinal LED Linear Retrofit products.Cardinal™ Linear Replacement Lamps are high quality replacements for standard fluorescent tubes (T8 and T12) and provide electrical savings of 35% to 50%.  The DLC is the premier resource for high-quality review and certification of LED lightingproducts that are not covered under the Energy STAR designated categories. RedBird LED has ensured that these products will be eligible for all energy rebate programs currently in place among the DLC's membership and will facilitate rapid approval by other rebate sources as well.


Jonathan Eppstein, RedBird's President says, "Building a product that can pass the extremely tough DLC standards for this category of light has been a challenge. The threshold for approval in the 'Four-foot Linear Replacement Lamps' category is almost twice as high as for any LED class the DLC has previously looked at. Being the first LED product to apply for review in this category has highlighted many aspects of performance needed for a good LED retrofit product that go well beyond simply measuring total lumens produced. In completing the process, we have actually come to realize that our product is even better than previously thought! Throughout this process, we have been impressed with the level of competence and professionalism displayed by the DLC team."


 The DLC membership is a nationwide consortium of utilities, EMCs and energy-efficiency programs across the United States and Canada. By establishing the Cardinal LED tube light's position on the Qualified Product List of the DLC, RedBird LED has ensured that these products will be eligible for all rebate programs currently in place among the DLC's membership and will facilitate rapid approval by other rebate sources as well.

Contact: info@redbirdled.com 678-733-2473, RedBird LED, Inc. 1202 Gail Drive, Atlanta, GA 30319

Advantages and Disavantages of LED Lighting Retrofits

Interesting article on the advantages and disadvantages of energy efficient LED lighting retrofit covers some interesting points. Of course one of the key disadvantage of any lighting retrofit is the upfront cost.Many LED lighting retrofit companies offer financing programs. For example, Redbird LED based in Atlanta, works with Energy Finance a division of RedClay. Financing a lighting retrofit is obviously important and most visitors to their website visit the Financing info on their website. There are also many state, federal and utility rebate programs available to finance your energy retrofit investments. Some of these rebates pay up to 100% of the cost.

Excerpt from article below.

By Glenn Meyers
Green Building Elements

Energy and lighting efficiency questions are plentiful on whether or not to make a transition from traditional incandescent lighting systems to LED alternatives.According to a post at Buzzle, "Energy efficient lighting not only contributes to a better environment but also saves huge energy costs."

There are few arguments to this thinking except one, the cost. Just switching over traditional incandescent lights to LED lights comes with a significantly price tag, even if the life of the bulbs and the large energy savings they bring are scaled into the picture.

Some large retailers are making the transition. Environmental Leader recently reported that retailer Macy's was retrofitting 117,000 halogen-based accent bulbs in its 86 stores with LED bulbs. Macy's expects the retrofit will reduce the company's energy consumption by 73 percent. The total cost of the Macy's retrofit was not mentioned, however.

Buzzle provides these considerations for retrofitting, "LED fixtures cost more to purchase than the traditional light sources. There are many factors that contribute to the effective and economic performance of LEDs, so a range of payback scenarios exist. But a lower wattage luminaire significantly reduces the payback period."

There are three disadvantages to consider about LED systems, "First is its initial cost," says Anne Linden. Many people are used to the relatively inexpensive traditional light bulb, and the new LED lamps seem expensive in comparison. However, when you recognize that each lamp has an estimated lifespan of over twenty years, and only uses 5 percent of the electricity of the so-called "cheap" glass bulb, you can recognize the inherent value of the newer type. And much of that price differential was due to the fact that the technology is so new that companies were recovering their investment in research and development. Prices are already falling considerably as they become more common in the marketplace. And with the ever-tightening drive to economize on energy usage, they will become even more common in newer fixtures available in stores.

"The second disadvantage is the fact that they cannot be used in "regular" screw-in sockets. They require a GU10 socket, or a screw-in GU10 adapter," says Linden. However, this "disadvantage" may actually have a benefit as a safety feature. Traditional lamps can become cross-threaded and stick in the socket. When you try to use force to remove them, they often break. There is no danger of cross-threading with the GU10 style socket, you just push it in and give a slight twist; thus these bulbs are safer to use.

"Finally, the light from a led lamp is "different" from other lamps. These new LED's emit a more tightly focused beam, and you may need to do some research to determine what level of brightness you need, as wattage is not an accurate measure for this type. Look to see if the package gives equivalent output ratings compared to the wattage output levels we have all become used to," Linden concludes.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUS995665020101216

Macy's Department Stores to Save Millions of Dollars with LED Lights

Macy's recently announced that they will be one of the first department store company to implement the use of LED accent lighting on a wide scale. Their LED lighting retrofit will replace about 117,000 traditional incandescent light bulbs in 86 Macy's stores. The new LED bulbs use about 73 percent less energy than the older bulbs.. Total energy savings from the led lighting retrofit are estimated at about 16,200 megawatts per hour every year.In addition the the LED lamps have an expected life of 10 years -compared with less than one year for traditional bulbs reducing both maintenance and recycling costs for Macy's.

Macy's worked with MSi Solid State Lighting on the lighting retrofit. Unlike hot burning halogen lights, the extremely efficient LED lights produce very little heat and within hours of installation, store employees had noticed a drop in the store's temperature. "Many retailers are a little concerned about the initial investment of converting to LED lighting," said Bruce Johnson, MSi managing partner, "But if they take the time to run the numbers as Macy's has, they'll see that switching over produces a tremendous return on their investment."LED lighting produces savings that go far beyond just cooling cost. LED's use a fraction of the power required by halogen spots while producing a clean, clear light that enhances product displays and merchandise.

LED Lighting Retrofits- BLOG Sponsor
 
A good practice for businesses looking to reduce energy expenses is to consider an LED lighting retrofit. Lighting retrofits replace lighting with newer technology such as LED linear lighting to save on energy costs and maintenance costs. Many building experts recommend a lighting retrofit as the first step to reducing energy costs. Redbird LED is an Atlanta based manufacturer and designer of Premium LED lights at value price points. For more information please visit their LED Retrofit website or call ( 678) 733-2473

Forbes Reports on Colleges and Universities Energy Saving Efforts

As reported in Forbes magazine

Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pa., has pledged to be completely carbon-neutral by 2020. Overlooking Monterey Bay on the West Coast, the University of California-Santa Cruz saves an estimated 300,000 on water each year by eliminating trays in its dining halls. And in the Deep South, the University of Georgia, which subsidizes public transportation on campus, now has nearly 30 student organizations related to sustainability.

 These schools all make our annual list of America's Greenest Colleges and Universities, and if they're any indication, environmentalism is booming on campuses nationwide. Among the reasons: money. By investing in energy-efficiency measures, schools can save millions of dollars over the long haul. For example, Harvard University, which also makes our list, last year installed energy-efficient lighting in its parking garages. It's expected to save the school an estimated $400,000 per year on its electric bill, according to the Sustainable Endowments Institute (SEI).

Each year since 2006 the institute has released a College Sustainability Report Card, grading more than 300 institutions (this year) on a range of green efforts, including student involvement, transportation and green building policies, investment priorities, food and recycling programs, and the administration's overall approach to sustainability. This year seven schools received A grades: Brown University, Dickinson, the University of Minnesota, Oberlin College, Pomona College, the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Yale. Another 45 earned a A-minuses.

"It's really impressive how far a large portion of higher education has come in the last four years," says Mark Orlowski, SEI's founder and executive director. He says in many cases students have been a driving force behind a school's green tide. Conversely, schools are increasingly aware that if they want to attract the best students, they need to show a commitment to sustainability.

In compiling our own list of greenest colleges, we've used the SEI's report card as a starting point, but we've also taken other factors into account. Does the Princeton Review also include a school on its elite Green Honor Roll? Does the Environmental Protection Agency recognize the institution as one of its top collegiate purchasers of green power? Is a school tracking its own efforts at environmental stewardship through a program run by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education? Has it signed on to the Presidents' Climate Commitment to achieve net neutrality in greenhouse gas emissions? Is environmentalism a theme of its academics?

For example, for the last 39 years Northland College in Ashland, Wis., has given its liberal arts curriculum an environmental twist. Students can enroll in courses of study focused on sustainable agriculture, man's connections with nature, or the Lake Superior watershed (which includes a one-month trip around the watershed itself). Maine's Unity College, which bills itself as "America's Environmental College," offers green-study programs such as Conservation Law Enforcement and Environmental Writing. Both schools make use of renewable power sources to feed their electricity needs.

Schools get high marks for energy efficiency and green building standards. Some institutions, including Yale and the University of Minnesota, have their own co-generation power facilities, which produce both heat and electricity. Oberlin College in Ohio and Boston's Northeastern University are among many schools that require all new buildings meet at least LEED silver standards (a level of green certification established by the U.S. Green Building Council). Oberlin has also committed to becoming carbon-neutral by 2025. Two years ago Northeastern replaced nearly 70,000 light bulbs on campus with more energy-efficient options in an effort to save $1.2 million over six years.

To read the complete article and view a slide show please visit www.forbes.com.

LED Lighting Retrofits- BLOG Sponsor
 
A good practice for businesses looking to reduce energy expenses is to consider an LED lighting retrofit. Lighting retrofits replace lighting with newer technology such as LED linear lighting to save on energy costs and maintenance costs. Many building experts recommend a lighting retrofit as the first step to reducing energy costs. Redbird LED is an Atlanta based manufacturer and designer of Premium LED lights at value price points. For more information please visit their LED Retrofit website or call ( 678) 733-2473

RPI Completes LED Retrofit in Campus Buildings

As reported in LEDS Magazine

The Smart Lighting Engineering Research Center (ERC) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) has collaborated with campus officials to replace 119 incandescent bulbs with LED retrofit lamps in the 9-story George M. Low Center for Industrial Innovation (CII) building. The Smart Lighting ERC expects the investment in the solid-state lighting (SSL) retrofit to pay for itself within 12 to 16 months.

The LED bulbs cost $60 each compared to $4.50 for the conventional incandescent bulbs. The LED retrofit project replaced 50W incandescent bulbs with LED alternatives that dissipate only 8W. The LED alternative produces the equivalent light output of 65W incandescent bulbs resulting in “better, brighter light” according to Smart Lighting ERC Director Robert Karlicek who led the project.

The expected payback period is based on both energy and maintenance savings. The campus typically replaces incandescent bulbs every four months while the LED replacements are expected to last six years. Once the payback is achieved the Smart Lighting ERC expects annual savings of $5608.

“Initially, we’re trying to show the campus community how easy it is to make a very noticeable difference in terms of sustainability and reduced energy consumption,” said Karlicek. “We hope this is just the first step. If we replaced all of the old bulbs in the CII with LEDs, the annual savings could increase by a factor of five. Imagine the impact of doing this across the entire campus — or across the entire world.”

Long term, the Smart Lighting ERC is focused on greater savings than what can be achieved with retrofit lamps. “The LED bulbs that were installed are a great showcase for sustainability, but they’re not ‘smart’ technology,” Karlicek said.

“When we talk about ‘smart lighting,’ we’re looking forward to a new wave of solid-state lighting with applications that will transform the way society uses light, said Karlicek. “The vision for smart lighting that we’re working to realize is a holistic integration of advanced light sources, sensors, and adaptive control architectures that take full advantage of the amazing capabilities of light. The smart lighting we’re developing will be able to talk with networked electronics and sensors within a space, and automatically adjust the lighting parameters to provide the ideal illumination required for the task at hand.”

The Smart Lighting ERC is led by RPI with partners Boston University and the University of New Mexico within funding from the National Science Foundation, industry, and New York state.
About the Author
Maury Wright is the Senior Technical Editor of LEDs Magazine.

http://www.ledsmagazine.com/news/7/11/2

Medical Facilities Benefit From LED Retrofit

UCSF Medical Center replaced some of its surgical lighting with LED fixtures, doctors and nurses no longer complain about the heat from the light fixtures when performing surgical procedures.

"Previously we had to chill the OR [operating room] to offset the heat generated by the old fixtures," UCSF Project Manager John Lewis explained. "The new LED lights do not radiate heat and the OR medical staff is comfortable at standard OR temperatures."

Quality of light is an important issue to adoption of any new lighting technology. Fluorescents were unable to replicate the incandescent bulb's soft and pleasing glow and disappointed both professional lighting designers and the cube dwellers who toiled under their unnatural glare. LED lights hark back to a more basic light source, the sun. The spectrum and color rendition come closest yet to natural daylight.


LED Lighting Retrofits-  Sponsor
 
A good practice for businesses looking to reduce energy expenses is to consider an LED lighting retrofit. Lighting retrofits replace lighting with newer technology such as LED linear lighting to save on energy costs and maintenance costs. Many building experts recommend a lighting retrofit as the first step to reducing energy costs. Redbird LED is an Atlanta based manufacturer and designer of Premium LED lights at value price points. For more information please visit their LED Retrofit website or call ( 678) 733-2473


An LED is a semiconductor that creates light by releasing energy from electrons. It is frequently referred to as "solid state" or "digital" lighting. Because LED fixtures generate light over an area using thousands of tiny light sources, the fixtures also provide a clear, shadow-free light field that is ideal for task work, whether an accountant, engineer or surgeon.

"The most important criteria for our application is the quality of light. After an early test, we eliminated fluorescent fixtures since fluorescents render colors poorly," Lewis said. "The medical team found the quality of light provided by the new LED lighting was superior to the existing incandescent lighting."


Read more: http://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2010/09/02/spotlighting-green-benefits-leds#ixzz14FOduvgz

GE Saving Energy With Industrial Lighting Retrofit

Gov. Steve Beshear along with Energy and Environment Cabinet Secretary Len Peters and Economic Development Cabinet Secretary Larry Hayes visited General Electric’s (GE) Aviation Division in Madisonville to view the results of the company’s recent lighting retrofit investment project. GE Aviation was awarded $200,000 in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding to replace old, inefficient lighting with advanced energy efficient lighting fixtures.

“My Energy and Environment Cabinet and Economic Development Cabinet collaborated to secure federal stimulus dollars for several energy efficiency retrofitting projects at industrial facilities across our state,” said Gov. Beshear. “Projects like the one we celebrate today at GE Aviation are proof that these stimulus dollars are truly well spent, showing that when government works hand in hand with the private sector, big things can happen.”

GE Aviation was one of seven companies selected for a grant through a competitive Request for Proposal (RFP), which was administered by the Cabinet for Economic Development through a partnership with the Department for Energy Development and Independence.  More than $4 million in total ARRA funds have been awarded to date through this initiative.  The cabinet provides 50 percent of the funds needed to complete the lighting upgrades and each company provides the additional funding required to complete its project.

GE estimates that the lighting retrofit project will save the company $200,000 per year in utility costs, while providing better lighting in which to work and reducing the company’s carbon footprint.

LED Lighting Retrofits- BLOG Sponsor
 
A good practice for businesses looking to reduce energy expenses is to consider an LED lighting retrofit. Lighting retrofits replace lighting with newer technology such as LED linear lighting to save on energy costs and maintenance costs. Many building experts recommend a lighting retrofit as the first step to reducing energy costs. Redbird LED is an Atlanta based manufacturer and designer of Premium LED lights at value price points. For more information please visit their LED Retrofit website or call ( 678) 733-2473


“GE has a strong commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve the energy efficiencies of our operations,” said David Groth, plant leader at GE Aviation’s Madisonville facility.  “At the same time, our facility needs to ensure our investment decisions make economic sense.  The ARRA funding made available through the state enabled our site to put this lighting retrofit project on the fast track and begin reducing our energy usage.  The payback for both GE and the state is well worth the investment.”

The purpose of the grant funding is to accelerate energy efficiency and renewable energy industrial projects for businesses locating or expanding operations in Kentucky that create or retain jobs while saving energy and reducing carbon emissions. Additionally, the funding helps achieve the goals set by Gov. Steve Beshear’s Intelligent Energy Choices for Kentucky’s Future: Kentucky’s 7-Point Energy Strategy.

Information on additional ARRA funded state energy projects is available online at http://energy.ky.gov/StimulusPrograms/Pages/default.aspx.  More information on Kentucky’s economic development efforts and programs is available at www.ThinkKentucky.com.

New Energy Efficient Lighting Reduces Energy Costs

As reported in Consulting Specifiying Magazine

 Energy reduction in existing facilities can easily be achieved by replacing existing inefficient lighting products. Most commercial buildings built prior to 1990 typically are illuminated with T12 fluorescent, incandescent, high-pressure sodium (HPS), or metal halide lamps. These luminaires typically operate on inefficient magnetic ballasts when required by the lamp type. T12 fluorescent lamps are the only one of the four lamps mentioned above that is no longer viable, as they have been replaced with more energy-efficient T8 and T5 lamps.

Both T8 and T5 lamps produce substantially more lumens per W (approximately 100) than the T12 (approximately 60). One other advantage to the T5 and T8 lamps is their physical size. A T12 is 12/8ths of an inch, a T8 is 8/8ths, and a T5 is 5/8ths. There are advantages of this smaller lamp envelope; luminaires can be specifically designed around the lamp, allowing them to more easily control light distribution from the smaller source. This allows the luminaires to be more efficient at delivering the light to where it is intended. Simply replacing T12 fluorescent lamps with T8 or T5 can reduce the lighting load of a building by up to 40%.

Incandescent lamp and halogen lamps are slowly being phased out by energy legislation, but they still have several applications and therefore cannot be considered an antiquated lamp source like the T12. (Editor’s note: Suitable incandescent applications are not discussed here as they are not typically applicable to the majority of commercial buildings.) One location where incandescent is not practical anymore is for general illumination of commercial buildings. Removing incandescent luminaires and replacing them with the energy efficiency of T8, T5, or compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) can reduce consumption and maintenance costs dramatically. A typical 60 W A-lamp screw-in incandescent will produce only about 15 lumens/W versus the 100 noted above for T8 and T5.

In some cases, the incandescent lamps will need to be replaced by CFLs, which are not quite as efficient as linear T8 and T5 lamps but still produce about 60 lumens per W or four times that of an incandescent lamp. Use of LED luminaires also has gained significant steam over the past few years due to millions of dollars of federally funded research and advancement in the technology. LEDs can typically take the place of just about any incandescent lighting application and do it more effectively—and much more efficiently. While the future for LEDs is bright, how they are applied in retrofit applications should be carefully evaluated.

Commercial buildings primarily have metal halide and HPS lamps for large spaces such as lobbies, atriums, warehouses, and parking garages. Currently, both are viable solutions in many settings and can compare favorably to fluorescent in certain applications. One important aspect to consider is that metal halide lamps as they were five years ago (probe-start) are no longer available. Pulse-start metal halide technology improved on the efficiency of metal halide sources dramatically, and legislation such as the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA 2007) has all but outlawed standard metal halide lamps as they cannot meet the more stringent requirements.

Replacing old probe-start metal halide sources with newer pulse-start lamps can reduce energy consumption by up to 25%. To push these savings even further, electronic metal halide ballasts can be used to greatly reduce or eliminate energy loses in the ballast itself. HPS still has applications, but rarely inside commercial buildings due to its very poor color rendering (22 CRI) and warm color temperature (2100 K).

Warehouses, garages, and high-bay areas still have HPS lights. HPS is an efficient light source similar to metal halide but often is not perceived that way due to its “orange” color. When measuring light levels, HPS will produce light levels (measured by a photometer) similar to those of fluorescent and/or metal halide; however, they will not seem as bright. This is due to how the human eye functions at different wavelengths. The light produced by a HPS source is a longer wavelength (approximately 640 nm), which typically will be perceived by the rods in the human eye, and not the cones (which allow us to see color). This is referred to as scotopic vision, or night vision. When cones are not fully functional, such as under HPS lamp sources, objects seem to have no color or appear orange. While photometric measurements will be similar, some suggest that HPS lamp sources should have a reduction factor of up to 25% of this light output due to the poor color rendering and orange color temperature. This issue should be considered when retrofitting HPS spaces.

To view the entire article http://www.csemag.com/media-library/case-studies/single-article/integrating-lighting-and-hvac-retrofits/b1942bdba9.html

LED Lighting Retrofits- BLOG Sponsor
 
A good practice for businesses looking to reduce energy expenses is to consider an LED lighting retrofit. Lighting retrofits replace lighting with newer technology such as LED linear lighting to save on energy costs and maintenance costs. Many building experts recommend a lighting retrofit as the first step to reducing energy costs. Redbird LED is an Atlanta based manufacturer and designer of Premium LED lights at value price points. For more information please visit their LED Retrofit website or call ( 678) 733-2473

University of California, Davis Lighting Retrofit Includes LED Lighting

As reported in the September 2010 Issue of maintennace Solutions

Commercial and institutional facilities measure the success of building retrofits and upgrades in a variety of ways, including cost savings, reduced energy use, and improved productivity of those responsible for maintaining the new technology.

But one indicator that is difficult to quantify — yet speaks to the innovation and quality of the project — is the level of interest from peers outside the organization. A prime example of that dynamic is taking place at the University of California, Davis, where lighting retrofits are garnering a great deal of attention.

"It's been an interesting ride so far," says Chris Cioni, the university's associate director of utilities. "We've had a lot of inquiries from folks in the field who have found out about the projects just by searching on the Internet."

The university's Smart Lighting Initiative has turned the campus into something of a lighting laboratory, thanks in large part to the university's relationship with the California Lighting Technology Center (CLTC), a demonstration and education facility on campus that develops energy-efficient technologies. Cioni uses CLTC staff as a sounding board when considering cutting-edge lighting technology for lighting retrofit projects.

"That's where I rely pretty much on the CLTC," he says. "It's been fantastic having them here."

LED Lighting Retrofits- BLOG Sponsor
 
A good practice for businesses looking to reduce energy expenses is to consider an LED lighting retrofit. Lighting retrofits replace lighting with newer technology such as LED linear lighting to save on energy costs and maintenance costs. Many building experts recommend a lighting retrofit as the first step to reducing energy costs. Redbird LED is an Atlanta based manufacturer and designer of Premium LED lights at value price points. For more information please visit their LED Retrofit website or call ( 678) 733-2473


Focus on Energy, Safety

Cioni, his team, and the CLTC joined forces in retrofitting lighting fixtures in campus parking structures and surface lots. Their next set of projects will focus on pathways, roads, and fixtures on building exteriors. The opportunities for savings are great, considering the number of exterior fixtures on campus — 2,300 fixtures in parking structures and surface lots, as well as 700 fixtures on roads, 1,300 on pedestrian and bicycle paths, and 3,000 on building exteriors.

The Smart Lighting Initiative, which began in late 2004, does include interior lighting, but Cioni concentrates solely on exterior fixtures. The university spent almost $1 million retrofitting lighting fixtures in its surface lots and parking structures, which generated about $300,000 in utility rebates. The projects have resulted in additional benefits, including energy savings, reduced maintenance, and improved safety.

The primary technologies the university specified for the retrofits were bi-level induction lamps, light-emitting-diode (LED) fixtures, and lighting controls.

"The energy savings were the first target," Cioni says. "What drove me was having those very large and prominent parking lots right near a very visible part of campus. We have a big performing arts center (The Robert and Margrit Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts), and it's kind of a focal point. Seeing these empty parking lots when I would drive in early in the morning when it was still dark, it just caught me as wasteful and a real opportunity to do something different."

While lowering energy use was a primary goal, Cioni felt the projects needed to have benefits beyond energy savings to generate broad support. So he met with the campus police chief to discuss the retrofits' impact on public safety.

"There were perceived safety improvements by moving some of the lights — low-color temperature (fixtures) — to this whiter light," Cioni says of the bi-level induction lamps. "The patrol officers could see things more clearly and distinguish colors and details. The bi-level or adaptable-light mode, where it goes from a dormant, half output to full output based on occupancy (is important)."

Using the induction lamps also results in longer lamp life — up to 100,000 hours — which means less frequent replacement and fewer lamps in landfills.

For rest of article please visit http://www.facilitiesnet.com/lighting/article/Lighting-Retrofits-Improve-Efficiency-Safety-in-Parking-Structures-Surface-Lots--11993

Ingersoll Rand Saves More Than $4 Million Dollars in Energy Savings

As reported in Environmental Leader

Since implementing a three-tier energy audit program in 2005, Ingersoll Rand has saved more than $4 million in energy costs, according to a case study from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The company’s energy-audit program entails a treasure hunt, expanded energy audits at high priority sites, and system specific audits.

Ingersoll Rand participates in the DOE’s Industrial Technologies Program (ITP) Save Energy Now LEADER initiative. This partnership is a cornerstone in the company’s efforts to reduce its global energy intensity 25 percent by 2019.

The company’s energy-audit program relies on employee volunteers with energy and engineering expertise to join an Expanded Energy Audit team two to three times per year. In 2010 and 2011, these teams will participate in approximately 25 expanded energy audits to identify opportunities for savings and to teach staff about energy management and new energy-efficient technologies.

Replaced Lighting With More Energy Efficient Lighting

As an example, after conducting a Level 3 audit in 2007/2008 and a Level 1 audit in May 2009, the company’s Air Solution’s complex in Tyler, Texas, replaced HVAC units, upgraded compressors and installed more efficient lighting, delivering more than $750,000 in annual energy savings.

http://www.environmentalleader.com/2010/10/25/ingersoll-rand-saves-4m-in-energy-cost/

Macy's Reducing Energy Costs With LED Lighting Retrofit

As reported in Chain Store Age

Macy’s has begun construction on a 3.5-megawatt high-efficiency solar power system on the roof of its online fulfillment center in Goodyear, Ariz. When completed in March 2011, the installation is expected to be the largest solar power system on a single rooftop in the United States. In other energy-saving moves, Macy’s has become the first department store company to implement the use of LED accent lighting on a wide scale.

The solar system in Goodyear is being designed and installed by SunPower, which will provide ongoing operations and maintenance services. The installation is expected to offset more than 3,500 tons of carbon dioxide per year, the equivalent of removing 18,204 cars from Arizona’s highways over the 30-year life of the system.

<b>LED Lighting Retrofit

On the lighting front, Macy’s will replace 117,000 incandescent lamps in 86 stores with LED lamps that use roughly 73% less energy. Total energy savings are estimated at about 16,200 megawatts per hour every year. In addition, the LEDs have an expected life of five to 10 years (compared with less than one year for traditional bulbs), thereby reducing landfill disposal.

http://www.chainstoreage.com/story.aspx?id=154585&menuid=441

Shopping Center Owner Regency Seek Energy Savings in The Parking Lots

From Chain Store Age Magazine

Jacksonville, Fla.-based shopping center owner and developer Regency Centers said it is participating in the Department of Energy Solid State Lighting Technology Demonstration Gateway program to incorporate LED parking lot lighting at its Willston Centre II in Falls Church, Va.

Gateway Demonstrations showcase high-performance LED products and provide real-world experience and data on product performance and cost effectiveness.
According to Mark Peternell, Regency Centers’ VP sustainability, the Willston Centre II shopping center will serve as a test site to determine the viability of expanding LED parking lot lights at other Regency shopping centers nationwide.

“We are honored to be among industry leaders working with the DOE and the national laboratories to advance the development and market adoption of promising energy-efficient technologies,” said Peternell.According to Peternell, LED parking lot lighting is a new technology that has potentially enormous energy savings. The lights are more precise in their direction, while reducing waste light and limiting glare.

“The primary aim of Regency’s involvement in the DOE’s Gateway project and Commercial Building Energy Alliance is reducing the energy costs, greenhouse gas emissions, and on-going maintenance costs,” said Peternell. “We also expect our efforts to showcase this promising energy-efficient technology in order to encourage use, and ultimately drive down costs. Plus, it’s the right thing to do and will provide a measurable benefit to our retailers in the form of lower electricity bills and CAM savings.”

The DOE predicts that LED parking lot lights will reduce parking lot energy needs by more than 50%, and maintenance costs by more than 80% compared to traditional parking lot lights. LED lights are projected for replacement every 10 years on average, while traditional High Intensity Discharge lights must be replaced every two to three years.

To read rest of article please visit www.chainstoreage.com

One company that has helped facilities save energy costs in their parking garages and parking decks is Redbird LED. Based in Atlanta, Redbird LED manufactures high quality linear LED lights for commercial buildings. They have found a unique position offering high quality lights at value pricing. Redbird LED has published white paper on parking garage lighting and launched a parking garage lighting retrofit website- www.parkinggarageleds.com. They recently provided a parking garage lighting retrofit for the Buckhead Marketplace in Atlanta. For more information please call 678-733-2473

Redbird LED Completes Parking Garage Lighting Retrofit

Redbird LED, an Atlanta, GA. firm that specializes in the design, manufacturing and distribution of energy efficient LED linear lighting for parking garages and commercial buildings, has completed a parking garage LED lighting retrofit project for Buckhead Marketplace. Buckhead Marketplace shopping center is located near the center of the prestigious Buckhead residential and commercial district and is anchored Whole Foods. Buckhead Marketplace underground parking garage provides direct, secure and weather free access to the Whole Foods store.

The perimeter of Buckhead Marketplace parking garage is now brilliantly illuminated with the Redbird LED Vapor Tight Luminaries (40 watt). Redbird LED selected this product to enhance the lighting of parking spaces and walls along the periphery of the parking garage. The field adjustable illumination pattern allows the walls to be washed with light without any glare to pedestrians. The Vapor Tight Luminaries have a 50,000 hour lifetime, which reduces maintenance and energy costs for the shopping center owner. The Redbird LED parking garage LED lighting uses high efficacy linear light modules with controlled directional intensity which can be adjusted as needed on installation. The directionality of the Vapor Tight Luminaries was a key feature to provide the right lighting for the parking garage walls.

In addition to energy savings, LED lighting provides many advantages for parking garage owners. LED lights contain no harmful mercury so they do not need to be recycled; they operate much better in cold weather than fluorescent lamps and are more resistant to damage. “LED linear lights were a great solution for the Buckhead Marketplace project. The quality of the lighting has been enhanced and they will realize energy savings for many years” said Jonathan Eppstein, President of Redbird LED.

For more information on the Redbird LED Linear Lighting products please visit their website at www.redbirdled.com.or call 678.733.2473

Hawaii Hospital Completes LED Retrofit Program

As reported in Environmental Leader

Hawai'i Pacific Health (HPH), comprised of four nonprofit hospitals and 44 outpatient clinics and service sites, expects to save more than $1.2 million thanks to a LED lighting retrofit across its facilities.The switch to LED lighting at its four hospital facilities also will help reduce HPH’s carbon emissions by 465,324.65 pounds per year from just the parking garages alone, according to Pacific Eco-Lights, which is supplying the LED lighting.

By retrofitting existing fixtures with LEDs, HPH is projected to save up to $10,000 to $12,000 per month from the conversion of just one of its parking garage facilities, which will translate into $1.2 million in combined annual savings by retrofitting hallways, waiting areas, cafeterias and offices throughout its four hospitals.

LED Lighting Retrofits
 
A good practice for businesses looking to reduce energy expenses is to consider an LED lighting retrofit. Lighting retrofits replace lighting with newer technology such as LED linear lighting to save on energy costs and maintenance costs. Many building experts recommend a lighting retrofit as the first step to reducing energy costs. Redbird LED is an Atlanta based manufacturer and designer of Premium LED lights at value price points. For more information please visit their LED Retrofit website or call ( 678) 733-2473

DHL Launching Lighting Retrofit Program

DHL has launched a Lighting Retrofit Program at its Global Forwarding unit in the Americas region to help the company improve CO2 efficiency five percent by the end of 2010. The program will initially be rolled out in the United States before expanding to Canada and Mexico.

As part of Deutsche Post DHL and its GoGreen climate protection program, DHL Global Forwarding has committed to improving its CO2 efficiency by 30 percent by 2020 with an interim target of five percent by the end of this year. Deutsche Post DHL says it is the first logistics company in its industry to set a quantifiable environmental sustainability target.

The rollout will start at its Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, operation followed by Atlanta, Georgia; Dallas, Texas; and Miami, Florida. The San Juan, Puerto Rico operations is also planned in the initial rollout before expanding into Canada and Mexico where assessments are already under way.

By the end of the year, DHL Global Forwarding expects to achieve five percent CO2 efficiency improvements in the United States and Puerto Rico, together with a utility cost reduction of 50 percent and a projected CO2 reduction of 52 percent.

“Implementing a lighting retrofit program in our operations in the Americas, is one of the ways DHL Global Forwarding helps to protect the environment — and optimize operational costs,” said Sonia Nuñez, Head of GoGreen for DHL Global Forwarding, Americas.

DHL Global Forwarding operations in Houston, Texas; Chicago, Illinois; and Los Angeles, California already have efficient lighting.

In February 2008, the Toronto, Ontario facility in Canada was built with energy-efficient features. The advanced lighting system installed in the new facility is expected to deliver a 73 percent reduction in energy consumption for lighting.

DHL was one of three expedited shippers named by Inbound Logistics magazine on its list of “50 Green Supply Chain Partners.”
http://www.environmentalleader.com/2010/08/17/lighting-retrofits-to-cut-dhls-utility-costs-50-co2-emissions-52/

LED Lighting Retrofits
 
A good practice for businesses looking to reduce energy expenses is to consider an LED lighting retrofit. Lighting retrofits replace lighting with newer technology such as LED linear lighting to save on energy costs and maintenance costs. Many building experts recommend a lighting retrofit as the first step to reducing energy costs. Redbird LED is an Atlanta based manufacturer and designer of Premium LED lights at value price points. For more information please visit their LED Retrofit website or call ( 678) 733-2473

Warehouse Retrofits Lighting to Save On Energy Costs

As reported in Environmental Leader

Maines Paper & Food has cut its lighting-related energy use by 87 percent thanks to the installation of Digital Lumens’  Intelligent Lighting System in its 460,000-square-foot headquarters in Conklin, New York. The lighting retrofit also improves lighting levels and helps the company meets is corporate sustainability targets.With the lighting retrofit, Maines expects to save 1,726,108 kWh of electricity per year and prevent 1,240 metric tons of CO2 emissions.

After an evaluation of lighting alternatives including fluorescents and LEDs with the help of its energy-efficiency partner Groom Energy Solutions, Maines selected the Digital Lumens solution, which combines LED lighting fixtures, networking and software, as a one-for-one retrofit of highbay warehouse lights.

Maines can track energy usage and occupancy on a fixture-by-fixture basis, enabling them to fine tune the light retrofit program to maximize efficiency. The system also creates a lighting network inside the facility, which provides opportunities for future capabilities and/or measuring and monitoring other aspects of the facility, says the company.Groom Energy installed the lighting upgrade project and replaced Maines’ existing 400-watt, high-pressure sodium fixtures, reducing both energy use and ongoing maintenance.

“Lighting represents about 20 percent of our warehouse electricity costs, and a great opportunity to reduce our facilities’ costs and improve operational efficiency,” said Pat DeOrdio, vice president of operations, Maines Paper & Food Service, Inc.

“We evaluated the Digital Lumens Intelligent Lighting System and found that it enables us to significantly reduce our energy consumption, improve overall safety by increasing light levels and decrease maintenance. This solution delivers numerous operational and environmental benefits, and positions us to better serve our customers’ needs,” he added.

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) provided the project incentive. NYSERDA’s goal is to help New York reduce energy consumption, promote the use of renewable energy sources and protect the environment.

Other recent projects that NYSERDA has provided funding or incentives for include recent HVAC upgrades at six New York State commercial facilities, which together will cut their energy consumption by more than 9.9 million kWH annually, a new energy-efficient grocery store, and a medical center.

http://www.environmentalleader.com/2010/08/25/maines-slashes-energy-use-87-with-lighting-retrofit/

LED Lighting Retrofits
 
A good practice for businesses looking to reduce energy expenses is to consider an LED lighting retrofit. Lighting retrofits replace lighting with newer technology such as LED linear lighting to save on energy costs and maintenance costs. Many building experts recommend a lighting retrofit as the first step to reducing energy costs. Redbird LED is an Atlanta based manufacturer and designer of Premium LED lights at value price points. For more information please visit their LED Retrofit website or call ( 678) 733-2473

Lighting Retrofits Help Facility Managers Save Time and Money

As reported in Today's Facility Manager
By Craig DiLouie

Between 2005 and 2009, fluorescent ballast regulations imposed by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) became effective in phases, limiting availability of T12 magnetic ballasts in new fixtures. In July 2010, the final phase of these regulations went into effect, virtually eliminating fluorescent F40T12, F96T12 and F96T12HO magnetic ballasts from the market. This includes both full wattage and energy saving versions (e.g., ballasts for 34W T12 lamps) as well as replacement ballasts—with few exceptions.

 According to the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), about seven percent of the fluorescent ballast market is magnetic ballasts. This is an indicator that this type of ballast is no longer popular in new construction, but they continue to be purchased to service existing installations. As facility managers (fms) and distributors deplete their inventories of these ballasts, they will have to make the switch to more efficient lighting systems.

The final nail, however, is coming in 2012. In that year, new DOE fluorescent lamp regulations will take effect, strengthening standards for lamp types covered by previous regulation while also covering 8' T8, 4' T5, along with more wattages of 4' T8 and T12 lamps. The net result, with few exceptions, is that a majority of 4' linear and 2' U-shaped T12, many 8' T12 and T12HO, and some low color rendering 4' T8 lamps will be eliminated.

According to NEMA, about 30% of fluorescent 4' lamps sold each year are T12. As with magnetic ballasts, they are not popular in new construction, but there are millions installed in existing buildings. In 2012, fms will have no choice but to upgrade.

Scheduling The Changes

A basic choice will be whether to replace an existing T12 lighting system all at once in a planned upgrade or to replace individual components as they fail. Replacing the entire system may seem challenging because of the upfront cost for equipment and installation labor; in addition, fms must accept the idea of disposing of ballasts that may still be providing reliable operation.

However, having maintenance staff replace individual components as they fail presents severe disadvantages. First, with T12 lamps being phased out soon, it makes little sense to buy electronic T12 ballasts, so the next basic option is an electronic ballasted T8 system. Since a T8 ballast must operate a compatible T8 lamp, a maintenance department would have to replace the ballast plus the lamps that the ballast operates.

This would result in a mix of T12 and T8 ballasts and lamps in inventory ad also in the general lighting system, which could cause confusion, risk performance problems due to incompatibilities, potentially have a negative impact on lighting conditions and appearance, and deny opportunities to reevaluate the lighting system and take advantage of good lighting practices and volume purchasing.

Fms are seizing these opportunities. According to a survey conducted in February 2010 by Today’s Facility Manager (TFM) and NEMA EnLIGHTen America, 54% of responding fms plan to conduct lighting upgrades within the next three years. (The TFM April 2010 article reporting on the results of this lighting survey can be found here.)

Once a decision is made to upgrade the lighting system, the fm has taken control of the situation and can work to maximize the impact of new lighting. A major benefit is energy costs savings. In this regard, substantial opportunities can be found in buildings that use older technologies (such as T12 systems), that have very high utility costs, and where lighting is uncontrolled and left on all night. T12 systems, for example, can be upgraded to realize energy savings as high as 50% or more in offices, classrooms, and other applications.

The next basic choice facing the fm is whether to retrofit or redesign a lighting system. In a retrofit, new lamps and ballasts are installed in existing fixtures and existing controls replaced. In a redesign, the fixtures themselves may be replaced or moved.

While energy is important, productivity is also very important to businesses. Studies show that large numbers of people are unsatisfied with the lighting in their workspaces. According to a 1999 office lighting study conducted by Steelcase, 38% of workers said the lighting in their workspaces was either too dim or too bright. Further, three out of four workers said better lighting would improve their efficiency and productivity, and two out of three said they would be more creative.lighting fixtures illumination quality

Fms who are interested in an energy saving retrofit, therefore, may instead actually need a redesign that not only reduces energy consumption, but that also improves lighting quality. According to the TFM/NEMA EnLIGHTen America survey, all respondents consider improving occupant satisfaction with the facility, and the organization overall, as an important goal of a lighting upgrade project.

Good lighting quality, according to the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES), accounts for factors such as visual comfort, glare, uniformity, color rendering, lighting on walls and ceilings, and harsh patterns, shadows, and flicker. If a facility’s primary spaces have been retasked for new purposes for which the existing lighting system provides insufficient lighting conditions (or uniformity is poor, there is little light on walls and ceilings, or there are obvious, unaddressed sources of glare), and if occupants are unhappy with their lighting, then a redesign may provide the most benefit.
Executing The Project

Once these decisions are made, what follows is a normal retrofit or renovation. Energy efficient lighting technologies have been undergoing development for decades, and there are many reliable solutions now available from manufacturers. Regarding lamps and ballasts, fms can consider T8 systems. There are now 23W, 25W, 28W, 32W (normal output), and 32W (high output, or “Super T8”) T8 lamps available, which offer a choice of power and light output.

There are also electronic ballasts available with a range of efficiencies and ballast factors, enabling further tuning of light output. The most efficient ballasts carry the NEMA Premium mark on the ballast label.

Regarding fixtures, fms can consider T5 systems, direct/indirect lighting, and, if recessed, volumetric-distribution fixtures that place some light on walls to eliminate the “cave effect” common with some parabolic fixtures.

Meanwhile, LED lighting offers opportunities to improve efficiency dramatically. Still, the overall technology remains relatively new, and fms should proceed with caution, particularly hen confronted by options such as LED T8 lamp replacements, which have not fared well in independent product testing at the DOE. (For results from past DOE testing of LED lighting, visit this DOE Website.)
 For rest of article please visit
  
http://www.todaysfacilitymanager.com/articles/services-and-maintenance-planning-the-next-lighting-upgrade.php

LED Lighting Retrofits
 
A good practice for businesses looking to reduce energy expenses is to consider an LED lighting retrofit. Lighting retrofits replace lighting with newer technology such as LED linear lighting to save on energy costs and maintenance costs. Many building experts recommend a lighting retrofit as the first step to reducing energy costs. Redbird LED is an Atlanta based manufacturer and designer of Premium LED lights at value price points. For more information please visit their LED Retrofit website or call ( 678) 733-2473

New Website for LED Lighting Retrofits

Redbird LED today announces the launch of the marketing campaign Commercial LED Retrofits. Redbird LED is an Atlanta, GA firm that specializes in the design, manufacturing and distribution of energy efficient LED Tube Lighting for commercial buildings and parking garages. Lighting is one of the largest energy expenses that commercial building owners face. Companies can save more than 50% of their energy bills by retrofitting their lighting with LED Lights.An LED Lighting Retrofit is an investment not only in reducing electricity consumption but also in improving the way a building supports its occupants.

Redbird LED has recently launched a new commercial lighting solution featuring their LED Tube lighting. The Lighting Solutions are available in 2-LED tube and 4 tube LED designs, both in exposed (open) and enclosed (vapor tight) configurations. LED Tube Lighting offers numerous benefits to commercial building owners and tenants including reduced energy consumption, brighter and more uniform lighting and lower maintenance costs. Major Corporations, Retail Chains, Hospitals and Hotels have realized substantial savings by retrofitting their buildings with LED Tube lights.

For more information on LED retrofits please visit their website www.commercialledretrofits.com