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Representing almost 40% of a commercial facilies utility costs,Done properly, a lighting retrofit program can increase productivity, reduce defect rates and represent a cost advantage against your competitors who haven’t implemented their own efficiency programs. Selecting the right lighting retrofit vendor who will stand behind their product and system designs is key to real savings.
paybacks of less than 3 years are commonplace.
VENDORS: Check references, test recommendations against proposals, visit past installations and check their financial stability.
STAKEHOLDERS: get all the key stakeholders are involved up front to reduce delays during the project.
Addressing the finance and purchasing teams’ need to understand the costs and savings will help make sure the project hits all required financial hurdle rates. It’s also important to make sure the operations team is aware of the project’s impact on employee productivity and maintenance.
SET NEW LIGHTING LEVEL BASELINES: Include the latest Illuminating Engineering Society (IESNA) light level recommendations in your review. IESNA guidelines for your application factor in the difficulty level of tasks being performed as well as the age of your work force. In addition to light levels, consider how the environment is perceived. Retrofitting from lower color rendering (CRI) lamps to higher CRI lamps can improve visibility - even with lower light levels.
A poorly designed retrofit lighting system that saves money in energy
costs can take all those savings away in productivity losses, increased
error rates and absenteeism.
Cutting light levels below recommended levels, installing products that increase glare or create shadows can all harm worker and facility productivity.
FACILITY AUDIT: The facility audit is the blueprint for installation. A poor audit can result in change orders, increased costs, missed deadlines and poor application of product. Beware of the rapid audit.
A good audit collects area by area counts of all existing light fixtures, reviews light level readings, identifies obstructions, checks hours of operation and reviews the tasks being performed within the area to make sure that the design selections will be correct for the environment.
Utility companies vary widely in how they bill and awareness of how demand and usage charges are being applied is critical for an accurate evaluation. Make sure to factor in demand charges, taxes and seasonal peak charges to calculate costs and how they are applied. Watch for billing details! Consider a utility who charges a demand charge based on your highest usage of electricity for a month. If you’re using occupancy sensors, are the lights going to be on when the demand charge hits? If so, you’ll only be able to capture the kWh usage savings and not the associated demand savings you might otherwise expect.
CONTROLS & SENSORS: Controls, and occupancy sensors are becoming an important component of retrofit strategies. With controls being increasingly legislated and incentivised with ASHRAE 90.1, Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT) and utility rebate programs, there is no better way to save money and meet evolving building standards than by turning off or turning down the lights.
Prior to choosing sensors for your facility, consider installing “light loggers” that track occupancy in target areas so that you can get a feel for the savings. Use “program start” ballasted luminaries rather than” instant
start” to assure no loss of lamp life from frequent on/off cycles. And make sure that time and sensitivity levels are set properly during installation.
Not all lighting components work well together in all environmental conditions. Your facility can have a major impact on system performance. Factory temperatures and office occupancy levels affect how fixtures will perform in each environment. Mounting height levels that have temperatures in excess of 55˚C might require “high ambient” approved fixtures. Fixtures that run cooler, last longer - sometimes up to twice as long.
INCENTIVE PROGRAMS: States, federal government, and electrical utilities are actively looking for ways to reduce energy consumption by providing financial incentives. These incentive programs represents an opportunity
for real savings. Programs like Epact, a federal program that offers an accelerated tax deduction for lighting upgrades of up to $.60 per sq foot for projects completed through 2008 is a great example.
For the most up-to-date information on available incentives, ask your project vendor and check with your local utility for all the incentives and rebates available to you.
Workspace lighting should last a long time, so making buying decisions benefit from choosing materials and labor suppliers for the long term. When evaluating suppliers, check the products and associated warranties
being specified for reputation and financial wherewithal to correct problems.
LONG TERM OPERATIONS: A simple way to validate the projected results is to test the proposed retrofit system in a typical area. It’s easy to measure before and after light levels as well as amperage reductions on tested circuits. However, don’t assume that the initial light levels from this test represents what you’re going to have over the long haul.
New lighting systems inherently provide more light than aged systems. Dirt depreciation and lamp degradation curves all need to be considered when evaluating a retrofit lighting systems performance over time. While cutting edge lighting systems maintain more light then ever before, make sure your supplier builds maintenance factors into the proposed system evaluation so that light levels meet your long term expectations.
Maintenance savings also save in the long term because easy to maintain lighting system lowers operating costs and gives the maintenance team more time to focus on the pressing issues of keeping machines and people productive.
- Reduce the number of lamp and ballast types that have to be inventoried
- Select longer life component technologies that extend maintenance intervals.
- Check sample fixtures to see if access to the ballast compartment is tool-less to shorten time on the ladder.
- For open air industrial fixtures in caustic or high ambient environments, make sure that the components specified will operate at optimal levels.
SAVINGS: Consider the life of a lighting system into the savings calculations. The average life of a commercial or industrial lighting system exceeds 10 years. Quality systems cost more, but they also save more over time.
INSTALLATION: To make sure the installation goes as smoothly as possible, review and document all key elements of the installation plan including security access, product storage, recycling, how to manage “found” and
unaudited areas, as well as how updates will be provided throughout the project. While there may always be a few problems on the job, having a plan to resolve them quickly makes for a smoother and more successful installation.
When implemented correctly, lighting efficiency upgrades can start saving
your business money immediately!
FINANCING: The vast majority of lighting retrofit projects can provide paybacks within 3 years without any additional incentive at all. As an alternative, consider financing your lighting upgrade instead of waiting for the
next rebate or capital budget. A well designed lighting retrofit project will often offer immediate savings opportunity than can be used to fully fund the cost of the project and provide a positive cash flow from the very first month.
SOURCE: Cooper Lighting, a leader in the design of energy efficient lighting systems, can arm you with the information necessary to ensure a successful lighting efficiency upgrade, contact them at www.cooperenergysolutions.com
The
goal: meet California 's growing needs for energy efficiency and
demand response by creating and introducing energy-efficient, advanced
lighting technologies in 2008 and 2009.Lighting California's Future A $3.7 million California Energy Commission PIER Program focused on lighting technologies for buildings. The goal is to meet California's growing needs for the built environment.
- Improved Daylight Performance of Tubular Daylighting Devices
- Cost-Effective Demand Response (CEDR)
- Integration of Electric Lighting Controls with Utility Demand Response Signals
- Retrofit Integrated Classroom Lighting System (R-ICLS)
- Wireless Integrated Photosensor and Motion Sensor (WIPAM) Lighting Control System
- Advanced LED Downlighting Systems
- Novel LED Downlights
- Smart LED Lighting in Residential Fans
- Advanced, Energy-Efficienct LED Lighting for Residential and Commercial Applications
The project on Integration of Electric Lighting Controls with Utility DR Signals seeks to
identify the most cost-effective and reliable combinations of utility
DR signals and electric lighting controls to implement automated DR
capabilities with bi-directional communication capabilities that will
allow utilities to get feedback on achieved lighting load reductions.
The project will focus on lighting loads and be applicable to all
buildings without need for Internet access and energy management
systems. The solution includes communication/control from utility to building and from building to fixture.
Key project partners are the CLTC and SCE.
More information from Lighting California's Future"decorative fixtures must be more than pretty objects; they must also deliver the light that is needed in a space, to the surfaces that need it, and now they must do it with a minimum of watts. If you are designing a space with a contemporary, futuristic, or jazzy feel, it's not that big a deal because many manufacturers make some acceptable attractive fixtures in compact fluorescent, LED, or (rarely) in metal halide. "
The Lighting Blog
Get the latest news and ideas from Caliofornia's Lighting programs:
The Lighting BLOG
PIER Visibility...
The California Energy Commission’s PIER inaugural booth experienced significant traffic during the highly attended LightFair International tradeshow in Las Vegas, NV. The booth was organized by the PIER partnership model as well as many successful PIER technologies. The PIER partnership model focuses on finding market-based solutions with manufacturers, building partnerships for demonstrations, integrating feedback for product improvement, and creating a rapid, economic path to market.
The Lighting Forum:
Lighting pros can join the discussion of efficiency, design, energy...etc.
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Discuss anything related to light controls and the application and
installation: topics can include new technologies, components,
installation, questions and concerns, etc. |
Human Factors
The Lighting Portal
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CONTACT: Wes Morgan, California Lighting Technology Center
| PIER Technical Briefs |
| Learn more about the latest technologies, trends, and resources in energy-efficient design from the PIER Technical Briefs that distill volumes of
research into two-page summaries of the problem addressed, the
solution, and the benefits of implementing that solution. These briefs
are available as a free public resource. |
| PIER Partners: E-Source |
PLS - Personal Lighting System
Finelite introduces a new line of personal lighting from. PLS achieves ground-breaking levels of sustainable design, energy-efficiency and control using high intensity white LED light sources. Its minimalist design integrates into any aesthetic.Plus, this breakthrough system consumes about half the energy of the most efficient fluorescent task lights. It distributes light exactly where the user wants it and saves installation time and cost.
PLS was developed in conjunction with the California Lighting Technology Center (CLTC), and partially funded through the California Energy Commision (CEC) Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) program.
Choose from the following components to tailor your system.
- Desk lamp: Elegant, versatile, desk lamps let users quickly tailor illumination patterns and levels to specific tasks by simply moving the fixture's head-finger-touch adjustability. Interchangeable mountings provide maximum placement flexibility. These elegant desk lamps are available in three sizes. 3, 6, and 9 watts in a sleek silver or black finish.
- Undercabinet luminaire: At only 0.8 inches tall and 2.5 inches deep, PLS undercabinet fixtures fit seamlessly under binder bins, overhead cabinets and shelving. Each fixture reveals vertical textures while evenly distributing light on task surfaces. Available in 3, 6, and 9 watts, these fixtures can be used individually, joined in continuous rows or even relocated with plug-and-play simplicity
- System accessories: Your Personal Lighting System can be customized to fit individual work areas using any combination of multiple desk lamps and undercabinet units, in groupings of up to 60 watts total power. Systems are easily configured using a standard low-voltage cabling and include an optional occupancy sensor for maximum energy savings.
Multiple Patent-pending Features
30500 Whipple Road
Union City, CA 94587-1530
Phone (510) 441.1100
Seminars
▶ Attaining the Certified Lighting Consultant Coveted Designation
▶ New Tax Legislation and Impact - Especially for Reps
▶ Manufacturers’ Merchandising Panel - Experts’ Tips for Showroom Use
▶ Marketing to the Baby Boomers
▶ Today’s Advanced Energy Efficient Lighting — What You and Your Sales People Need to Know to Profit
▶ Strategic Planning and Marketing Your Rep Firm
▶ Update 2008: Antitrust Issues Along the Distribution Chain
▶ Turning Shoppers Into Buyers
▶ The One Best Thing I Have Done to Grow My Retail Business (In Spite of a Tough Economy)
▶ Maximizing Line Profitability for Reps
▶ Sales Management: Turning Ordinary Salespeople Into Extraordinary Salespeople
CLC® Training Session:
Advanced Application in Lighting Design and Problem Solving for Today’s Medium to High End Home
American Lighting Association Annual Conference
In 2008, Lighting for Tomorrow will once again recognize excellence in design of energy-efficient residential lighting fixtures - not just for new products but for innovative technologies as well. The competition will include separate categories for:
- Indoor and outdoor fixture families using pin-based linear or compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs); and
- LED-based fixtures encouraging manufacturers to use LEDs in innovative, energy-efficient designs.
Competition Rules, Entrant Guides:
- Yearbook (CFL) 2008 Entrant Guide (PDF, 35 KB)
- SSL 2008 Entrant Guide (PDF, 42 KB)
- Competition Rules (PDF, 24 KB)
Important Dates:
- January 17-21, 2008 - Lighting for Tomorrow 2008 Competition Launched at the Dallas Lighting Market
- March 14, 2008 - Intent-to-submit forms were due
- April 30, 2008 - All entries due
- September 14-16, 2008 - Lighting for Tomorrow 2008 Competition Winners Announced at the American Lighting Association Annual Conference
SOURCE:
http://www.lightingfortomorrow.com/
The purpose of the Lighting California's Future "Market Connection" effort is to shape
and support technology development and early deployment efforts in
order to accelerate the technology diffusion process and help meet codes and standards including Title 24, IESNA, ASHRAE, and LEED.
The ultimate outcome of the market connections element is broad market adoption of the lighting products developed within the LCF program, including codes and standards covering qualified products. As technical projects become available for initial field pilots, team members will develop and provide project specific information to California utility emerging technology programs and the University of California/California State University Energy Efficiency Partnership Program, and other similar groups.
Led
by New Buildings Institute with coordinated efforts from the California
Lighting Technology Center, Architectural Energy Corporation, and
SDV/ACCI.
Alliances and partnerships include:
•California utilities demonstration/evaluation/program support
•State/local agencies: UC/CSU system pilots
•Federal agencies: Federal Network for Sustainability
•Private sector- innovative business leaders
•US Green Building Council - LEED
•NBI- Advanced Lighting Guidelines
The program provides content for web sharing at the Lighting Portal, Design Lights, Lighting Lab.
The Technology Tranfer Plan business case
•Market and product definition
•Manufacturer business case
•Value proposition for the customer
•Supply chain requirements
•Key market barriers
•Key market messaging
•Energy/demand savings potential
The purpose of Technology Transfer Plans is to assist in building the business case for each project and cacilitate development of technology transfer plans (TTP)for each product to ensure that answers are provided to questions partners/investors/funding parties are likely to have about the product’s: Effectiveness in reducing/managing demand and Market feasibility.
This program also provides business case spreadsheet analysis tool, CO2 accounting, and connecions with the Navy and Bonneville Power, as well as the US DOE Commercial Lighting Initiative.
CONTACTS: Mark Cherniack, New Buildings Institute
Brian Fowler, SDV/ACCI
Lighting Technology & Trends
This e-learning class will help you to identify current trends in the lighting industry with an emphasis on light sources.The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005)
Energy efficient lighting can pay for itself in energy savings. For at least the next two years it may pay for itself initially as well as over time.An Introduction to Lighting Design for Residential Interior Applications
This introduction will help you understand the approach and techniques that the lighting designer takes when involved in the illumination of residential interiors.How to use Cooper Lighting's EPACT Calculator
This e-learning course is designed around the EPACT tax deduction calculator.VISIT: CooperLighting.com
