As reported on Chain Store Age website.
Darden Restaurants, owner of Red Lobster and Olive Garden banners among others, said Monday that its Red Lobster restaurant in Centerview, San Antonio, is one of the company’s first to receive sustainability recognition.
The restaurant was awarded Silver certification for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for New Construction from the U.S. Green Building Council.
The 7,029-sq.-ft. restaurant, which opened in March, features a number of sustainable design elements, including recycled building materials, increased use of natural light, and energy-efficient equipment and fixtures, including low-flow water nozzles in the kitchen and low-flow faucets in the restrooms, new LED parking lot light lighting and low-wattage energy-efficient lighting, and heat recovery tanks that allow the capture of heat generated from the freezer/cooler compressors to aid in supplemental heating of hot water.
The effort is part of Darden Restaurant's Sustainable Restaurant Design initiative, which aims to reduce energy and water use in 1,800 restaurants by 15% by the year 2015.
LED Lighting Retrofits
A good practice for businesses looking to reduce energy expenses is to consider an LED lighting retrofit for their parking garage . Lighting retrofits replace lighting with newer technology such as LED linear lighting to save on energy costs and maintenance costs. Many parking garage consultants recommend a parking garage LED 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
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
San Jose State University Wins Award For Energy Efficient Lighting Retrofit
San Jose State University received a Best Practice Award in the Lighting Retrofit category for implementing lighting system upgrades and controls projects at its highly acclaimed Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library as part of a SiteSMART commissioning services project. The project included installing occupancy sensors on the library book stack lighting, retrofitting inefficient ceiling fixtures, and converting to spectrally enhanced (5000 K) lighting. These measures reduced energy consumption at the building by 22 percent while significantly enhancing building aesthetics. The project is saving over $300,000 and more than 1,900,000 kWh annually.
The 2010 Best Practice Awards Competition for the Energy Efficiency Partnership program seeks to highlight the achievements that California State University, University of California, and California Community College campuses have made through innovative and effective energy efficiency projects and sustainable operations.
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
The 2010 Best Practice Awards Competition for the Energy Efficiency Partnership program seeks to highlight the achievements that California State University, University of California, and California Community College campuses have made through innovative and effective energy efficiency projects and sustainable operations.
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
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Warehouses Pursue Energy Efficient Lighting with LED Retrofit
Aside from labor, the most significant cost of operating a cold storage facility is the expense associated with creating a cool environment. A refrigerated or frozen warehouse’s energy bill can vary by thousands or tens of thousands of dollars each month, making the need to control energy costs and increase efficiencies critical.
Innovative-Cold-Storage-San-Diego-3.jpg
Using LED lighting in a cold storage environment helps to ensure that the lighting doesn’t work against the nature of the facility. Photo courtesy of BetaLED.
Cold storage facilities require substantial amounts of electricity to maintain the proper temperatures necessary for preserving foods and beverages. In fact, electricity costs can comprise more than 25 percent of a cold storage building’s ongoing operating costs.[1]
Conventional lighting and refrigeration systems typically work against each other: lighting systems generate heat, which the refrigeration system needs to remove. In addition, lower temperatures reduce the efficacy of some lighting systems. Therefore, more power is required to generate the desired illumination, which in turn increases the load on the refrigeration system.
Lighting Technology Comparison
Innovative-Cold-Storage-San-Diego-4.jpg
In contrast to HID lighting options, LED lighting actually “thrives” in cold environments. Photo courtesy of BetaLED.
LED luminaires can provide significant advantages over fluorescent and high intensity discharge (HID) solutions in cold storage environments. Each conventional lighting technology creates performance compromises when performing in a refrigerated environment. Fluorescent lighting systems create heat and typically lose a substantial amount of light output in cold temperature environments. The heat created by the lighting system needs to be removed and requires additional refrigeration capacity and power consumption. HID technology such as metal halide creates a more substantial amount of heat, requiring even more refrigeration capacity and power consumption. LED luminaires, however, provide benefits when used in cold storage environments; they create minimal heat, which translates to very low refrigeration loads, greatly reduced lumen depreciation and increased light output.
LED technology combined with cold storage applications offer numerous and significant advantages, including:
* Thermal load reduction
* Instant-on capabilities
* Energy efficiency and low-maintenance benefits
Innovative-Cold-Storage-high-res.jpg
As the number of lighting options grows, it becomes even more important to make the best pairing of lighting and facility type. Photo courtesy of BetaLED.
LEDs at Work: Innovative Cold Storage Enterprises
When it was time for a San Diego, Calif.-based cold-storage company to expand, the owners decided to seek LEED Gold certification. Among the ways they decided to save energy inside this new refrigerated storage warehouse was to install LED lighting.
Officials with Innovative Cold Storage Enterprises, Inc. (ICE) were initially going to use 321 traditional HID lights that consumed approximately 465 system Watts each. Instead, they opted for LED luminaires, which include 230 LED lights at 86 system Watts each and another 49 LED lights at 321 system Watts each.
The warehouse lighting consumed 76 percent less energy using LED luminaires instead of the originally planned HID lights. Additionally, the LED lights provide an estimated 150,000 maintenance-free hours of operation in the minus 20 degree Celsius refrigerated warehouse, with lumen maintenance of greater than 70 percent. The longer service life is particularly useful in this application, where replacing lights would otherwise be laborious and expensive because of the 60-foot ceilings.
“Utilizing the (BetaLED) LED lights was a final touch to an already phenomenal project concerning energy savings. We sought to pursue energy efficiency in every facet, as well as cutting edge technology, which is clearly demonstrated in the application of these industrial LEDs,” said Phoebe Hamann, green building specialist, LEED AP, for Hamman Construction, which handled the warehouse project.
In all, the various energy-saving steps taken during construction mean the 132,000-square-foot warehouse costs half as much to operate as the old ICE facility, yet it can hold four times more product.
1. Asmus, Peter (Sunday, September 1, 2002) California Cold Storage Companies Cutting Cooling Costs. Frozen Food Age.
Sidebar: About the LED lighting installation
>> A total of 49 (321 Watt) THE EDGE LED canopy lights were used for freezer staging and the dock area. The freezer aisles feature 230 (86 Watt) THE EDGE LED parking structure lights.
>> The BetaLED total system consumes 76 percent less energy than the originally designed HID system. BetaLED luminaires provide over 150,000 maintenance-free hours in the minus 20 degree Celsius refrigerated warehouse.
>> With the help of THE EDGE fixtures, the ICE II freezer warehouse uses 62 percent less electricity than standard cold storage facilities.
Innovative-Cold-Storage-San-Diego-3.jpg
Using LED lighting in a cold storage environment helps to ensure that the lighting doesn’t work against the nature of the facility. Photo courtesy of BetaLED.
Cold storage facilities require substantial amounts of electricity to maintain the proper temperatures necessary for preserving foods and beverages. In fact, electricity costs can comprise more than 25 percent of a cold storage building’s ongoing operating costs.[1]
Conventional lighting and refrigeration systems typically work against each other: lighting systems generate heat, which the refrigeration system needs to remove. In addition, lower temperatures reduce the efficacy of some lighting systems. Therefore, more power is required to generate the desired illumination, which in turn increases the load on the refrigeration system.
Lighting Technology Comparison
Innovative-Cold-Storage-San-Diego-4.jpg
In contrast to HID lighting options, LED lighting actually “thrives” in cold environments. Photo courtesy of BetaLED.
LED luminaires can provide significant advantages over fluorescent and high intensity discharge (HID) solutions in cold storage environments. Each conventional lighting technology creates performance compromises when performing in a refrigerated environment. Fluorescent lighting systems create heat and typically lose a substantial amount of light output in cold temperature environments. The heat created by the lighting system needs to be removed and requires additional refrigeration capacity and power consumption. HID technology such as metal halide creates a more substantial amount of heat, requiring even more refrigeration capacity and power consumption. LED luminaires, however, provide benefits when used in cold storage environments; they create minimal heat, which translates to very low refrigeration loads, greatly reduced lumen depreciation and increased light output.
LED technology combined with cold storage applications offer numerous and significant advantages, including:
* Thermal load reduction
* Instant-on capabilities
* Energy efficiency and low-maintenance benefits
Innovative-Cold-Storage-high-res.jpg
As the number of lighting options grows, it becomes even more important to make the best pairing of lighting and facility type. Photo courtesy of BetaLED.
LEDs at Work: Innovative Cold Storage Enterprises
When it was time for a San Diego, Calif.-based cold-storage company to expand, the owners decided to seek LEED Gold certification. Among the ways they decided to save energy inside this new refrigerated storage warehouse was to install LED lighting.
Officials with Innovative Cold Storage Enterprises, Inc. (ICE) were initially going to use 321 traditional HID lights that consumed approximately 465 system Watts each. Instead, they opted for LED luminaires, which include 230 LED lights at 86 system Watts each and another 49 LED lights at 321 system Watts each.
The warehouse lighting consumed 76 percent less energy using LED luminaires instead of the originally planned HID lights. Additionally, the LED lights provide an estimated 150,000 maintenance-free hours of operation in the minus 20 degree Celsius refrigerated warehouse, with lumen maintenance of greater than 70 percent. The longer service life is particularly useful in this application, where replacing lights would otherwise be laborious and expensive because of the 60-foot ceilings.
“Utilizing the (BetaLED) LED lights was a final touch to an already phenomenal project concerning energy savings. We sought to pursue energy efficiency in every facet, as well as cutting edge technology, which is clearly demonstrated in the application of these industrial LEDs,” said Phoebe Hamann, green building specialist, LEED AP, for Hamman Construction, which handled the warehouse project.
In all, the various energy-saving steps taken during construction mean the 132,000-square-foot warehouse costs half as much to operate as the old ICE facility, yet it can hold four times more product.
1. Asmus, Peter (Sunday, September 1, 2002) California Cold Storage Companies Cutting Cooling Costs. Frozen Food Age.
Sidebar: About the LED lighting installation
>> A total of 49 (321 Watt) THE EDGE LED canopy lights were used for freezer staging and the dock area. The freezer aisles feature 230 (86 Watt) THE EDGE LED parking structure lights.
>> The BetaLED total system consumes 76 percent less energy than the originally designed HID system. BetaLED luminaires provide over 150,000 maintenance-free hours in the minus 20 degree Celsius refrigerated warehouse.
>> With the help of THE EDGE fixtures, the ICE II freezer warehouse uses 62 percent less electricity than standard cold storage facilities.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Guide to LED Retrofit
LED lighting retrofits can offer businesses two key benefits: some fixtures can deliver up to an 85 percent energy savings and the life span of LEDs average about 50,000 hours, reports Retrofit Magazine. But before making a decision on an energy efficient lighting retrofit, businesses first have to evaluate their current lighting layout and future requirements.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) says seven percent of all energy consumed in the U.S. is for lighting, which is why the Obama Administration is setting energy conservation standards for certain types of fluorescent lamps and incandescent reflector lamps, and is investing $346 million in energy-efficient building technologies.
Before businesses make the investment to retrofit or replace their lighting, they need to consider several factors including the condition and voltage of the facility’s existing wiring and circuitry because certain LED fixtures may not be compatible with the voltage rating, and control preferences such as for dimming and/or motion control, according to the article.
Other issues include downtime for the installation, how much energy savings the company expects from the LED retrofit, manufacturers’ warranties, who will install the new lighting systems and whether it’s necessary to take before and after light-level and energy readings.
Businesses also need to call their local utility companies to check on rebates for energy-efficient lighting and/or tax deductions or credits.
Here are five tips for selecting LED systems and vendors based on Retrofit’s article.
– Understand the fixture manufacturer’s claims including the performance of the products, up-front equipment costs, ongoing energy and maintenance costs and after-sale support.
– Evaluate the quality of the LEDs by comparing the light output and efficiency to your benchmarking tests.
– Evaluate the performance of the LED lighting fixture with your benchmarking data and the manufacturer’s photometric reports.
– Verify the manufacturer’s claims for light and energy performance.
– Review the installation requirements for LED lighting fixtures and ensure that your new fixtures are compliant to the National Electric Code requirements for installation of light fixtures.
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
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) says seven percent of all energy consumed in the U.S. is for lighting, which is why the Obama Administration is setting energy conservation standards for certain types of fluorescent lamps and incandescent reflector lamps, and is investing $346 million in energy-efficient building technologies.
Before businesses make the investment to retrofit or replace their lighting, they need to consider several factors including the condition and voltage of the facility’s existing wiring and circuitry because certain LED fixtures may not be compatible with the voltage rating, and control preferences such as for dimming and/or motion control, according to the article.
Other issues include downtime for the installation, how much energy savings the company expects from the LED retrofit, manufacturers’ warranties, who will install the new lighting systems and whether it’s necessary to take before and after light-level and energy readings.
Businesses also need to call their local utility companies to check on rebates for energy-efficient lighting and/or tax deductions or credits.
Here are five tips for selecting LED systems and vendors based on Retrofit’s article.
– Understand the fixture manufacturer’s claims including the performance of the products, up-front equipment costs, ongoing energy and maintenance costs and after-sale support.
– Evaluate the quality of the LEDs by comparing the light output and efficiency to your benchmarking tests.
– Evaluate the performance of the LED lighting fixture with your benchmarking data and the manufacturer’s photometric reports.
– Verify the manufacturer’s claims for light and energy performance.
– Review the installation requirements for LED lighting fixtures and ensure that your new fixtures are compliant to the National Electric Code requirements for installation of light fixtures.
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
Hyatt Hotel Undergoes LED Retrofit
As reported in Environmental Leader
The Hyatt Regency Boston has managed to reduce its energy costs by 42 percent, from 12.3 million kWh to 7.1 million kWh, over the last decade, according to a report in Green Lodging News.
According to the report, the company invested $3 million in improvements to energy efficiency, equipment and infrastructure, while a local gas and electric utility company provided rebates to defray some of the initial costs.
The hotel recently won the Energy Star rating from the Environmental Protection Agency, putting it in the top quartile of comparable buildings in terms of efficiency, using 35 percent less energy and emitting 35 percent less carbon dioxide. The 498-room hotel is owned by owned by Chesapeake Lodging Trust though managed by Hyatt.
Much of the efficiency savings were driven by the hotel’s decision to retrofit lighting- replacing incandescent bulbs with LED Lights. According to the report, the hotel replaced 1,000 T-12 bulbs with T-8s. Some fixtures were able to reduce their wattage from 50 watts to 3. The hotel also installed motion detector light switches in some areas.
The hotel also installed CO2 detectors, which helps the building to optimize its HVAC system. By knowing when CO2 levels are getting high, building management can vent outside air only when needed, increasing energy efficiency.
It is also moving to a passive environmental management system for its rooms, allowing HVAC systems to shut off automatically when the room is unoccupied, rather than relying on decisions from the front desk or room occupant.
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
The Hyatt Regency Boston has managed to reduce its energy costs by 42 percent, from 12.3 million kWh to 7.1 million kWh, over the last decade, according to a report in Green Lodging News.
According to the report, the company invested $3 million in improvements to energy efficiency, equipment and infrastructure, while a local gas and electric utility company provided rebates to defray some of the initial costs.
The hotel recently won the Energy Star rating from the Environmental Protection Agency, putting it in the top quartile of comparable buildings in terms of efficiency, using 35 percent less energy and emitting 35 percent less carbon dioxide. The 498-room hotel is owned by owned by Chesapeake Lodging Trust though managed by Hyatt.
Much of the efficiency savings were driven by the hotel’s decision to retrofit lighting- replacing incandescent bulbs with LED Lights. According to the report, the hotel replaced 1,000 T-12 bulbs with T-8s. Some fixtures were able to reduce their wattage from 50 watts to 3. The hotel also installed motion detector light switches in some areas.
The hotel also installed CO2 detectors, which helps the building to optimize its HVAC system. By knowing when CO2 levels are getting high, building management can vent outside air only when needed, increasing energy efficiency.
It is also moving to a passive environmental management system for its rooms, allowing HVAC systems to shut off automatically when the room is unoccupied, rather than relying on decisions from the front desk or room occupant.
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
Maine Program Provides Funding for LED Retrofits and Other Energy Programs
As reported on www.environmentalleader.com
Businesses in Maine can apply for a rebate under Efficiency Maine's Prescriptive Incentives program for their energy-efficient retrofits, which in some cases have saved businesses up to 30 percent per month in electricity costs, reports Seacoastonline.com.
Case-in-point: Dan Corcoran, owner of Jackson’s True Value Hardware and Marine says more than one half the cost of installing its energy-efficient lighting was paid for by the Maine Public Utilities Commission under its Efficiency Maine program, and electricity costs have been cut by about 30 percent per month.
The program covers energy efficient lighting, HVAC equipment, motors and motor drives, commercial refrigeration and agricultural equipment. Businesses can apply for up to $300,000 in incentives in a single calendar year.
In 2009, Efficiency Maine helped complete nearly a thousand commercial projects that will save nearly $50 million a year in electric bills.
As an example, a project at Pineland Farms in New Gloucester, which completed a 200 street LED lighting retrofit is expected to save the college $30,000 annually in energy costs.
Michael Stoddard, executive director of Efficiency Maine, said in the article that 60 percent of Efficiency Maine’s $13 million annual budget is used for business programs and 40 percent for residential programs. The program is funded by a “modest surcharge” added to customers’ electric bills.
Efficiency Maine is proposing an increase to $21 million for the upcoming fiscal year.
In addition, Corcoran told Seacoastonline.com that his business has reduced its carbon footprint by more than 18,000 pounds per year, while reducing sulfur oxide, nitrogen oxide and mercury contamination and avoiding more than four tons of coal from being burned each year, according to information supplied to him by Efficiency Maine.
http://www.environmentalleader.com/2010/07/07/maine-efficiency-program-can-save-businesses-up-to-30-on-lighting-costs/
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
Businesses in Maine can apply for a rebate under Efficiency Maine's Prescriptive Incentives program for their energy-efficient retrofits, which in some cases have saved businesses up to 30 percent per month in electricity costs, reports Seacoastonline.com.
Case-in-point: Dan Corcoran, owner of Jackson’s True Value Hardware and Marine says more than one half the cost of installing its energy-efficient lighting was paid for by the Maine Public Utilities Commission under its Efficiency Maine program, and electricity costs have been cut by about 30 percent per month.
The program covers energy efficient lighting, HVAC equipment, motors and motor drives, commercial refrigeration and agricultural equipment. Businesses can apply for up to $300,000 in incentives in a single calendar year.
In 2009, Efficiency Maine helped complete nearly a thousand commercial projects that will save nearly $50 million a year in electric bills.
As an example, a project at Pineland Farms in New Gloucester, which completed a 200 street LED lighting retrofit is expected to save the college $30,000 annually in energy costs.
Michael Stoddard, executive director of Efficiency Maine, said in the article that 60 percent of Efficiency Maine’s $13 million annual budget is used for business programs and 40 percent for residential programs. The program is funded by a “modest surcharge” added to customers’ electric bills.
Efficiency Maine is proposing an increase to $21 million for the upcoming fiscal year.
In addition, Corcoran told Seacoastonline.com that his business has reduced its carbon footprint by more than 18,000 pounds per year, while reducing sulfur oxide, nitrogen oxide and mercury contamination and avoiding more than four tons of coal from being burned each year, according to information supplied to him by Efficiency Maine.
http://www.environmentalleader.com/2010/07/07/maine-efficiency-program-can-save-businesses-up-to-30-on-lighting-costs/
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
Universities Focus On Green Facilities and Educational Programs
As reported in USA Today
From tours of energy-efficient buildings to discussions about recycling rates and solar panels, universities and colleges across the country are increasingly putting on the green to attract students who are serious about environmental issues.
The trend is growing at schools large and small, public and private, says Mark Orlowski, founder and executive director of the Massachusetts-based Sustainable Endowments Institute. The non-profit research organization focuses on issues such as recycling, energy efficiency, food sourcing and investment priorities in higher education.
"The schools are seeing it as a way of attracting the best students possible," Orlowski says.
In 2009, the institute's survey, the College Sustainability Report Card, found 27% of colleges and universities were incorporating a sustainability message during the admissions and student orientation processes. The 2010 report card shows that number has increased to 69%,Orlowski says.
Green Mountain College in Poultney,Vt., has long incorporated an environmental focus in its recruiting efforts, says Sandra Bartholomew, the college's dean of Enrollment Management. Bartholomew says she and her staff have seen other universities jump on the bandwagon.
"It's a really popular trend. But is it all talk or is it the walk?" she says. "What we're going after are people who embrace the values of honoring the planet."
At American University in Washington, D.C., prospective students are taken through the school's arboretum and green-certified buildings, says admissions director Greg Grauman. He says the university uses social media and the Internet to help cut down on printed paper communications with current and prospective students.
Colorado State University in Fort Collins. has dubbed itself "The Green University" — its colors are green and gold — and is building what, according to the Denver-based Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, will be the largest solar power plant on a university campus. "We make efforts to show them the latest building innovations — ones that are LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) certified or have solar panels," says Jim Rawlins, CSU's executive director of admissions.
CSU is also in the process of buying battery-powered vans to shuttle prospective students and their parents around campus, he says.
Hailey Broderick, 27, a second-year MBA student at the University of Colorado in Boulder, says she considered colleges in Boston and on the West Coast, but selected the university's Leeds School of Business in part because the program incorporates sustainability — from energy-efficient buildings to case studies on solar companies — into everything it does.
"I wouldn't have chosen Leeds if they were just a traditional business school," she says. "The sustainability piece was big for me."
Contributing: Hughes reports for The (Fort Collins) Coloradoan
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
From tours of energy-efficient buildings to discussions about recycling rates and solar panels, universities and colleges across the country are increasingly putting on the green to attract students who are serious about environmental issues.
The trend is growing at schools large and small, public and private, says Mark Orlowski, founder and executive director of the Massachusetts-based Sustainable Endowments Institute. The non-profit research organization focuses on issues such as recycling, energy efficiency, food sourcing and investment priorities in higher education.
"The schools are seeing it as a way of attracting the best students possible," Orlowski says.
In 2009, the institute's survey, the College Sustainability Report Card, found 27% of colleges and universities were incorporating a sustainability message during the admissions and student orientation processes. The 2010 report card shows that number has increased to 69%,Orlowski says.
Green Mountain College in Poultney,Vt., has long incorporated an environmental focus in its recruiting efforts, says Sandra Bartholomew, the college's dean of Enrollment Management. Bartholomew says she and her staff have seen other universities jump on the bandwagon.
"It's a really popular trend. But is it all talk or is it the walk?" she says. "What we're going after are people who embrace the values of honoring the planet."
At American University in Washington, D.C., prospective students are taken through the school's arboretum and green-certified buildings, says admissions director Greg Grauman. He says the university uses social media and the Internet to help cut down on printed paper communications with current and prospective students.
Colorado State University in Fort Collins. has dubbed itself "The Green University" — its colors are green and gold — and is building what, according to the Denver-based Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, will be the largest solar power plant on a university campus. "We make efforts to show them the latest building innovations — ones that are LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) certified or have solar panels," says Jim Rawlins, CSU's executive director of admissions.
CSU is also in the process of buying battery-powered vans to shuttle prospective students and their parents around campus, he says.
Hailey Broderick, 27, a second-year MBA student at the University of Colorado in Boulder, says she considered colleges in Boston and on the West Coast, but selected the university's Leeds School of Business in part because the program incorporates sustainability — from energy-efficient buildings to case studies on solar companies — into everything it does.
"I wouldn't have chosen Leeds if they were just a traditional business school," she says. "The sustainability piece was big for me."
Contributing: Hughes reports for The (Fort Collins) Coloradoan
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
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