Ten years ago, making a school "green" meant turning off unnecessary lights and carefully recycling trash.
While the basics are still important, today a green school could include geothermal heat exchangers and solar energy, strategies that used to be too expensive to consider.
The environmental pluses of green technology long have been recognized, said Mike Walsh, deputy secretary for administration at the state Department of Education.
But now he said, "In these tough economic times, there is becoming more of an economic argument to do this."
With improvements in quality, price and incentives, there's a greater opportunity for energy savings to offset the costs of technology.
"Solar panels cost less than they did five or 10 years ago. You see a better return," said Mr. Walsh. "Geothermal is an emerging area of renewable energy. It costs less than it did five years ago. People are thinking about wind. They weren't thinking about it five or 10 years ago."
Grants and other incentives also contribute to making technology more affordable. Over the past year, millions of dollars of government grants and incentives for renewable energy and other green measures have helped to make more options affordable.
A Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority grant covered nearly half of the $515,861 cost to install exterior LED lighting in 10 locations in the Pittsburgh Public Schools district.
The grant lowered the payback time -- the time in which the savings would cover the cost -- from 12.6 years to 6.5 years. The new lighting, nearly completed, is expected to save $40,881 a year.
Carlisle Area School District in Cumberland County got enough grants -- including $1 million from the federal economic stimulus, $950,000 from the state and $500,000 from its local electric company -- to pay for more than half of the $4.8 million cost to build the largest solar array of any public school district in the state.
The array, which includes four types of solar technology and covers 6.2 acres, was dedicated last month. The system will be an integral part of the curriculum, with students evaluating how well each type works.
The project is expected to pay for itself in 41/2 years by saving $150,000 a year in utility bills and by selling renewable energy credits to utility companies for nearly $500,000 a year, said Tom Longnecker, director of finance for Carlisle Area.
Two competitive federal school bond programs -- totaling $602 million statewide -- that underwrite interest made energy efficiency a top criterion for consideration in Pennsylvania.
The grants and incentives are intended at least in part to show others what is possible and to increase demand for green products.
Maureen Guttman, executive director of the Governor's Green Government Council, said she thinks the reasons for using green technology are even more compelling for schools than for the private sector.
"We really do have the data to show that the operating costs are significantly lower, and every school district we know is hurting for dollars," she said. "It's just the mindset of an initial capital investment which then has a long-term payoff."
Beyond the energy savings, Chris Berdnik, chief financial/chief operations officer for Pittsburgh Public Schools, said green buildings have the potential to increase academic performance.
"There's a significant amount of research that kids learn best when there's good natural classroom light and excellent indoor air quality," said Mr. Berdnik.
A group of state agencies has formed Pathways to Green Schools and named Pittsburgh and Norristown as pilot school districts. As such, they will receive technical assistance.
At the end of this school year, Pittsburgh plans to start a $14 million renovation of Pittsburgh Northview PreK-8 that will include green technology that will reduce the building's energy usage by about 45 percent.
One of the most unusual features at Northview is the use of a geothermal heating and cooling system.
No other K-12 school district in Allegheny County has installed a geothermal system, and only a handful of school districts across the state are doing or have done so, said Mr. Walsh.
Pittsburgh also plans to include a geothermal system in a renovation of Pittsburgh Arlington PreK-8 and is considering geothermal for Pittsburgh Oliver High School.
The geothermal systems that schools use in Pennsylvania do not typically generate electricity but instead use the temperature deep in the ground to help heat or cool a building.
A geothermal heat pump -- or ground source heat pump -- pumps heat from the ground in cold weather via water in a closed loop system and from the school to the ground in hot weather.
At Northview, the school's large parking lot will be torn up -- with the asphalt saved for reuse when the lot is restored -- and 60 wells will be drilled, each about six inches in diameter, 500 feet deep and 20 feet apart. They will be connected underground by water-filled pipes in a closed loop.
The heat exchange will take place in a mechanical house built on the parking lot.
Inside the school, each classroom will be able to control its own ventilator, which will have water-filled coils that heat or cool the room. The ventilators also will add fresh air from outside.
With the Northview project, the school district will seek its first LEED -- Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design -- certification.
The geothermal system is just one of a long list of green improvements that will be used to seek the rating at Northview.
Other improvements will include:
• New large windows with thermal panes tailored for northern or southern exposures
• Classroom overhead lights that automatically turn off in portions of the room where there is enough daylight
• A new roof will be well-insulated and a reflective white.
• Water will be collected from a roof to provide "gray water" for some of the toilets and urinals
• Two solar panels will be installed on a roof so science classes can study their energy production. A garden and a green wall -- a wall covered with plants -- will provide other educational opportunities
Other city schools also are getting various elements of green technology.
"In all of our projects when we design, we've always incorporated green," said Vidyahar Patil, director of facilities/plant operations.
Some other local K-12 school buildings have earned various LEED certifications, including Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School in Coraopolis, Rowe Hall at Shady Side Academy and Wilson Elementary School in the Albert Gallatin School District.
A few others have Energy Star certifications for their conservation efforts, including Jeannette Senior High School and six buildings in the Hempfield Area School District.
Maximizing the benefits of green technology requires changing habits and making it part of the educational program, officials say.
On a tour of Northview, school officials noted an unused computer monitor left on, wasting electricity. Daylight was diminished because classroom blinds were pulled down and used as display space for children's work.
The Pittsburgh district has a labor-management energy committee as well as a group including students, employees and community members to help save energy.
Northview's design includes educational kiosks and exposed pipes so that students -- and staff -- will understand how their building works.
Carla Worthington, project manager and an architect with Renaissance 3 Architects, said the project will be a "great educational tool for the children and for the public."
Education writer Eleanor Chute: echute@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1955.
First published on November 8, 2010 at 12:00 am
Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10312/1101565-298.stm#ixzz14ikbGtgh
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
Monday, November 8, 2010
Walmart in Puerto Rico Saves Money on Parking Deck Lighting Retrofit
In San Juan, Puerto Rico, Walmart is expected to save up to 48 percent of the electricity traditionally required to light its parking lots by retrofitting their lighting to LED Lights. They will also save an estimated 75 percent on maintenance costs.
On average, nearly one-third of a Walmart store’s energy consumption is tied to lighting. In addition to substantial energy and maintenance cost savings, the new LED parking lot lighting significantly reduces the greenhouse gas emissions associated with Walmart Puerto Rico’s operations.
“In 2009 alone, Walmart Puerto Rico’s operational energy efficiency initiatives saved more than 8.0-million kWh, equivalent to USD $1.4 million*. A large portion of these energy-efficient initiatives are tied to the continuous lighting improvements that Walmart is working with GE to help us achieve,” says Charles Zimmerman, vice president of international design and construction for Walmart. “Our latest initiative in Puerto Rico turns a high cost area such as outdoor lighting into an energy efficiency bellwether not only for our company on a global scale, but for the industry as a whole. We know outdoor LED lighting represents a huge opportunity for retailers to make strides economically and environmentally.”
On average, nearly one-third of a Walmart store’s energy consumption is tied to lighting. In addition to substantial energy and maintenance cost savings, the new LED parking lot lighting significantly reduces the greenhouse gas emissions associated with Walmart Puerto Rico’s operations.
“In 2009 alone, Walmart Puerto Rico’s operational energy efficiency initiatives saved more than 8.0-million kWh, equivalent to USD $1.4 million*. A large portion of these energy-efficient initiatives are tied to the continuous lighting improvements that Walmart is working with GE to help us achieve,” says Charles Zimmerman, vice president of international design and construction for Walmart. “Our latest initiative in Puerto Rico turns a high cost area such as outdoor lighting into an energy efficiency bellwether not only for our company on a global scale, but for the industry as a whole. We know outdoor LED lighting represents a huge opportunity for retailers to make strides economically and environmentally.”
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
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
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
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
"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.
“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.
Monday, November 1, 2010
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
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
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
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