As reported in Environmental Leader
Maines Paper & Food has cut its lighting-related energy use by 87 percent thanks to the installation of Digital Lumens’ Intelligent Lighting System in its 460,000-square-foot headquarters in Conklin, New York. The lighting retrofit also improves lighting levels and helps the company meets is corporate sustainability targets.With the lighting retrofit, Maines expects to save 1,726,108 kWh of electricity per year and prevent 1,240 metric tons of CO2 emissions.
After an evaluation of lighting alternatives including fluorescents and LEDs with the help of its energy-efficiency partner Groom Energy Solutions, Maines selected the Digital Lumens solution, which combines LED lighting fixtures, networking and software, as a one-for-one retrofit of highbay warehouse lights.
Maines can track energy usage and occupancy on a fixture-by-fixture basis, enabling them to fine tune the light retrofit program to maximize efficiency. The system also creates a lighting network inside the facility, which provides opportunities for future capabilities and/or measuring and monitoring other aspects of the facility, says the company.Groom Energy installed the lighting upgrade project and replaced Maines’ existing 400-watt, high-pressure sodium fixtures, reducing both energy use and ongoing maintenance.
“Lighting represents about 20 percent of our warehouse electricity costs, and a great opportunity to reduce our facilities’ costs and improve operational efficiency,” said Pat DeOrdio, vice president of operations, Maines Paper & Food Service, Inc.
“We evaluated the Digital Lumens Intelligent Lighting System and found that it enables us to significantly reduce our energy consumption, improve overall safety by increasing light levels and decrease maintenance. This solution delivers numerous operational and environmental benefits, and positions us to better serve our customers’ needs,” he added.
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) provided the project incentive. NYSERDA’s goal is to help New York reduce energy consumption, promote the use of renewable energy sources and protect the environment.
Other recent projects that NYSERDA has provided funding or incentives for include recent HVAC upgrades at six New York State commercial facilities, which together will cut their energy consumption by more than 9.9 million kWH annually, a new energy-efficient grocery store, and a medical center.
http://www.environmentalleader.com/2010/08/25/maines-slashes-energy-use-87-with-lighting-retrofit/
LED Lighting Retrofits
A good practice for businesses looking to reduce energy expenses is to consider an LED lighting retrofit. Lighting retrofits replace lighting with newer technology such as LED linear lighting to save on energy costs and maintenance costs. Many building experts recommend a lighting retrofit as the first step to reducing energy costs. Redbird LED is an Atlanta based manufacturer and designer of Premium LED lights at value price points. For more information please visit their LED Retrofit website or call ( 678) 733-2473
Thursday, August 26, 2010
WareHouse Lighting Retrofits Save Energy Costs
As reported in Environmental Leader
Maines Paper & Food has cut its lighting-related energy use by 87 percent thanks to the installation of Digital Lumens’ Intelligent Lighting System in its 460,000-square-foot headquarters in Conklin, New York. The lighting retrofit also improves lighting levels and helps the company meets is corporate sustainability targets.With the lighting retrofit, Maines expects to save 1,726,108 kWh of electricity per year and prevent 1,240 metric tons of CO2 emissions.
After an evaluation of lighting alternatives including fluorescents and LEDs with the help of its energy-efficiency partner Groom Energy Solutions, Maines selected the Digital Lumens solution, which combines LED lighting fixtures, networking and software, as a one-for-one retrofit of highbay warehouse lights.
Maines can track energy usage and occupancy on a fixture-by-fixture basis, enabling them to fine tune the light retrofit program to maximize efficiency. The system also creates a lighting network inside the facility, which provides opportunities for future capabilities and/or measuring and monitoring other aspects of the facility, says the company.Groom Energy installed the lighting upgrade project and replaced Maines’ existing 400-watt, high-pressure sodium fixtures, reducing both energy use and ongoing maintenance.
“Lighting represents about 20 percent of our warehouse electricity costs, and a great opportunity to reduce our facilities’ costs and improve operational efficiency,” said Pat DeOrdio, vice president of operations, Maines Paper & Food Service, Inc.
“We evaluated the Digital Lumens Intelligent Lighting System and found that it enables us to significantly reduce our energy consumption, improve overall safety by increasing light levels and decrease maintenance. This solution delivers numerous operational and environmental benefits, and positions us to better serve our customers’ needs,” he added.
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) provided the project incentive. NYSERDA’s goal is to help New York reduce energy consumption, promote the use of renewable energy sources and protect the environment.
Other recent projects that NYSERDA has provided funding or incentives for include recent HVAC upgrades at six New York State commercial facilities, which together will cut their energy consumption by more than 9.9 million kWH annually, a new energy-efficient grocery store, and a medical center.
http://www.environmentalleader.com/2010/08/25/maines-slashes-energy-use-87-with-lighting-retrofit/
LED Lighting Retrofits
A good practice for businesses looking to reduce energy expenses is to consider an LED lighting retrofit. Lighting retrofits replace lighting with newer technology such as LED linear lighting to save on energy costs and maintenance costs. Many building experts recommend a lighting retrofit as the first step to reducing energy costs. Redbird LED is an Atlanta based manufacturer and designer of Premium LED lights at value price points. For more information please visit their LED Retrofit website or call ( 678) 733-2473
Maines Paper & Food has cut its lighting-related energy use by 87 percent thanks to the installation of Digital Lumens’ Intelligent Lighting System in its 460,000-square-foot headquarters in Conklin, New York. The lighting retrofit also improves lighting levels and helps the company meets is corporate sustainability targets.With the lighting retrofit, Maines expects to save 1,726,108 kWh of electricity per year and prevent 1,240 metric tons of CO2 emissions.
After an evaluation of lighting alternatives including fluorescents and LEDs with the help of its energy-efficiency partner Groom Energy Solutions, Maines selected the Digital Lumens solution, which combines LED lighting fixtures, networking and software, as a one-for-one retrofit of highbay warehouse lights.
Maines can track energy usage and occupancy on a fixture-by-fixture basis, enabling them to fine tune the light retrofit program to maximize efficiency. The system also creates a lighting network inside the facility, which provides opportunities for future capabilities and/or measuring and monitoring other aspects of the facility, says the company.Groom Energy installed the lighting upgrade project and replaced Maines’ existing 400-watt, high-pressure sodium fixtures, reducing both energy use and ongoing maintenance.
“Lighting represents about 20 percent of our warehouse electricity costs, and a great opportunity to reduce our facilities’ costs and improve operational efficiency,” said Pat DeOrdio, vice president of operations, Maines Paper & Food Service, Inc.
“We evaluated the Digital Lumens Intelligent Lighting System and found that it enables us to significantly reduce our energy consumption, improve overall safety by increasing light levels and decrease maintenance. This solution delivers numerous operational and environmental benefits, and positions us to better serve our customers’ needs,” he added.
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) provided the project incentive. NYSERDA’s goal is to help New York reduce energy consumption, promote the use of renewable energy sources and protect the environment.
Other recent projects that NYSERDA has provided funding or incentives for include recent HVAC upgrades at six New York State commercial facilities, which together will cut their energy consumption by more than 9.9 million kWH annually, a new energy-efficient grocery store, and a medical center.
http://www.environmentalleader.com/2010/08/25/maines-slashes-energy-use-87-with-lighting-retrofit/
LED Lighting Retrofits
A good practice for businesses looking to reduce energy expenses is to consider an LED lighting retrofit. Lighting retrofits replace lighting with newer technology such as LED linear lighting to save on energy costs and maintenance costs. Many building experts recommend a lighting retrofit as the first step to reducing energy costs. Redbird LED is an Atlanta based manufacturer and designer of Premium LED lights at value price points. For more information please visit their LED Retrofit website or call ( 678) 733-2473
DHL Launches Lightng Retrofit Program
DHL has launched a Lighting Retrofit Program at its Global Forwarding unit in the Americas region to help the company improve CO2 efficiency five percent by the end of 2010. The program will initially be rolled out in the United States before expanding to Canada and Mexico.
As part of Deutsche Post DHL and its GoGreen climate protection program, DHL Global Forwarding has committed to improving its CO2 efficiency by 30 percent by 2020 with an interim target of five percent by the end of this year. Deutsche Post DHL says it is the first logistics company in its industry to set a quantifiable environmental sustainability target.
The rollout will start at its Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, operation followed by Atlanta, Georgia; Dallas, Texas; and Miami, Florida. The San Juan, Puerto Rico operations is also planned in the initial rollout before expanding into Canada and Mexico where assessments are already under way.
By the end of the year, DHL Global Forwarding expects to achieve five percent CO2 efficiency improvements in the United States and Puerto Rico, together with a utility cost reduction of 50 percent and a projected CO2 reduction of 52 percent.
“Implementing a lighting retrofit program in our operations in the Americas, is one of the ways DHL Global Forwarding helps to protect the environment — and optimize operational costs,” said Sonia Nuñez, Head of GoGreen for DHL Global Forwarding, Americas.
DHL Global Forwarding operations in Houston, Texas; Chicago, Illinois; and Los Angeles, California already have efficient lighting.
In February 2008, the Toronto, Ontario facility in Canada was built with energy-efficient features. The advanced lighting system installed in the new facility is expected to deliver a 73 percent reduction in energy consumption for lighting.
DHL was one of three expedited shippers named by Inbound Logistics magazine on its list of “50 Green Supply Chain Partners.”
http://www.environmentalleader.com/2010/08/17/lighting-retrofits-to-cut-dhls-utility-costs-50-co2-emissions-52/
LED Lighting Retrofits
A good practice for businesses looking to reduce energy expenses is to consider an LED lighting retrofit. Lighting retrofits replace lighting with newer technology such as LED linear lighting to save on energy costs and maintenance costs. Many building experts recommend a lighting retrofit as the first step to reducing energy costs. Redbird LED is an Atlanta based manufacturer and designer of Premium LED lights at value price points. For more information please visit their LED Retrofit website or call ( 678) 733-2473
As part of Deutsche Post DHL and its GoGreen climate protection program, DHL Global Forwarding has committed to improving its CO2 efficiency by 30 percent by 2020 with an interim target of five percent by the end of this year. Deutsche Post DHL says it is the first logistics company in its industry to set a quantifiable environmental sustainability target.
The rollout will start at its Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, operation followed by Atlanta, Georgia; Dallas, Texas; and Miami, Florida. The San Juan, Puerto Rico operations is also planned in the initial rollout before expanding into Canada and Mexico where assessments are already under way.
By the end of the year, DHL Global Forwarding expects to achieve five percent CO2 efficiency improvements in the United States and Puerto Rico, together with a utility cost reduction of 50 percent and a projected CO2 reduction of 52 percent.
“Implementing a lighting retrofit program in our operations in the Americas, is one of the ways DHL Global Forwarding helps to protect the environment — and optimize operational costs,” said Sonia Nuñez, Head of GoGreen for DHL Global Forwarding, Americas.
DHL Global Forwarding operations in Houston, Texas; Chicago, Illinois; and Los Angeles, California already have efficient lighting.
In February 2008, the Toronto, Ontario facility in Canada was built with energy-efficient features. The advanced lighting system installed in the new facility is expected to deliver a 73 percent reduction in energy consumption for lighting.
DHL was one of three expedited shippers named by Inbound Logistics magazine on its list of “50 Green Supply Chain Partners.”
http://www.environmentalleader.com/2010/08/17/lighting-retrofits-to-cut-dhls-utility-costs-50-co2-emissions-52/
LED Lighting Retrofits
A good practice for businesses looking to reduce energy expenses is to consider an LED lighting retrofit. Lighting retrofits replace lighting with newer technology such as LED linear lighting to save on energy costs and maintenance costs. Many building experts recommend a lighting retrofit as the first step to reducing energy costs. Redbird LED is an Atlanta based manufacturer and designer of Premium LED lights at value price points. For more information please visit their LED Retrofit website or call ( 678) 733-2473
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Energy Efficient Financing Available
The pace of innovation in solar and other energy efficiency technology has historically outstripped the ability of government and the private sector to come up with creative ways to finance solar retrofit and other green technology improvements in a way that pencils out financially for commercial landlords and homeowners.
Florida State House Majority Leader Adam Hasner, R-Delray Beach, hopes to change that in the Sunshine State, along with others who are working in California and several other states to change the basic financing paradigm for clean technology retrofits in existing commercial buildings through a financial tool called PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) bonds. Hasner co-sponsored a measure to implement PACE in Florida, and Gov. Charlie Crist signed it into law May 27.
In simple terms, PACE programs create local bond financing districts, which then lend back capital to building and home owners to fund energy retrofit projects. Owners repay the loan through their property tax bills, typically over a 15- to 20-year term.
The concept potentially helps commercial property owners overcome the hurdle of the high upfront cost of energy upgrades. While the industry has come to agree that retrofits can sharply reduce energy costs and consumption and offset greenhouse gas emissions, private owners have struggled to finance such improvements due to capital constraints, especially in today’s economy.
Aggressive NOI goals and the need to split the benefits of tax credits and other incentives with tenants present other barriers for owners. PACE financing has emerged as a promising, albeit untested, tool for commercial owners.
“The opportunities are really tremendous from an energy retrofit perspective,” Hasner tells CoStar. “A lot of the hesitation from building owners comes from the upstream expenses and not wanting to make those expenditures. This type of financing can help alleviate some of those concerns and convince owners to make these types of investments, which are going to be cost effective as well as energy efficient in the long run.”
Hasner serves as an advisor to Clean Fund, a California-based merchant bank for clean technology. Clean Fund CEO John Kinney, a Marin County, CA, entrepreneur, said he is involved in fairly deep discussions with major property owners, including executives of some of the nation’s largest publicly traded REITs, in Los Angeles and San Francisco.
The Bay Area in particular is home to progressive and environmentally conscious real estate companies - owners that don’t need to be convinced of the potential value of retrofits and energy efficiency to their bottom lines, tenants and the environment.
“They’re trying to differentiate themselves by taking a leadership role,” Kinney said. “At the same time, tenants are shifting toward buildings that are environmentally responsible and have lower energy costs.”
PACE was launched as a demonstration project in 2007 in the Bay Area city of Berkeley. Based on its early success, states soon began passing bills enabling local cities and counties to create their own programs. At least 19 states have passed the legislation, including Arizona, California, Florida, Colorado, New York, Maryland, Massachusetts, Texas and Maine.
It works like this. A municipality establishes a PACE program, creating a special assessment district utilizing a voluntary tax lien on private property to secure financing for retrofits on existing buildings for energy efficiency, solar and other renewable energy projects, and sometimes water conservation. The liens are paid off over terms ranging from 5 to 20 years, most commonly through annual property tax bills.
Using the lien as security opens several financing options. But in most programs to date, PACE bonds are issued by special municipal finance districts or finance companies, or funding is borrowed from the municipality’s general fund, to fund loans to owners for commercial and residential retrofit projects. In some programs, each large commercial project secures its own third-party financing such as an additional loan from the primary mortgage lender.
The approach is entirely market based and each property owner in the district can voluntarily opt into the program.
A new study by Pike Research, a market research and consulting firm on the clean technology industry, has fueled the latest wave of interest in - and also questions about - the fledgling PACE programs. According to Pike, PACE will continue to grow in popularity in the U.S., with investment in PACE financing for commercial buildings totaling a projected $2.5 billion annually by 2015.
Commercial owners who are initially most likely to be candidates for the program include those with modestly sized buildings burdened by high energy bills - owners who plan to keep their property for a while and have accumulated 10% or more in equity. Initial applications will probably include office buildings of less than six stories, select service hotels, small malls with central HVAC, and grocery stores. “Until now, private buildings such as these have had minimal access to financing for energy retrofits,” the Pike report said.
The Pike report also addresses several concerns and barriers to implementation for the programs, mostly centered on the fact that they are untested in the marketplace.
Potential buyers and lending institutions may be wary of existing PACE liens, with first-mortgage holders concerned about how the liens would be transferred in an ownership change, and whether they would hold a senior position to lenders’ own loans, Pike said.
Also, it’s yet unclear whether a voluntary PACE lien will be treated under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) as a loan or as a lien on a company’s balance sheet -- an important distinction in evaluating a company’s debt position. Unlike assessment liens such as school district assessments, loans count against a business’s debt capacity.
The question of who is held accountable in the event of default is already being tested, at least on the residential side. Government-sponsored mortgage-finance entities Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, in letters sent to lenders in May, expressed concern about how the agencies will be repaid if homeowners participating in PACE later default on their mortgages. At least one municipality, Boulder County, CO., this week canceled its PACE program for residential, although its commercial program is still active.
Although PACE improvement projects can be fully financed under property tax bills and passed to future property buyers, some experts say most PACE programs are currently financed at relatively uncompetitive rates, which can present its own challenges.
“It will take time to educate people,” Florida’s Hasner acknowledged. “We’re still early in the first quarter of a four-quarter game. Everyone is very quick to recognize the innovations in technology in energy efficiency and new technologies. But PACE is really about an innovation in financing. It can be a very useful financial tool for commercial property owners to complete energy efficiency projects that will help them save money.”
CoStar Group Director of Analytics Norm Miller co-authored an influential study in 2008 with CoStar CEO Andrew Florance and Senior Director of Research and Analytics Jay Spivey that found strong evidence of both significant office rent premiums, faster absorption of space, lower cap rates and higher prices per square foot for green buildings bearing either an Energy Star or LEED certification. A retrofit program could potentially extend those premiums to a greater number of owners of existing properties.
“If PACE could offer lower financing rates, we would see more interest,” Miller said. “The mechanism makes sense. Many third-party vendors are pushing the program to cover new lighting, solar cells, improved water heating systems, HVACs, window glazing, reflective roofs and other improvements, all of which qualify. In concert with other incentives and federal rebates, these investments generally have payback within 10 to 12 years, and PACE programs can be utilized for up to 20 years.”
Because PACE assessments hold superior lien positions, lenders may one day restrict the ability to tack significant energy projects onto the property tax bill, especially when the total debt and improvement cost of a project exceeds a loan-to-value threshold deemed reasonable by the mortgagee, Miller said.
Kinney agrees that said PACE projects will require lender approval and cooperation to move forward due to the complexity of commercial mortgage loan covenants. However, PACE can be used in concert with tax credits and other incentives to reduce the cost of capital and shrink the total cost of a retrofit project.
“The lower the cost, the easier it is to justify, and in a commercial situation, projects aren’t going to get done just to improve the environment -- they will get done because they are cost justifiable,” Kinney said.
The fact that the property owner needs to cooperate with their mortgagee is “in some cases a different paradigm than property owners are used to,” especially in times of economic distress when relations between between lenders and owners are often strained, Kinney said.
Kinney said he is even talking with owners of distressed properties that are underwater and their lenders, who are intrigued by the PACE approach because of the possibility of making energy improvements, adding value and possibly recovering their costs in distressed assets -- without having to spend a lot of money on a building that might be lost to foreclosure.
"The steps that property owners take to retrofit are easy to justify financially," Kinney said. "Frankly, taking an inefficient building and making it more efficient is much more valuable than taking a new building that is already highly efficient and simply certifying that it is in fact, highly efficient."
Florida State House Majority Leader Adam Hasner, R-Delray Beach, hopes to change that in the Sunshine State, along with others who are working in California and several other states to change the basic financing paradigm for clean technology retrofits in existing commercial buildings through a financial tool called PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) bonds. Hasner co-sponsored a measure to implement PACE in Florida, and Gov. Charlie Crist signed it into law May 27.
In simple terms, PACE programs create local bond financing districts, which then lend back capital to building and home owners to fund energy retrofit projects. Owners repay the loan through their property tax bills, typically over a 15- to 20-year term.
The concept potentially helps commercial property owners overcome the hurdle of the high upfront cost of energy upgrades. While the industry has come to agree that retrofits can sharply reduce energy costs and consumption and offset greenhouse gas emissions, private owners have struggled to finance such improvements due to capital constraints, especially in today’s economy.
Aggressive NOI goals and the need to split the benefits of tax credits and other incentives with tenants present other barriers for owners. PACE financing has emerged as a promising, albeit untested, tool for commercial owners.
“The opportunities are really tremendous from an energy retrofit perspective,” Hasner tells CoStar. “A lot of the hesitation from building owners comes from the upstream expenses and not wanting to make those expenditures. This type of financing can help alleviate some of those concerns and convince owners to make these types of investments, which are going to be cost effective as well as energy efficient in the long run.”
Hasner serves as an advisor to Clean Fund, a California-based merchant bank for clean technology. Clean Fund CEO John Kinney, a Marin County, CA, entrepreneur, said he is involved in fairly deep discussions with major property owners, including executives of some of the nation’s largest publicly traded REITs, in Los Angeles and San Francisco.
The Bay Area in particular is home to progressive and environmentally conscious real estate companies - owners that don’t need to be convinced of the potential value of retrofits and energy efficiency to their bottom lines, tenants and the environment.
“They’re trying to differentiate themselves by taking a leadership role,” Kinney said. “At the same time, tenants are shifting toward buildings that are environmentally responsible and have lower energy costs.”
PACE was launched as a demonstration project in 2007 in the Bay Area city of Berkeley. Based on its early success, states soon began passing bills enabling local cities and counties to create their own programs. At least 19 states have passed the legislation, including Arizona, California, Florida, Colorado, New York, Maryland, Massachusetts, Texas and Maine.
It works like this. A municipality establishes a PACE program, creating a special assessment district utilizing a voluntary tax lien on private property to secure financing for retrofits on existing buildings for energy efficiency, solar and other renewable energy projects, and sometimes water conservation. The liens are paid off over terms ranging from 5 to 20 years, most commonly through annual property tax bills.
Using the lien as security opens several financing options. But in most programs to date, PACE bonds are issued by special municipal finance districts or finance companies, or funding is borrowed from the municipality’s general fund, to fund loans to owners for commercial and residential retrofit projects. In some programs, each large commercial project secures its own third-party financing such as an additional loan from the primary mortgage lender.
The approach is entirely market based and each property owner in the district can voluntarily opt into the program.
A new study by Pike Research, a market research and consulting firm on the clean technology industry, has fueled the latest wave of interest in - and also questions about - the fledgling PACE programs. According to Pike, PACE will continue to grow in popularity in the U.S., with investment in PACE financing for commercial buildings totaling a projected $2.5 billion annually by 2015.
Commercial owners who are initially most likely to be candidates for the program include those with modestly sized buildings burdened by high energy bills - owners who plan to keep their property for a while and have accumulated 10% or more in equity. Initial applications will probably include office buildings of less than six stories, select service hotels, small malls with central HVAC, and grocery stores. “Until now, private buildings such as these have had minimal access to financing for energy retrofits,” the Pike report said.
The Pike report also addresses several concerns and barriers to implementation for the programs, mostly centered on the fact that they are untested in the marketplace.
Potential buyers and lending institutions may be wary of existing PACE liens, with first-mortgage holders concerned about how the liens would be transferred in an ownership change, and whether they would hold a senior position to lenders’ own loans, Pike said.
Also, it’s yet unclear whether a voluntary PACE lien will be treated under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) as a loan or as a lien on a company’s balance sheet -- an important distinction in evaluating a company’s debt position. Unlike assessment liens such as school district assessments, loans count against a business’s debt capacity.
The question of who is held accountable in the event of default is already being tested, at least on the residential side. Government-sponsored mortgage-finance entities Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, in letters sent to lenders in May, expressed concern about how the agencies will be repaid if homeowners participating in PACE later default on their mortgages. At least one municipality, Boulder County, CO., this week canceled its PACE program for residential, although its commercial program is still active.
Although PACE improvement projects can be fully financed under property tax bills and passed to future property buyers, some experts say most PACE programs are currently financed at relatively uncompetitive rates, which can present its own challenges.
“It will take time to educate people,” Florida’s Hasner acknowledged. “We’re still early in the first quarter of a four-quarter game. Everyone is very quick to recognize the innovations in technology in energy efficiency and new technologies. But PACE is really about an innovation in financing. It can be a very useful financial tool for commercial property owners to complete energy efficiency projects that will help them save money.”
CoStar Group Director of Analytics Norm Miller co-authored an influential study in 2008 with CoStar CEO Andrew Florance and Senior Director of Research and Analytics Jay Spivey that found strong evidence of both significant office rent premiums, faster absorption of space, lower cap rates and higher prices per square foot for green buildings bearing either an Energy Star or LEED certification. A retrofit program could potentially extend those premiums to a greater number of owners of existing properties.
“If PACE could offer lower financing rates, we would see more interest,” Miller said. “The mechanism makes sense. Many third-party vendors are pushing the program to cover new lighting, solar cells, improved water heating systems, HVACs, window glazing, reflective roofs and other improvements, all of which qualify. In concert with other incentives and federal rebates, these investments generally have payback within 10 to 12 years, and PACE programs can be utilized for up to 20 years.”
Because PACE assessments hold superior lien positions, lenders may one day restrict the ability to tack significant energy projects onto the property tax bill, especially when the total debt and improvement cost of a project exceeds a loan-to-value threshold deemed reasonable by the mortgagee, Miller said.
Kinney agrees that said PACE projects will require lender approval and cooperation to move forward due to the complexity of commercial mortgage loan covenants. However, PACE can be used in concert with tax credits and other incentives to reduce the cost of capital and shrink the total cost of a retrofit project.
“The lower the cost, the easier it is to justify, and in a commercial situation, projects aren’t going to get done just to improve the environment -- they will get done because they are cost justifiable,” Kinney said.
The fact that the property owner needs to cooperate with their mortgagee is “in some cases a different paradigm than property owners are used to,” especially in times of economic distress when relations between between lenders and owners are often strained, Kinney said.
Kinney said he is even talking with owners of distressed properties that are underwater and their lenders, who are intrigued by the PACE approach because of the possibility of making energy improvements, adding value and possibly recovering their costs in distressed assets -- without having to spend a lot of money on a building that might be lost to foreclosure.
"The steps that property owners take to retrofit are easy to justify financially," Kinney said. "Frankly, taking an inefficient building and making it more efficient is much more valuable than taking a new building that is already highly efficient and simply certifying that it is in fact, highly efficient."
Cleveland Still Studying LED Retrofit Program
While Mayor Frank Jackson's second effort to tie the purchase of millions of dollars' worth of LED lights to job creation requires competitive bidding, some council members remain skeptical that it's a good deal for the city.
A joint council committee met Wednesday for the first of several hearings on the LED issue. It quickly became evident during the meeting that council opponents of the initial LED legislation are not ready to embrace this latest try.
Those members continued to question whether some of the LED lights the city proposes to buy would save on energy costs, wondered about the wisdom of giving one company a 10-year contract and were unsure if the effort at creating a new economic model for city purchasing is viable. Finally, there continues to be mistrust of the administration.
"This is an issue of integrity that lingers from the previous experience of trying to get the ordinance passed," said Councilman Jeff Johnson.
Darnell Brown, Jackson's chief operating officer, said the new ordinance gives companies the chance to prove claims that they can deliver both LED lights and jobs. The ordinance, which must be approved by council, requires the winning bidder to create at least 350 jobs and build a manufacturing plant and research facility in Cleveland.
"These are exactly the types of jobs that have been drying up in Cleveland," Brown said. "This is about helping Clevelanders compete locally in regards to an advanced energy product."
Jackson proposed earlier this year to give a Chinese company an exclusive contract to provide LED street lights, traffic lights, light bulbs and fluorescent tube replacements in exchange for the company building its North American headquarters in Cleveland and creating 350 jobs.
The mayor pulled the plug on the deal before a planned May 31 council vote. Jackson said he had tainted the process when he announced a deal with Sunpu-Opto Semiconductor Ltd. during his State of the City speech in March even though Cleveland Public Power officials were still gathering proposals from competing lighting companies.
Jackson also acknowledged there were questions about the role of a middleman who had introduced city officials to Sunpu representatives last August. That middleman later became president of the company's proposed U.S. subsidiary.
The new legislation is similar to the Sunpu-Opto piece except that instead of hand-picking the company, the contract will be bid.
Administration officials say the contract provides the city with guarantees and protections should the winning bidder fail to create the required number of jobs or deliver quality LED lights the city needs.
A joint council committee met Wednesday for the first of several hearings on the LED issue. It quickly became evident during the meeting that council opponents of the initial LED legislation are not ready to embrace this latest try.
Those members continued to question whether some of the LED lights the city proposes to buy would save on energy costs, wondered about the wisdom of giving one company a 10-year contract and were unsure if the effort at creating a new economic model for city purchasing is viable. Finally, there continues to be mistrust of the administration.
"This is an issue of integrity that lingers from the previous experience of trying to get the ordinance passed," said Councilman Jeff Johnson.
Darnell Brown, Jackson's chief operating officer, said the new ordinance gives companies the chance to prove claims that they can deliver both LED lights and jobs. The ordinance, which must be approved by council, requires the winning bidder to create at least 350 jobs and build a manufacturing plant and research facility in Cleveland.
"These are exactly the types of jobs that have been drying up in Cleveland," Brown said. "This is about helping Clevelanders compete locally in regards to an advanced energy product."
Jackson proposed earlier this year to give a Chinese company an exclusive contract to provide LED street lights, traffic lights, light bulbs and fluorescent tube replacements in exchange for the company building its North American headquarters in Cleveland and creating 350 jobs.
The mayor pulled the plug on the deal before a planned May 31 council vote. Jackson said he had tainted the process when he announced a deal with Sunpu-Opto Semiconductor Ltd. during his State of the City speech in March even though Cleveland Public Power officials were still gathering proposals from competing lighting companies.
Jackson also acknowledged there were questions about the role of a middleman who had introduced city officials to Sunpu representatives last August. That middleman later became president of the company's proposed U.S. subsidiary.
The new legislation is similar to the Sunpu-Opto piece except that instead of hand-picking the company, the contract will be bid.
Administration officials say the contract provides the city with guarantees and protections should the winning bidder fail to create the required number of jobs or deliver quality LED lights the city needs.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
New Way To Fund Lighting Retrofits
Georgia Green Loans, a non-profit organization that works to help grow eco-friendly small businesses, products and services, is launching the Save & Sustain program, designed to help small businesses with energy costs.
Energy costs represent a significant percentage of revenue for small businesses–in some sectors as high as 20 percent. But through the Save & Sustain program qualified businesses will receive a grant toward an energy assessment and a low interest loan to make improvements to facilities and equipment. The program is funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 in cooperation with the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority (GEFA).
“Any small business in the state of Georgia looking to reduce their energy consumption can apply to be part of the program,” Matt Ryder, vice president of programs for Georgia Green Loans said. “We’re ready to help businesses reduce their overall cost of operations while doing their part to protect our planet.” Ryder, a veteran of the operations consulting industry, has an extensive background in helping businesses trim operating costs. As part of Save & Sustain, Ryder will help businesses calculate savings and return on investment for energy efficiency projects.
Innovative energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in Georgia received $10 million in competitive grant funds through the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Competitive Grant Program administered by GEFA. The program, which was launched in July 2009, funded 16 projects as a result of the ARRA, including the Save & Sustain program.
The definition of small business follows U.S. Small Business Administration guidelines, generally under 500 employees. Loans for up to $50,000 are available.
To contact Matt Ryder, call 404.863.3510 or e-mail him at ryder@georgiagreenloans.org.
About Georgia Green Loans (www.georgiagreenloans.org)
Energy costs represent a significant percentage of revenue for small businesses–in some sectors as high as 20 percent. But through the Save & Sustain program qualified businesses will receive a grant toward an energy assessment and a low interest loan to make improvements to facilities and equipment. The program is funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 in cooperation with the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority (GEFA).
“Any small business in the state of Georgia looking to reduce their energy consumption can apply to be part of the program,” Matt Ryder, vice president of programs for Georgia Green Loans said. “We’re ready to help businesses reduce their overall cost of operations while doing their part to protect our planet.” Ryder, a veteran of the operations consulting industry, has an extensive background in helping businesses trim operating costs. As part of Save & Sustain, Ryder will help businesses calculate savings and return on investment for energy efficiency projects.
Innovative energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in Georgia received $10 million in competitive grant funds through the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Competitive Grant Program administered by GEFA. The program, which was launched in July 2009, funded 16 projects as a result of the ARRA, including the Save & Sustain program.
The definition of small business follows U.S. Small Business Administration guidelines, generally under 500 employees. Loans for up to $50,000 are available.
To contact Matt Ryder, call 404.863.3510 or e-mail him at ryder@georgiagreenloans.org.
About Georgia Green Loans (www.georgiagreenloans.org)
Friday, June 25, 2010
Miami Airport Set to Save $11 Million on Energy Costs
JUNO BEACH, Fla., Jun 24, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- FPL Services, LLC, a subsidiary of Florida Power & Light Company, announced today that Miami International Airport (MIA) entered the second phase of a comprehensive, energy-efficiency program expected to produce cumulative net savings of $11 million for the 7.5 million-square-foot terminal.
MIA serves more than 30 million passengers a year. Its operator, the Miami-Dade Aviation Department, has worked with FPL Services since 2008 when it began the first phase of this long-term initiative to improve the airport's energy efficiency and lighting while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and costs.
"Energy efficiency and environmental stewardship have been among MIA's top priorities for quite some time," said Miami-Dade Aviation Department Aviation Director Jose Abreu. "Without a doubt, our long-term partnership with FPL Services enables us to aggressively reduce our energy footprint, conserve valuable resources and manage the costs of running a major international airport more effectively."
At MIA, FPL Services' energy-efficiency measures continue to focus on the airport's largest users of energy: lighting systems, chilled-water pumps, and heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems. By retrofitting 40,000 lighting fixtures, adding occupancy sensors and installing 10 new high-efficiency motors and chilled-water pumps, the airport's annual carbon dioxide emissions are expected to be reduced by 5,035 metric tons over the next 15 years -- equivalent to the annual greenhouse gas emissions from more than 960 passenger vehicles.
In addition to the financial and environmental benefits, the airport's 33.9 million annual passengers and 35,000 employees are expected to enjoy improved infrastructure reliability, reduced equipment failures and the enhanced safety and aesthetics of improved lighting levels.
"It is a privilege for FPL Services to partner again with Miami International Airport to improve the infrastructure of its facilities, increase the efficiency of its operations and reduce its impact on the environment," said FPL Services Vice President and General Manager Greg Hanlon. "This is a great example of how investing in the future can pay immediate financial, social and environmental returns. Our mission at FPL Services is to help public sectors such as transportation, government and education, as well as large commercial customers, identify and execute energy efficiency projects that can deliver significant and sustainable benefits."
MIA serves more than 30 million passengers a year. Its operator, the Miami-Dade Aviation Department, has worked with FPL Services since 2008 when it began the first phase of this long-term initiative to improve the airport's energy efficiency and lighting while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and costs.
"Energy efficiency and environmental stewardship have been among MIA's top priorities for quite some time," said Miami-Dade Aviation Department Aviation Director Jose Abreu. "Without a doubt, our long-term partnership with FPL Services enables us to aggressively reduce our energy footprint, conserve valuable resources and manage the costs of running a major international airport more effectively."
At MIA, FPL Services' energy-efficiency measures continue to focus on the airport's largest users of energy: lighting systems, chilled-water pumps, and heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems. By retrofitting 40,000 lighting fixtures, adding occupancy sensors and installing 10 new high-efficiency motors and chilled-water pumps, the airport's annual carbon dioxide emissions are expected to be reduced by 5,035 metric tons over the next 15 years -- equivalent to the annual greenhouse gas emissions from more than 960 passenger vehicles.
In addition to the financial and environmental benefits, the airport's 33.9 million annual passengers and 35,000 employees are expected to enjoy improved infrastructure reliability, reduced equipment failures and the enhanced safety and aesthetics of improved lighting levels.
"It is a privilege for FPL Services to partner again with Miami International Airport to improve the infrastructure of its facilities, increase the efficiency of its operations and reduce its impact on the environment," said FPL Services Vice President and General Manager Greg Hanlon. "This is a great example of how investing in the future can pay immediate financial, social and environmental returns. Our mission at FPL Services is to help public sectors such as transportation, government and education, as well as large commercial customers, identify and execute energy efficiency projects that can deliver significant and sustainable benefits."
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Overlook lll Completes Lighting Retrofit and Attains LEED Silver
The twenty-two story Overlook III office building, at 2859 Paces Ferry Road in the Northwest Atlanta submarket, has been awarded LEED Silver certification for existing buildings by the US Green Building Council. The 438,709 square-foot property is the second building in Atlanta owned and managed by Parmenter Realty Partners to achieve LEED certification.
“These projects have reduced the building’s carbon footprint, while lowering tenant operating costs and improving tenant comfort. It’s a real win/win situation”
Parmenter and its consultant, BVM Engineering, worked together to attain this certification, building on Parmenter’s existing corporate green initiatives. Since purchasing the building Parmenter has aggressively pursued energy saving projects such as recommissioning the mechanical systems, retrofitting restroom faucets and toilets with low-flow devices, and completing a full building lighting retrofit. Additionally, the building has strengthened the green cleaning and recycling programs already in place. Parmenter has also improved the building’s Energy Star rating during the past year from a score of 87 to 90, which puts it in the top 10% of most energy efficient buildings of this size in this region.
“These projects have reduced the building’s carbon footprint, while lowering tenant operating costs and improving tenant comfort. It’s a real win/win situation,” says John C. Davidson, Parmenter Southeast Regional Director. Parmenter achieved LEED gold in 2009 for 1000 Parkwood, a 211,000 sq. ft. building also in the Northwest submarket.
“These projects have reduced the building’s carbon footprint, while lowering tenant operating costs and improving tenant comfort. It’s a real win/win situation”
Parmenter and its consultant, BVM Engineering, worked together to attain this certification, building on Parmenter’s existing corporate green initiatives. Since purchasing the building Parmenter has aggressively pursued energy saving projects such as recommissioning the mechanical systems, retrofitting restroom faucets and toilets with low-flow devices, and completing a full building lighting retrofit. Additionally, the building has strengthened the green cleaning and recycling programs already in place. Parmenter has also improved the building’s Energy Star rating during the past year from a score of 87 to 90, which puts it in the top 10% of most energy efficient buildings of this size in this region.
“These projects have reduced the building’s carbon footprint, while lowering tenant operating costs and improving tenant comfort. It’s a real win/win situation,” says John C. Davidson, Parmenter Southeast Regional Director. Parmenter achieved LEED gold in 2009 for 1000 Parkwood, a 211,000 sq. ft. building also in the Northwest submarket.
Holiday Inn Complete Lighting Retrofits at Two Locations
Holiday Inn Old Town in San Diego and Casa Romantica in San Clemente, Calif. has installed LED light tubes to reduce energy and maintenance costs.They retrofitted their T-8 fluorescent lights with ilumisys MK-1 LED light tubes at both facilities, which will result in nearly $4,000 in energy costs savings annually for Holiday Inn Old Town and more than $10,000 in annual savings for Casa Romantica.
Holiday Inn Old Town replaced more than 200 fluorescent light tubes in areas that operate 24/7, including its subterranean parking lot and stairwells throughout the building. Casa Romantica, a registered historic location frequently used for special occasions, retrofitted all of the fluorescent, incandescent and halogen lights on its property to ilumisys LED lighting. The LED lighting was installed throughout the facility including in offices, storage areas, art centers, galleries and common areas.
ilumisys MK-1 tubes have a lifespan of 50,000 hours, twice as long as the average fluorescent tube. The longer life of the LED tubes provides supplementary savings by reducing the need to purchase new product. This also reduces the amount of time maintenance employees spend changing lights, allowing them to be better utilized by engaging in more important activities. For Casa Romantica, this was a key contributing factor in its decision to install LEDs.
Holiday Inn Old Town and Casa Romantica benefited from a zero-out-of-pocket" financing program through their local utility company, which helped to keep initial costs at a minimum.
Blog Sponsor
Value Energy Solutions is an Atlanta based lighting retrofit company that helps owners, managers and engineers reduce their energy costs. Value Energy Solutions has more than 30 years experience providing creative and effective lighting solutions that improve the illumination for building users and reduce electrical bills. Their expertise, wide selection and value pricing cannot be beat. For more information please call (678) 501-4880 or visit our lighting retrofit website- www.valueenergysolutions.com
Holiday Inn Old Town replaced more than 200 fluorescent light tubes in areas that operate 24/7, including its subterranean parking lot and stairwells throughout the building. Casa Romantica, a registered historic location frequently used for special occasions, retrofitted all of the fluorescent, incandescent and halogen lights on its property to ilumisys LED lighting. The LED lighting was installed throughout the facility including in offices, storage areas, art centers, galleries and common areas.
ilumisys MK-1 tubes have a lifespan of 50,000 hours, twice as long as the average fluorescent tube. The longer life of the LED tubes provides supplementary savings by reducing the need to purchase new product. This also reduces the amount of time maintenance employees spend changing lights, allowing them to be better utilized by engaging in more important activities. For Casa Romantica, this was a key contributing factor in its decision to install LEDs.
Holiday Inn Old Town and Casa Romantica benefited from a zero-out-of-pocket" financing program through their local utility company, which helped to keep initial costs at a minimum.
Blog Sponsor
Value Energy Solutions is an Atlanta based lighting retrofit company that helps owners, managers and engineers reduce their energy costs. Value Energy Solutions has more than 30 years experience providing creative and effective lighting solutions that improve the illumination for building users and reduce electrical bills. Their expertise, wide selection and value pricing cannot be beat. For more information please call (678) 501-4880 or visit our lighting retrofit website- www.valueenergysolutions.com
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Lithonia Lighting, a leader in indoor commercial and architectural lighting, announced that it is fortifying its presence in the LED lighting market with the introduction of RTLED. RTLED is a high-quality, volumetric recessed luminaire that delivers ambient white light throughout an entire space while reducing energy costs, maintenance costs and a building’s environmental footprint.
“RTLED is an innovative breakthrough for high-quality LED lighting solutions in commercial interior spaces,” said Dave Ranieri, vice president of Lithonia Lighting Fluorescent/LED Business Unit. “In addition to maintaining high efficacy and excellent color over a 50,000-hour system life, RTLED creates an optimum balance of directional and diffuse illumination for exceptional visibility and comfort. Equally important to our commercial customer, Lithonia Lighting sets a new standard for digital lighting solutions by integrating the most advanced smart control components to further enhance energy performance.”
The RTLED is powered by an advanced Samsung LED light engine to deliver superior lighting environment: high color rendering (80+ CRI), 3500K color temperature, and full range dimming with 0-10V DC control.
Reduces Maintenance Costs
Another benefit of RTLED is it reduces maintenance costs by delivering 50,000 hours of light without having to replace lamps or ballasts, which reduces downtime and increases employee productivity. The luminaire adjusts itself to eliminate the waste of over lighting. RTLED tracks its own operating hours and provides a visual indicator when the luminaire has reached the end of its service life.
Additionally, RTLED allows building owners to meet sustainability goals in numerous ways, including: eliminating mercury and lead use; using recyclable components and materials; minimizing waste in the manufacturing and distribution process; using recycled steel; a small and compact design (only 3-1/8” deep) and maximizing component life while minimizing energy consumption.
Blog Sponsor
Value Energy Solutions is an Atlanta based lighting retrofit company that helps owners, managers and engineers reduce their energy costs. Value Energy Solutions has more than 30 years experience providing creative and effective lighting solutions that improve the illumination for building users and reduce electrical bills. Their expertise, wide selection and value pricing cannot be beat. For more information please call (678) 501-4880 or visit our lighting retrofit website- www.valueenergysolutions.com
“RTLED is an innovative breakthrough for high-quality LED lighting solutions in commercial interior spaces,” said Dave Ranieri, vice president of Lithonia Lighting Fluorescent/LED Business Unit. “In addition to maintaining high efficacy and excellent color over a 50,000-hour system life, RTLED creates an optimum balance of directional and diffuse illumination for exceptional visibility and comfort. Equally important to our commercial customer, Lithonia Lighting sets a new standard for digital lighting solutions by integrating the most advanced smart control components to further enhance energy performance.”
The RTLED is powered by an advanced Samsung LED light engine to deliver superior lighting environment: high color rendering (80+ CRI), 3500K color temperature, and full range dimming with 0-10V DC control.
Reduces Maintenance Costs
Another benefit of RTLED is it reduces maintenance costs by delivering 50,000 hours of light without having to replace lamps or ballasts, which reduces downtime and increases employee productivity. The luminaire adjusts itself to eliminate the waste of over lighting. RTLED tracks its own operating hours and provides a visual indicator when the luminaire has reached the end of its service life.
Additionally, RTLED allows building owners to meet sustainability goals in numerous ways, including: eliminating mercury and lead use; using recyclable components and materials; minimizing waste in the manufacturing and distribution process; using recycled steel; a small and compact design (only 3-1/8” deep) and maximizing component life while minimizing energy consumption.
Blog Sponsor
Value Energy Solutions is an Atlanta based lighting retrofit company that helps owners, managers and engineers reduce their energy costs. Value Energy Solutions has more than 30 years experience providing creative and effective lighting solutions that improve the illumination for building users and reduce electrical bills. Their expertise, wide selection and value pricing cannot be beat. For more information please call (678) 501-4880 or visit our lighting retrofit website- www.valueenergysolutions.com
panduit
Panduit Corporation Announces Opening of New World Headquarters Building in Suburban Chicago
Building Will Achieve Estimated 30% to 35% Annual Energy Savings, and Provide a Smart and Healthy Work Place, Based on the Unified Physical Infrastructure(SM) Approach
Panduit Corporation is proud to announce the opening of its new World Headquarters building today in Tinley Park, Ill. The building, which incorporates Panduit's Unified Physical Infrastructure(SM) (UPI) approach, represents a dramatic leap forward in collaboration, smart and healthy work environments, energy reduction, and cost savings. The UPI approach delivers optimal efficiency without sacrificing effectiveness – significantly reducing capital and operational expenses in buildings while enhancing productivity, safety, reliability, and sustainability.
"Panduit's new world headquarters brings to life our vision for creating environmentally sustainable and healthy places to work," states John Caveney, CEO. "We set out with a mission to create the 'building of the future,' and we feel we've set a new precedent by combining state-of-the-art visibility and control for all critical building systems, sustainable energy, operational cost savings and intelligent design features − all aligned under a single unified infrastructure."
The five-story building comprises 280,000 square feet of office, conferencing and training space, enabling collaboration through open office concepts, shared work spaces, and the deployment of the latest technologies to connect internal and external employees, partners and customers. The space will initially serve 550 employees and is able to accommodate a total of 800. The company in total now employs over 4,000 people globally.
The world headquarters is an important step in the evolution of Panduit, providing a proof of concept for UPI that demonstrates intelligent design, implementation and management of unified systems and building architecture. The new building reflects Panduit's transformation and commitment to solving customer and industry challenges surrounding business continuity, security, agility, and rising costs. During the design phase, energy modeling showed that the LEED Design process will provide an estimated annual energy savings of 30% to 35%. In addition, UPI enabled Connected Building design principles will provide estimated operational savings of $0.63 per square foot.
The building serves as a living case study of Panduit's Unified Physical Infrastructure (UPI) approach, which gives enterprises the capabilities to connect, manage and automate communications, computing, power, control and security systems for a smarter business foundation. UPI based elements of the building design include:
* A smart data center, which showcases an intelligent infrastructure that features high-speed data transport network infrastructure, energy efficient heating and cooling, and data center virtualization, enabling a 15% reduction in data center power costs and 38% reduction in cooling costs.
* Connected building architecture, which bridges key business applications across the building, enabling convergence of physical and logical systems onto a single network. This intelligence drives efficiencies, visibility and control extending the reach of cabling infrastructures to all endpoint devices for seamless integration of building systems (including IP telephony, wireless connectivity, digital media, and physical security).
* The unique Unified Operation Center (UOC), which co-locates the world headquarters safety, security, network, and communications operations, enables close coordination and information sharing in a central location. Moving to converged and IP based systems speeds time-critical evaluation and response for improved workplace safety and network service level agreements (SLAs). This consolidated environment also reduces duplication, which results in a positive ROI in both hard equipment and soft operational costs.
The headquarters is already being viewed as a model for best-in-class integrated buildings worldwide. By collaborating with UPI Technology Partners such as Cisco, IBM, EMC, Emerson, Fluke, Haworth, Lutron, Oracle, and Tridium, Panduit is able to address challenges that cut across multiple business and technology domains. "As the trend of building automation and IT convergence advances, the common vision we have developed with Panduit becomes even more relevant. Together we are helping to rethink the way that physical infrastructure is managed and are opening up new opportunities for our customers to place network-driven innovation at the heart of their business," said David Hsieh, VP Marketing, Emerging Technologies Group, Cisco.
Panduit teamed with leading global design, planning and strategic consulting firm Gensler, as well as with national engineering and construction firms Affiliated Engineers Inc., Continental Technologies, and Power Construction, to design this innovative building. "Through our relationship with Panduit, we better understand that technology is a key component to sustainability – to monitor and control the building's energy use. We understand how the UPI vision can enhance LEED certification and will consider using this technology strategy on other projects," states Jay Longo, Gensler Senior Associate.
The building is expected to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification. In addition to the UPI based design, other features of Panduit's world headquarters that enhance the workplace experience and contribute to overall sustainability goals include:
* The first application of light shelves with integrated window shades, to help redistribute the sun's direct light deep into the building and reduce the amount of powered lighting.
* The first installation in Illinois of a water reclamation system in an office building. This system collects rainwater from the roofs for internal non-potable uses to enhance efficiency and environmental responsibility, creating an estimated annual water savings of 910,000 gallons.
* Reclaimed redwood from water towers, used for architectural wood accents.
* A green roof which protects the roof membrane from harsh weather and ultraviolet radiation. This system insulates the building and minimizes heat gain.
Many of the building's features are a direct result of Panduit's commitment to achieving a LEED Gold certification. "The costs associated with the LEED criteria were approximately 2% of the total construction budget, and we expect to see these investments show a payback in less than five years," says Robert Smith, Director of Global Real Estate. "Our LEED Gold building design demonstrates our continued dedication to being an environmentally conscious manufacturer and our commitment to sustainability."
Panduit's new World Headquarters brings to life the many benefits of the Unified Physical Infrastructure approach and values of the company. According to a commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of Panduit, organizations utilizing UPI principles can benefit from IT hardware and support savings, improved user productivity and profitability, increased revenue, better IT infrastructure performance and support, greater IT security, and the realization of green benefits such as reduced power consumption.
Blog Sponsor
Value Energy Solutions is an Atlanta based lighting retrofit company that helps owners, managers and engineers reduce their energy costs. Value Energy Solutions has more than 30 years experience providing creative and effective lighting solutions that improve the illumination for building users and reduce electrical bills. Their expertise, wide selection and value pricing cannot be beat. For more information please call (678) 501-4880 or visit our lighting retrofit website- www.valueenergysolutions.com
Building Will Achieve Estimated 30% to 35% Annual Energy Savings, and Provide a Smart and Healthy Work Place, Based on the Unified Physical Infrastructure(SM) Approach
Panduit Corporation is proud to announce the opening of its new World Headquarters building today in Tinley Park, Ill. The building, which incorporates Panduit's Unified Physical Infrastructure(SM) (UPI) approach, represents a dramatic leap forward in collaboration, smart and healthy work environments, energy reduction, and cost savings. The UPI approach delivers optimal efficiency without sacrificing effectiveness – significantly reducing capital and operational expenses in buildings while enhancing productivity, safety, reliability, and sustainability.
"Panduit's new world headquarters brings to life our vision for creating environmentally sustainable and healthy places to work," states John Caveney, CEO. "We set out with a mission to create the 'building of the future,' and we feel we've set a new precedent by combining state-of-the-art visibility and control for all critical building systems, sustainable energy, operational cost savings and intelligent design features − all aligned under a single unified infrastructure."
The five-story building comprises 280,000 square feet of office, conferencing and training space, enabling collaboration through open office concepts, shared work spaces, and the deployment of the latest technologies to connect internal and external employees, partners and customers. The space will initially serve 550 employees and is able to accommodate a total of 800. The company in total now employs over 4,000 people globally.
The world headquarters is an important step in the evolution of Panduit, providing a proof of concept for UPI that demonstrates intelligent design, implementation and management of unified systems and building architecture. The new building reflects Panduit's transformation and commitment to solving customer and industry challenges surrounding business continuity, security, agility, and rising costs. During the design phase, energy modeling showed that the LEED Design process will provide an estimated annual energy savings of 30% to 35%. In addition, UPI enabled Connected Building design principles will provide estimated operational savings of $0.63 per square foot.
The building serves as a living case study of Panduit's Unified Physical Infrastructure (UPI) approach, which gives enterprises the capabilities to connect, manage and automate communications, computing, power, control and security systems for a smarter business foundation. UPI based elements of the building design include:
* A smart data center, which showcases an intelligent infrastructure that features high-speed data transport network infrastructure, energy efficient heating and cooling, and data center virtualization, enabling a 15% reduction in data center power costs and 38% reduction in cooling costs.
* Connected building architecture, which bridges key business applications across the building, enabling convergence of physical and logical systems onto a single network. This intelligence drives efficiencies, visibility and control extending the reach of cabling infrastructures to all endpoint devices for seamless integration of building systems (including IP telephony, wireless connectivity, digital media, and physical security).
* The unique Unified Operation Center (UOC), which co-locates the world headquarters safety, security, network, and communications operations, enables close coordination and information sharing in a central location. Moving to converged and IP based systems speeds time-critical evaluation and response for improved workplace safety and network service level agreements (SLAs). This consolidated environment also reduces duplication, which results in a positive ROI in both hard equipment and soft operational costs.
The headquarters is already being viewed as a model for best-in-class integrated buildings worldwide. By collaborating with UPI Technology Partners such as Cisco, IBM, EMC, Emerson, Fluke, Haworth, Lutron, Oracle, and Tridium, Panduit is able to address challenges that cut across multiple business and technology domains. "As the trend of building automation and IT convergence advances, the common vision we have developed with Panduit becomes even more relevant. Together we are helping to rethink the way that physical infrastructure is managed and are opening up new opportunities for our customers to place network-driven innovation at the heart of their business," said David Hsieh, VP Marketing, Emerging Technologies Group, Cisco.
Panduit teamed with leading global design, planning and strategic consulting firm Gensler, as well as with national engineering and construction firms Affiliated Engineers Inc., Continental Technologies, and Power Construction, to design this innovative building. "Through our relationship with Panduit, we better understand that technology is a key component to sustainability – to monitor and control the building's energy use. We understand how the UPI vision can enhance LEED certification and will consider using this technology strategy on other projects," states Jay Longo, Gensler Senior Associate.
The building is expected to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification. In addition to the UPI based design, other features of Panduit's world headquarters that enhance the workplace experience and contribute to overall sustainability goals include:
* The first application of light shelves with integrated window shades, to help redistribute the sun's direct light deep into the building and reduce the amount of powered lighting.
* The first installation in Illinois of a water reclamation system in an office building. This system collects rainwater from the roofs for internal non-potable uses to enhance efficiency and environmental responsibility, creating an estimated annual water savings of 910,000 gallons.
* Reclaimed redwood from water towers, used for architectural wood accents.
* A green roof which protects the roof membrane from harsh weather and ultraviolet radiation. This system insulates the building and minimizes heat gain.
Many of the building's features are a direct result of Panduit's commitment to achieving a LEED Gold certification. "The costs associated with the LEED criteria were approximately 2% of the total construction budget, and we expect to see these investments show a payback in less than five years," says Robert Smith, Director of Global Real Estate. "Our LEED Gold building design demonstrates our continued dedication to being an environmentally conscious manufacturer and our commitment to sustainability."
Panduit's new World Headquarters brings to life the many benefits of the Unified Physical Infrastructure approach and values of the company. According to a commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of Panduit, organizations utilizing UPI principles can benefit from IT hardware and support savings, improved user productivity and profitability, increased revenue, better IT infrastructure performance and support, greater IT security, and the realization of green benefits such as reduced power consumption.
Blog Sponsor
Value Energy Solutions is an Atlanta based lighting retrofit company that helps owners, managers and engineers reduce their energy costs. Value Energy Solutions has more than 30 years experience providing creative and effective lighting solutions that improve the illumination for building users and reduce electrical bills. Their expertise, wide selection and value pricing cannot be beat. For more information please call (678) 501-4880 or visit our lighting retrofit website- www.valueenergysolutions.com
Burger King Uses LED Lights In Germany Store
has unveiled a new energy-efficient restaurant located in Germany that uses state-of-the-art technologies and renewable energy to power one-third of the restaurant’s energy requirements, reducing energy costs by 45 percent and CO2 emissions by more than 1201 metric tons annually.
The free-standing restaurant features more than 720 photovoltaic modules that generate over 53,500 kWh of electricity per year, and a wind turbine that produces up to up to 2,500 kWh. The turbine was added to the traditional exterior BK logo sign.
The new eco-friendly design was developed in cooperation with Wirsol Solar AG.
The Burger King 20/20 design features a heat recovery ventilation system that cools and heats the restaurant, saving 73 percent of energy consumption per year, as well as interior and exterior LED bulbs that save more than 55 percent of the restaurant’s energy consumption annually. In addition, excess heat loss is captured to generate hot water, conserving 50 percent of energy use annually.
The restaurant also installed a solar-powered electric vehicle charging station for hybrid cars and a rainwater reclamation system for outside irrigation.
The restaurant kitchen also features the Duke Flexible Batch Broiler, which cuts electricity consumption by 52 percent and costs by 90 percent. All Burger King restaurants in North America have installed this new broiler and the international rollout is expected to be completed by the end of 2012.
Competitor McDonald’s rolled out a pilot “green” restaurant in Chicago, Illinois, last year that is estimated to use 25 percent less energy than a traditional McDonald’s restaurant, and has locations in Belgium, Sweden and the Netherlands that are sourcing renewable energy.
Fast-food restaurant chains including Burger King, McDonald’s, and KFC may be considering new solar thermal powered dehumidifier HVAC systems.
Blog Sponsor
Value Energy Solutions is an Atlanta based lighting retrofit company that helps owners, managers and engineers reduce their energy costs. Value Energy Solutions has more than 30 years experience providing creative and effective lighting solutions that improve the illumination for building users and reduce electrical bills. Their expertise, wide selection and value pricing cannot be beat. For more information please call (678) 501-4880 or visit our lighting retrofit website- www.valueenergysolutions.com
The free-standing restaurant features more than 720 photovoltaic modules that generate over 53,500 kWh of electricity per year, and a wind turbine that produces up to up to 2,500 kWh. The turbine was added to the traditional exterior BK logo sign.
The new eco-friendly design was developed in cooperation with Wirsol Solar AG.
The Burger King 20/20 design features a heat recovery ventilation system that cools and heats the restaurant, saving 73 percent of energy consumption per year, as well as interior and exterior LED bulbs that save more than 55 percent of the restaurant’s energy consumption annually. In addition, excess heat loss is captured to generate hot water, conserving 50 percent of energy use annually.
The restaurant also installed a solar-powered electric vehicle charging station for hybrid cars and a rainwater reclamation system for outside irrigation.
The restaurant kitchen also features the Duke Flexible Batch Broiler, which cuts electricity consumption by 52 percent and costs by 90 percent. All Burger King restaurants in North America have installed this new broiler and the international rollout is expected to be completed by the end of 2012.
Competitor McDonald’s rolled out a pilot “green” restaurant in Chicago, Illinois, last year that is estimated to use 25 percent less energy than a traditional McDonald’s restaurant, and has locations in Belgium, Sweden and the Netherlands that are sourcing renewable energy.
Fast-food restaurant chains including Burger King, McDonald’s, and KFC may be considering new solar thermal powered dehumidifier HVAC systems.
Blog Sponsor
Value Energy Solutions is an Atlanta based lighting retrofit company that helps owners, managers and engineers reduce their energy costs. Value Energy Solutions has more than 30 years experience providing creative and effective lighting solutions that improve the illumination for building users and reduce electrical bills. Their expertise, wide selection and value pricing cannot be beat. For more information please call (678) 501-4880 or visit our lighting retrofit website- www.valueenergysolutions.com
price Choppper Retrofits Store With Energy Efficient Lighting
Price Chopper recently opened a new energy-efficient 56,000-square-foot store in Warwick, New York, that is expected to cut the store's energy costs by 27 percent, or by about $150,000 annually, reports Timesunion.com. The store features high-efficiency lighting system and controls, HVAC units, windows, insulation and motors as well as daylighting controls and skylights.
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) provided Schenectady-based Golub Corp. with $315,000 in incentives to construct its new Price Chopper store in Orange County with energy-efficient features.
Price Chopper expects to reduce its energy consumption by more than 800,000 kilowatt hours of electricity, and to realize a payback in about 12 to 18 months. The store is seeking Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the U.S. Green Buildings Council.
Over the past few years, NYSERDA has partnered with Price Chopper on several energy conservation, renewable energy, and combined heat and power projects, which total more than $1.5 million. This includes the Golub headquarters building in Schenectady.
The new headquarters building, constructed on a brownfield, features a variety of state-of-the-art systems to save energy, cut water consumption and reduce emissions, reports Syracuse.com blog.
The six-story, 240,000-square-foot building also used recycled materials such as carpeting and steel, and incorporated raised flooring to enable more efficient installation of electrical and HVAC components.
It also features daylight harvesting, energy management controls, rainwater harvesting for irrigation, and a fuel cell to supplement power from the grid that includes three 65-kilowatt natural gas-powered high-efficiency micro-turbines and photovoltaics, according to Syracuse.com. Golub has applied for gold-level LEED certification for its headquarters.
The retail chain also installed a 400-kilowatt fuel cell to provide most of the electricity for a supermarket location in Albany, N.Y.
Blog Sponsor
Value Energy Solutions is an Atlanta based lighting retrofit company that helps owners, managers and engineers reduce their energy costs. Value Energy Solutions has more than 30 years experience providing creative and effective lighting solutions that improve the illumination for building users and reduce electrical bills. Their expertise, wide selection and value pricing cannot be beat. For more information please call (678) 501-4880 or visit our lighting retrofit website- www.valueenergysolutions.com
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) provided Schenectady-based Golub Corp. with $315,000 in incentives to construct its new Price Chopper store in Orange County with energy-efficient features.
Price Chopper expects to reduce its energy consumption by more than 800,000 kilowatt hours of electricity, and to realize a payback in about 12 to 18 months. The store is seeking Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the U.S. Green Buildings Council.
Over the past few years, NYSERDA has partnered with Price Chopper on several energy conservation, renewable energy, and combined heat and power projects, which total more than $1.5 million. This includes the Golub headquarters building in Schenectady.
The new headquarters building, constructed on a brownfield, features a variety of state-of-the-art systems to save energy, cut water consumption and reduce emissions, reports Syracuse.com blog.
The six-story, 240,000-square-foot building also used recycled materials such as carpeting and steel, and incorporated raised flooring to enable more efficient installation of electrical and HVAC components.
It also features daylight harvesting, energy management controls, rainwater harvesting for irrigation, and a fuel cell to supplement power from the grid that includes three 65-kilowatt natural gas-powered high-efficiency micro-turbines and photovoltaics, according to Syracuse.com. Golub has applied for gold-level LEED certification for its headquarters.
The retail chain also installed a 400-kilowatt fuel cell to provide most of the electricity for a supermarket location in Albany, N.Y.
Blog Sponsor
Value Energy Solutions is an Atlanta based lighting retrofit company that helps owners, managers and engineers reduce their energy costs. Value Energy Solutions has more than 30 years experience providing creative and effective lighting solutions that improve the illumination for building users and reduce electrical bills. Their expertise, wide selection and value pricing cannot be beat. For more information please call (678) 501-4880 or visit our lighting retrofit website- www.valueenergysolutions.com
IKEA to Eliminate Incandescent Bulbs from Stores
The plans also mean that IKEA will likely need to retool its lineup of lamps, since lamps designed to fit with the old incandescent bulbs will now be obsolete, according to a report in the LA Times. An IKEA PR spokesperson confirmed to the paper that the company would be reviewing its offering of light fixtures, but did not say how many of the current fixtures it sells are designed for incandescent bulb use.
IKEA plans to replace the bulbs with compact fluorescent bulb (CFL), which can last 6 – 8 times longer and use 80 percent less energy. However, CFLs do contain mercury and must be disposed of properly to avoid contamination. The company provides an environmentally safe recycling program for its customers, and recycled 126,722 CFLs in 2006. Customers can take any used, carefully wrapped CFL bulbs to a local IKEA.
Environmental Leader reported that IKEA has reduced its total CO2 emissions by 5 percent and CO2 emissions from goods transport by 10 percent in fiscal year 2009 compared to the previous year, according to the company’s 2009 Sustainability Report. The company also recently announced plans to begin installing solar panels on stores in order to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In 2008, IKEA eliminated the use of paper and plastic bags.
Blog Sponsor
Value Energy Solutions is an Atlanta based lighting retrofit company that helps owners, managers and engineers reduce their energy costs. Value Energy Solutions has more than 30 years experience providing creative and effective lighting solutions that improve the illumination for building users and reduce electrical bills. Their expertise, wide selection and value pricing cannot be beat. For more information please call (678) 501-4880 or visit our lighting retrofit website- www.valueenergysolutions.com
Secaucus WalMart Comes to Town with LED Lighting
The newly expanded Walmart in Secaucus is celebrating its grand opening this week, adding 150 jobs while giving local shoppers a glimpse of the company’s next generation of store design and customer experience. The results of an 18-month remodeling project will be unveiled at 8 a.m., Wednesday, June 16 with local dignitaries joining store manager Tracy Ferschweiler and store associates at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. The newly expanded Secaucus Walmart, located at 400 Park Place, added a complete grocery department and renovated the store with a new store layout, wider aisles, low-profile shelving, bright interior paint scheme, enhanced lighting and easy-to-read signage to make the shopping experience more convenient for customers.
According to Secaucus Mayor Michael Gonnelli, the new Walmart is providing a much-needed boost to this community and surrounding areas. “The residents of Secaucus have been without a grocery store for three years,” said Gonnelli. “Walmart’s expansion provides excellent job opportunities in their community as well as a full grocery store that completely meets their needs.”
Economic Impact Includes 150 New Jobs, Opportunities for Career Advancement
The Secaucus Walmart expansion added approximately 150 associate positions, according to Ferschweiler. Ferschweiler has been the store manager at the Secaucus store for more than five years and started his Walmart career 16 years ago as an assistant manager in Woodburn, Ore. “I am a true example of having a successful career with Walmart,” said Ferschweiler. “Now I can help provide opportunities for many new associates that live in this community.” he added.
Store Designed to Improve Customer Experience
In recent months, Walmart has taken major steps to refresh its stores, merchandising and customer experience. The improvements have all come together in the company’s newest stores, such as the Secaucus Walmart, with fast service, a friendly shopping experience and clean stores. The expanded Walmart features a more open shopping environment with wider aisles that contain no product displays and a new layout with time and money saving features.
The expanded Secaucus Walmart now features a refreshed, earth-toned façade complete with a new logo. Inside, customers will notice a bright interior color palette that creates an inviting shopping experience and helps define the store’s merchandise areas. Lower shelving creates an improved sightline and directional signage on every aisle helps customers find everyday necessities more quickly. Walmart aligned the departments that customers shop most frequently, including health and beauty and pet supplies.
The Secaucus Walmart added 32,000-square feet to offer customers a full line of groceries, including a new deli offering freshly prepared meal solutions for busy people on-the-go, a meat department, fresh produce, and a dairy department, as well as a bakery featuring artisan breads and custom cakes.
In addition, customers will appreciate the enhanced housewares department and the four newly added registers with touch screens for convenient checkout.
The remodel brings Walmart customers an expanded electronics department featuring a wide selection of the latest consumer electronics and home entertainment. The new design includes a more hands-on experience for customers with expansive video gaming selection and portable electronics. The interactive experience enables shoppers to test new technology.
A new department called Celebration Station has been added and will feature party supplies, greeting cards, balloons and helium tanks, cake supplies and gift wrap.
Store Design Incorporates Environmentally Friendly Features
The Secaucus Walmart, like all new Walmart stores, includes energy-efficient technology and environmentally friendly features to reduce energy and water consumption and minimize waste. The store’s skylights harvest daylight and reduce the amount of energy required to light the store by up to 75 percent daily. LED lighting in the store operates 70 percent more efficiently than traditional fluorescent lighting.
The cement used in the concrete flooring is made with recycled materials, and the floor’s finish reduces the need for chemical cleaners. Low-flow toilets and faucets reduce the water used in the bathrooms. The new store also operates a recycling program and will promote sustainable product purchases.
Blog Sponsor
Value Energy Solutions is an Atlanta based lighting retrofit company that helps owners, managers and engineers reduce their energy costs. Value Energy Solutions has more than 30 years experience providing creative and effective lighting solutions that improve the illumination for building users and reduce electrical bills. Their expertise, wide selection and value pricing cannot be beat. For more information please call (678) 501-4880 or visit our lighting retrofit website- www.valueenergysolutions.com
According to Secaucus Mayor Michael Gonnelli, the new Walmart is providing a much-needed boost to this community and surrounding areas. “The residents of Secaucus have been without a grocery store for three years,” said Gonnelli. “Walmart’s expansion provides excellent job opportunities in their community as well as a full grocery store that completely meets their needs.”
Economic Impact Includes 150 New Jobs, Opportunities for Career Advancement
The Secaucus Walmart expansion added approximately 150 associate positions, according to Ferschweiler. Ferschweiler has been the store manager at the Secaucus store for more than five years and started his Walmart career 16 years ago as an assistant manager in Woodburn, Ore. “I am a true example of having a successful career with Walmart,” said Ferschweiler. “Now I can help provide opportunities for many new associates that live in this community.” he added.
Store Designed to Improve Customer Experience
In recent months, Walmart has taken major steps to refresh its stores, merchandising and customer experience. The improvements have all come together in the company’s newest stores, such as the Secaucus Walmart, with fast service, a friendly shopping experience and clean stores. The expanded Walmart features a more open shopping environment with wider aisles that contain no product displays and a new layout with time and money saving features.
The expanded Secaucus Walmart now features a refreshed, earth-toned façade complete with a new logo. Inside, customers will notice a bright interior color palette that creates an inviting shopping experience and helps define the store’s merchandise areas. Lower shelving creates an improved sightline and directional signage on every aisle helps customers find everyday necessities more quickly. Walmart aligned the departments that customers shop most frequently, including health and beauty and pet supplies.
The Secaucus Walmart added 32,000-square feet to offer customers a full line of groceries, including a new deli offering freshly prepared meal solutions for busy people on-the-go, a meat department, fresh produce, and a dairy department, as well as a bakery featuring artisan breads and custom cakes.
In addition, customers will appreciate the enhanced housewares department and the four newly added registers with touch screens for convenient checkout.
The remodel brings Walmart customers an expanded electronics department featuring a wide selection of the latest consumer electronics and home entertainment. The new design includes a more hands-on experience for customers with expansive video gaming selection and portable electronics. The interactive experience enables shoppers to test new technology.
A new department called Celebration Station has been added and will feature party supplies, greeting cards, balloons and helium tanks, cake supplies and gift wrap.
Store Design Incorporates Environmentally Friendly Features
The Secaucus Walmart, like all new Walmart stores, includes energy-efficient technology and environmentally friendly features to reduce energy and water consumption and minimize waste. The store’s skylights harvest daylight and reduce the amount of energy required to light the store by up to 75 percent daily. LED lighting in the store operates 70 percent more efficiently than traditional fluorescent lighting.
The cement used in the concrete flooring is made with recycled materials, and the floor’s finish reduces the need for chemical cleaners. Low-flow toilets and faucets reduce the water used in the bathrooms. The new store also operates a recycling program and will promote sustainable product purchases.
Blog Sponsor
Value Energy Solutions is an Atlanta based lighting retrofit company that helps owners, managers and engineers reduce their energy costs. Value Energy Solutions has more than 30 years experience providing creative and effective lighting solutions that improve the illumination for building users and reduce electrical bills. Their expertise, wide selection and value pricing cannot be beat. For more information please call (678) 501-4880 or visit our lighting retrofit website- www.valueenergysolutions.com
Charlotte Firm Uses LED Lighting for LEED Certification
U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan climbed onto the roof of Optima Engineering on Monday and touted her support for a bill that would make it easier for small businesses to get loans, allowing them to invest more in renewable energy.
The N.C. Democrat toured the company, where engineering officials pointed out LED lighting systems, roof-top solar panels and walls made from recyclable materials to show what a business can do to save energy.
The Charlotte-based company designs sustainable energy systems with a focus on energy efficiency and renewable energy, and uses many of the concepts it advocates.
On its roof, in addition to solar panels, the building uses a thin film tube structure - which resembles a huge dish-drying rack - to make electricity. Slender black tubes use energy from direct sunlight and from light reflected off the white roof to generate power for the LED-lighted ceiling below.
Despite the money-saving potential in energy-efficient systems, Optima President Keith Pehl said it's hard to get companies on board because of the solutions' long-term nature - especially in an uncertain economy.
"Generally the products are self-funding," he said. "But people are so absorbed with upfront costs, you have to educate them."
Hagan said federal tax credits and deductions for businesses that use renewable energy could motivate more businesses to invest in energy-efficient measures. She also said that Congress should extend a provision that makes it easier for small businesses to get loans for such work.
Optima Engineering is the first company in Charlotte to earn a LEED Platinum certification for its office interiors, which include bamboo floors, solar-powered water heaters, light sensors and walls made from recycled hay. A flat-screen TV in the lobby shows the company's real-time carbon emissions.
More than two-thirds of the company's employees are LEED certified, which means they are trained and tested for their knowledge of energy-saving concepts.
In 2008, Optima helped Eastern Guilford High School reduce its water usage by 40 percent with a system that uses rainwater to flush the toilets.
The company also made the school's lighting, plumbing and air-conditioning systems more efficient.
The size and age play into how much energy the company can save in a specific building, but vice president Ron Almond said most of Optima's energy-saving systems pay for themselves in three to five years. Owners of old buildings especially can benefit from the money-saving nature of energy-efficiency because most have dated, wasteful lighting and heating systems.
All of Optima's concepts haven't panned out as planned. When the company moved to its 1927 South Tryon St. location, employees had to troubleshoot a few glitches.
"When we moved in, I would come up here on Sunday morning, and all the lights would be on or the air-conditioning wouldn't cut off at 5:30 like it was supposed to," Almond said. "You have to fix all the little things that are wrong."
Read more: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/06/15/1501368/company-touted-for-its-energy.html#ixzz0r2Phf5Kj
The N.C. Democrat toured the company, where engineering officials pointed out LED lighting systems, roof-top solar panels and walls made from recyclable materials to show what a business can do to save energy.
The Charlotte-based company designs sustainable energy systems with a focus on energy efficiency and renewable energy, and uses many of the concepts it advocates.
On its roof, in addition to solar panels, the building uses a thin film tube structure - which resembles a huge dish-drying rack - to make electricity. Slender black tubes use energy from direct sunlight and from light reflected off the white roof to generate power for the LED-lighted ceiling below.
Despite the money-saving potential in energy-efficient systems, Optima President Keith Pehl said it's hard to get companies on board because of the solutions' long-term nature - especially in an uncertain economy.
"Generally the products are self-funding," he said. "But people are so absorbed with upfront costs, you have to educate them."
Hagan said federal tax credits and deductions for businesses that use renewable energy could motivate more businesses to invest in energy-efficient measures. She also said that Congress should extend a provision that makes it easier for small businesses to get loans for such work.
Optima Engineering is the first company in Charlotte to earn a LEED Platinum certification for its office interiors, which include bamboo floors, solar-powered water heaters, light sensors and walls made from recycled hay. A flat-screen TV in the lobby shows the company's real-time carbon emissions.
More than two-thirds of the company's employees are LEED certified, which means they are trained and tested for their knowledge of energy-saving concepts.
In 2008, Optima helped Eastern Guilford High School reduce its water usage by 40 percent with a system that uses rainwater to flush the toilets.
The company also made the school's lighting, plumbing and air-conditioning systems more efficient.
The size and age play into how much energy the company can save in a specific building, but vice president Ron Almond said most of Optima's energy-saving systems pay for themselves in three to five years. Owners of old buildings especially can benefit from the money-saving nature of energy-efficiency because most have dated, wasteful lighting and heating systems.
All of Optima's concepts haven't panned out as planned. When the company moved to its 1927 South Tryon St. location, employees had to troubleshoot a few glitches.
"When we moved in, I would come up here on Sunday morning, and all the lights would be on or the air-conditioning wouldn't cut off at 5:30 like it was supposed to," Almond said. "You have to fix all the little things that are wrong."
Read more: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/06/15/1501368/company-touted-for-its-energy.html#ixzz0r2Phf5Kj
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Lighting Upgrade One of many Simple Steps to Energy Efficiency
This article from National Real Estate Investor makes an excellent point about looking at energy efficiency and LEED certification not as one big expensive step but many smaller changes implemented over time.
Just a few years ago, few commercial property owners and managers had any perspective on operating properties using sustainable principles, and few people in commercial real estate really had any passion about how these assets could become more environmentally friendly. We just didn't know how it affected us.
Today, the landscape is much different and while many of us in commercial real estate feel inundated with messages about how to operate our properties according to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards or Energy Star, we shouldn’t minimize the impact of even the smallest changes that commercial properties can make with little or no financial investment. I really think that “green” will become a way of life rather than just the next exciting initiative.
I often hear from colleagues in property management that investor clients still think that transitioning facilities towards a sustainable operation will include much more financial investment and a long timeline. That really isn’t the case anymore. Buildings don’t have to become LEED certified for existing buildings operations and maintenance or even Energy Star labeled to become more energy efficient and to incorporate sustainable practices. Each little step towards efficiency helps to reduce operating expenses, which is always top-of-mind during a difficult economic period, and leads to more sustainable practices. To understand the results of these small changes, the team should monitor month-over-month energy bills and in a few short months, they will see a difference.
Among our list of simple ideas is to start with a list of simple changes to be made in routine maintenance whenever possible, incorporating automatic occupancy controls for lights and HVAC, reviewing your HVAC frequently to make sure it matches your occupancy, light screens on windows to maintain internal temperatures and adding recycling containers in main hallways.
http://nreionline.com/brokernews/greenbuildingnews/news/leed_excellence_simple_ideas_0614/
Just a few years ago, few commercial property owners and managers had any perspective on operating properties using sustainable principles, and few people in commercial real estate really had any passion about how these assets could become more environmentally friendly. We just didn't know how it affected us.
Today, the landscape is much different and while many of us in commercial real estate feel inundated with messages about how to operate our properties according to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards or Energy Star, we shouldn’t minimize the impact of even the smallest changes that commercial properties can make with little or no financial investment. I really think that “green” will become a way of life rather than just the next exciting initiative.
I often hear from colleagues in property management that investor clients still think that transitioning facilities towards a sustainable operation will include much more financial investment and a long timeline. That really isn’t the case anymore. Buildings don’t have to become LEED certified for existing buildings operations and maintenance or even Energy Star labeled to become more energy efficient and to incorporate sustainable practices. Each little step towards efficiency helps to reduce operating expenses, which is always top-of-mind during a difficult economic period, and leads to more sustainable practices. To understand the results of these small changes, the team should monitor month-over-month energy bills and in a few short months, they will see a difference.
Among our list of simple ideas is to start with a list of simple changes to be made in routine maintenance whenever possible, incorporating automatic occupancy controls for lights and HVAC, reviewing your HVAC frequently to make sure it matches your occupancy, light screens on windows to maintain internal temperatures and adding recycling containers in main hallways.
http://nreionline.com/brokernews/greenbuildingnews/news/leed_excellence_simple_ideas_0614/
Industrial Buildings Can Save On Energy Costs With Lighting Retrofit
the May 2010 issue of Buildings magazine had an excellent article on unique energy saving opportunities for industrial buildings. For full coverage please visit www.buildings.com
Energy and operational efficiency are incredibly important, especially as everyone is trying to be cost conscious and making sure that a facility is competitive in terms of occupancy," says Joel Pizzuti, president and COO of The Pizzuti Companies. "Trying to determine ways to cut energy costs and looking at different ways to become LEED certified or operate as a sustainable building are important, too."
Tenants are looking not only at lease rates, but also at operating expenses, he explains. "It’s important for owners and property managers to make sure the operating expenses are as controlled as possible. People are scouring their budgets to look at ways to save money; in doing that, it’s important to make sure we still maintain a really high level of service for tenants."
While it may be an extra upfront expense for you, one way to cut operating expenses is to employ alternative energy solutions. The Pizzuti Companies did this by installing prismatic skylights when it built a new facility in Chicago ."We put in a series of prismatic skylights that act as a way to light the building using natural light and not as many high-bay lighting fixtures," says Pizzuti. "This is resulting in a 20-cent decrease per square foot to run the building over the span of a year. On a clear day, we can get 45 to 50 footcandles of natural light inside the warehouse."
Adding skylights are an upfront cost, "but we felt like, long term, it would add a lot of value to the building, cut down on the expenses for our tenants, and make us more competitive when we’re trying to lease the facility," says Pizzuti. Happy tenants and easier leasing down the line make a nominal upfront cost more than worth it.
If natural lighting isn’t an option, the use of energy-efficient lighting is another way to cut operating costs. Think about installing a T5 or T8 system with occupancy sensors. "If somebody is moving within an aisle of racking, that aisle will light up. As they leave, the warehouse lights won’t stay on in areas where nobody is working," says Lance Ryan, vice president of marketing and leasing for Watson Land Company. "Over time, there’s a huge savings in terms of utilities, and [we’re seeing] up to a 50-percent reduction in utility costs with energy-efficient lighting. In addition, you’re also lowering ongoing maintenance because you’re not using warehouse lights as frequently, so your energy-efficient lighting doesn’t require a change-out as frequently."
Energy and operational efficiency are incredibly important, especially as everyone is trying to be cost conscious and making sure that a facility is competitive in terms of occupancy," says Joel Pizzuti, president and COO of The Pizzuti Companies. "Trying to determine ways to cut energy costs and looking at different ways to become LEED certified or operate as a sustainable building are important, too."
Tenants are looking not only at lease rates, but also at operating expenses, he explains. "It’s important for owners and property managers to make sure the operating expenses are as controlled as possible. People are scouring their budgets to look at ways to save money; in doing that, it’s important to make sure we still maintain a really high level of service for tenants."
While it may be an extra upfront expense for you, one way to cut operating expenses is to employ alternative energy solutions. The Pizzuti Companies did this by installing prismatic skylights when it built a new facility in Chicago ."We put in a series of prismatic skylights that act as a way to light the building using natural light and not as many high-bay lighting fixtures," says Pizzuti. "This is resulting in a 20-cent decrease per square foot to run the building over the span of a year. On a clear day, we can get 45 to 50 footcandles of natural light inside the warehouse."
Adding skylights are an upfront cost, "but we felt like, long term, it would add a lot of value to the building, cut down on the expenses for our tenants, and make us more competitive when we’re trying to lease the facility," says Pizzuti. Happy tenants and easier leasing down the line make a nominal upfront cost more than worth it.
If natural lighting isn’t an option, the use of energy-efficient lighting is another way to cut operating costs. Think about installing a T5 or T8 system with occupancy sensors. "If somebody is moving within an aisle of racking, that aisle will light up. As they leave, the warehouse lights won’t stay on in areas where nobody is working," says Lance Ryan, vice president of marketing and leasing for Watson Land Company. "Over time, there’s a huge savings in terms of utilities, and [we’re seeing] up to a 50-percent reduction in utility costs with energy-efficient lighting. In addition, you’re also lowering ongoing maintenance because you’re not using warehouse lights as frequently, so your energy-efficient lighting doesn’t require a change-out as frequently."
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Environmental Impact of Lighting Retrofit
This information- packed article was published on the Buildings Magazine website at www.buildings.com
Measuring the Green Impact of a Lighting Upgrade
Build this critical element into lighting upgrade proposals you develop for your clients
Build this critical element into lighting upgrade proposals you develop for your clients
You are probably well-versed in analyzing the financial impact and cost benefits of lighting upgrades. You’re good at presenting these numbers to clients, citing payback periods and ROI, and even sophisticated measures, such as internal rates of return and net present value. Entire lighting upgrade proposals are routinely designed around the attractive financial opportunities that upgrades can deliver, and the significant boost they can add to the client’s bottom line. But what about the all-important environmental benefits of a lighting upgrade? Imagine how compelling it would be to be able to measure and share, in very quantifiable terms, the green contribution that a facility’s lighting upgrade is making to the environment.
The adverse effects of current levels of electricity use on the environment are staggering. Recent statistics from the U.S. DOE’s Energy Information Administration reveal that 2.5 billion tons of pollutants, including sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxide (NOx), and carbon dioxide (CO2), are emitted every year as a byproduct of electricity generation by utility companies. Over time, emission has waged profound negative effects on the environment, contributing to the depletion of the ozone layer, increased levels of acid rain, and the heightened prevalence of cardiac and respiratory ailments.
Lighting upgrades, however – involving energy-efficient lamps, ballasts, and lighting controls – make great strides toward offsetting these adverse effects on the environment and reducing ecological footprint. By using the formulas below, derived from a 2009 energy savings calculator developed by the EPA and DOE, you can build this critical element into lighting upgrade proposals you develop for your clients – identifying the green aspect of the project, or the CO2 reduction and air pollution reduction equivalence (in terms of acres of trees planted and cars removed from U.S. roads) the lighting upgrade is driving. Provision of this kind of environmental data will help you deliver greater informational value and raise awareness of this important (but often overlooked) lighting upgrade benefit.
The Calculation Tool
Though originally calculated based on the environmental benefits associated with conversion of one conventional, less-efficient lamp to an ENERGY STAR-rated compact fluorescent lamp (CFL), the following formulas have been broadened to now apply to any lighting upgrade project involving any lighting technology:
Air Pollution Reduction Delivered by a Lighting Upgrade*:
Pounds of CO2 emission avoided over life of the new lamp**: 15.4 pounds/Watt saved
Equivalent number of cars removed from U.S. roads annually: 0.0013/Watt saved
Equivalent number of acres of trees planted: 0.0015/Watt saved
*Extrapolated from 2009 EPA/DOE energy savings calculator based on the benefits of conversion to a CFL
**Based on estimated 8,000- to 10,000-hour lamp life
Let’s look at the following lighting upgrade scenarios, for example, to demonstrate the use of these formulas:
Example #1: Retail Store
Old technology: 40-Watt halogen PARs
New technology: 11-Watt LED PARs
Watts saved per fixture: 29
Number of fixtures: 50
Benefit in terms of pounds of CO2 emission avoided over the life of the new lamps*:
15.4 pounds x 29 Watts saved/fixture x 50 fixtures = 22,330 pounds of CO2
Benefit in terms of equivalent number of cars removed from U.S. roads annually:
0.0013/Watt saved x 29 Watts saved/fixture x 50 fixtures = 1.9 cars removed annually
Benefit in terms of equivalent number of acres of trees planted:
0.0015/Watt saved x 29 Watts saved/fixture x 50 fixtures = 2.2 acres of trees planted
*Life estimated at 8,000 to 10,000 hours, so environmental benefits may be even greater if lamp lifespan is longer
Example #2: Commercial Building
Old technology: 40-Watt T12 lamps with magnetic ballasts
New technology: Energy-saving 25-Watt T8 lamps with electronic ballasts
Watts saved per fixture: 15 (simple calculation without additional savings from ballast)
Number of fixtures: 10,000
Benefit in terms of pounds of CO2 emission avoided over the life of the new lamps*:
15.4 pounds x 15 Watts saved/fixture x 10,000 fixtures = 2.31 million pounds of CO2
Benefit in terms of equivalent number of cars removed from U.S. roads annually:
0.0013/Watt saved x 15 Watts saved/fixture x 10,000 fixtures = 195 cars removed annually
Benefit in terms of equivalent number of acres of trees planted:
0.0015/Watt saved x 15 Watts saved/fixture x 10,000 fixtures = 225 acres of trees planted
*Life estimated at 8,000 to 10,000 hours, so environmental benefits may be even greater if lamp lifespan is longer
As the examples show, a lighting upgrade of any size can have a beneficial effect on the environment; lighting proposals can now be enhanced to demonstrate the measurable green contribution associated with a facility’s lighting upgrade.
Deliver Green Value
On top of their attractive financial benefits, energy-efficient lighting upgrades within the country’s 5 million commercial, industrial, and institutional buildings do more than reduce energy costs, improve productivity, and enhance system quality … they also significantly benefit the environment and help conserve precious natural resources. So don’t hesitate to include an assessment of the green element in your analysis of a lighting upgrade using the simple guidelines above … it will not only enhance the quality of your proposals, but will help your client understand how their actions are driving a more energy-efficient future.
Susan Bloom is a freelancer and consultant, and an 18-year veteran of the lighting and electrical products industry.
The adverse effects of current levels of electricity use on the environment are staggering. Recent statistics from the U.S. DOE’s Energy Information Administration reveal that 2.5 billion tons of pollutants, including sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxide (NOx), and carbon dioxide (CO2), are emitted every year as a byproduct of electricity generation by utility companies. Over time, emission has waged profound negative effects on the environment, contributing to the depletion of the ozone layer, increased levels of acid rain, and the heightened prevalence of cardiac and respiratory ailments.
Lighting upgrades, however – involving energy-efficient lamps, ballasts, and lighting controls – make great strides toward offsetting these adverse effects on the environment and reducing ecological footprint. By using the formulas below, derived from a 2009 energy savings calculator developed by the EPA and DOE, you can build this critical element into lighting upgrade proposals you develop for your clients – identifying the green aspect of the project, or the CO2 reduction and air pollution reduction equivalence (in terms of acres of trees planted and cars removed from U.S. roads) the lighting upgrade is driving. Provision of this kind of environmental data will help you deliver greater informational value and raise awareness of this important (but often overlooked) lighting upgrade benefit.
The Calculation Tool
Though originally calculated based on the environmental benefits associated with conversion of one conventional, less-efficient lamp to an ENERGY STAR-rated compact fluorescent lamp (CFL), the following formulas have been broadened to now apply to any lighting upgrade project involving any lighting technology:
Air Pollution Reduction Delivered by a Lighting Upgrade*:
Pounds of CO2 emission avoided over life of the new lamp**: 15.4 pounds/Watt saved
Equivalent number of cars removed from U.S. roads annually: 0.0013/Watt saved
Equivalent number of acres of trees planted: 0.0015/Watt saved
*Extrapolated from 2009 EPA/DOE energy savings calculator based on the benefits of conversion to a CFL
**Based on estimated 8,000- to 10,000-hour lamp life
Let’s look at the following lighting upgrade scenarios, for example, to demonstrate the use of these formulas:
Example #1: Retail Store
Old technology: 40-Watt halogen PARs
New technology: 11-Watt LED PARs
Watts saved per fixture: 29
Number of fixtures: 50
Benefit in terms of pounds of CO2 emission avoided over the life of the new lamps*:
15.4 pounds x 29 Watts saved/fixture x 50 fixtures = 22,330 pounds of CO2
Benefit in terms of equivalent number of cars removed from U.S. roads annually:
0.0013/Watt saved x 29 Watts saved/fixture x 50 fixtures = 1.9 cars removed annually
Benefit in terms of equivalent number of acres of trees planted:
0.0015/Watt saved x 29 Watts saved/fixture x 50 fixtures = 2.2 acres of trees planted
*Life estimated at 8,000 to 10,000 hours, so environmental benefits may be even greater if lamp lifespan is longer
Example #2: Commercial Building
Old technology: 40-Watt T12 lamps with magnetic ballasts
New technology: Energy-saving 25-Watt T8 lamps with electronic ballasts
Watts saved per fixture: 15 (simple calculation without additional savings from ballast)
Number of fixtures: 10,000
Benefit in terms of pounds of CO2 emission avoided over the life of the new lamps*:
15.4 pounds x 15 Watts saved/fixture x 10,000 fixtures = 2.31 million pounds of CO2
Benefit in terms of equivalent number of cars removed from U.S. roads annually:
0.0013/Watt saved x 15 Watts saved/fixture x 10,000 fixtures = 195 cars removed annually
Benefit in terms of equivalent number of acres of trees planted:
0.0015/Watt saved x 15 Watts saved/fixture x 10,000 fixtures = 225 acres of trees planted
*Life estimated at 8,000 to 10,000 hours, so environmental benefits may be even greater if lamp lifespan is longer
As the examples show, a lighting upgrade of any size can have a beneficial effect on the environment; lighting proposals can now be enhanced to demonstrate the measurable green contribution associated with a facility’s lighting upgrade.
Deliver Green Value
On top of their attractive financial benefits, energy-efficient lighting upgrades within the country’s 5 million commercial, industrial, and institutional buildings do more than reduce energy costs, improve productivity, and enhance system quality … they also significantly benefit the environment and help conserve precious natural resources. So don’t hesitate to include an assessment of the green element in your analysis of a lighting upgrade using the simple guidelines above … it will not only enhance the quality of your proposals, but will help your client understand how their actions are driving a more energy-efficient future.
Susan Bloom is a freelancer and consultant, and an 18-year veteran of the lighting and electrical products industry.
New Study On Energy Savings At Hospitals
New study from Corporate Realty, Design & Management Institute revealed good information on thought process of hospital executives towards energy saving and other sustainability issues.
"Three out of four survey respondents think hospitals need a sustainability manager, according to a survey of health-care professionals attending the “Energy, Economics & Environment: Making the 3Es Work Together in Healthcare” seminars during the first half of 2010.
The survey (PDF), conducted by Corporate Realty, Design & Management Institute, finds that many organizations have yet to create a sustainability manager job position, which means that health-care facilities do not have individuals who have a facilities or energy-related background.
The report’s authors said this has led to a focus on recycling and waste management programs, instead of energy and water efficiency projects. It also means that sustainability is becoming a core competency of facility professionals in other industries instead of the health-care sector, according to the report.
In several regions, utilities offer millions of dollars in rebate and incentive funds but too often hospitals fail to tap this funding source or they approach the utility too late to receive any money, say report authors.
As an example, one utility health-care segment manager cited a hospital that buys bus passes for employees but has not replaced its older T12 fluorescent lamps with more efficient lighting.
The report finds that cost is the biggest factor in all purchasing decisions. Nearly 80 percent of respondents said “initial cost” takes precedence in the final selection of equipment and materials on recent projects.
Another key finding shows that when installing or specifying energy-saving technology, the biggest concern is that the technology won’t deliver the projected performance, according to 70 percent of respondents.
“If you haven’t had a retrofit in the past 5 to 7 years, do it now. You’ll get on average a 12-14 percent improvement. Fluorescent technologies are incredible. There are better control systems. LEDs are economical for hard to service areas,” said Brian Weldy, vice president of Sustainability for IFMA Healthcare Council and vice president of Facilities for HCA, in the report."
For complete coverage-http://www.environmentalleader.com/2010/06/10/health-care-survey-finds-industry-needs-sustainability-managers/
Blog Sponsor
Value Energy Solutions is an Atlanta based lighting retrofit company that helps owners, managers and engineers reduce their energy costs. Value Energy Solutions has more than 30 years experience providing creative and effective lighting solutions that improve the illumination for building users and reduce electrical bills. Their expertise, wide selection and value pricing cannot be beat. For more information please call (678) 501-4880 or visit our lighting retrofit website- www.valueenergysolutions.com
"Three out of four survey respondents think hospitals need a sustainability manager, according to a survey of health-care professionals attending the “Energy, Economics & Environment: Making the 3Es Work Together in Healthcare” seminars during the first half of 2010.
The survey (PDF), conducted by Corporate Realty, Design & Management Institute, finds that many organizations have yet to create a sustainability manager job position, which means that health-care facilities do not have individuals who have a facilities or energy-related background.
The report’s authors said this has led to a focus on recycling and waste management programs, instead of energy and water efficiency projects. It also means that sustainability is becoming a core competency of facility professionals in other industries instead of the health-care sector, according to the report.
In several regions, utilities offer millions of dollars in rebate and incentive funds but too often hospitals fail to tap this funding source or they approach the utility too late to receive any money, say report authors.
As an example, one utility health-care segment manager cited a hospital that buys bus passes for employees but has not replaced its older T12 fluorescent lamps with more efficient lighting.
The report finds that cost is the biggest factor in all purchasing decisions. Nearly 80 percent of respondents said “initial cost” takes precedence in the final selection of equipment and materials on recent projects.
Another key finding shows that when installing or specifying energy-saving technology, the biggest concern is that the technology won’t deliver the projected performance, according to 70 percent of respondents.
“If you haven’t had a retrofit in the past 5 to 7 years, do it now. You’ll get on average a 12-14 percent improvement. Fluorescent technologies are incredible. There are better control systems. LEDs are economical for hard to service areas,” said Brian Weldy, vice president of Sustainability for IFMA Healthcare Council and vice president of Facilities for HCA, in the report."
For complete coverage-http://www.environmentalleader.com/2010/06/10/health-care-survey-finds-industry-needs-sustainability-managers/
Blog Sponsor
Value Energy Solutions is an Atlanta based lighting retrofit company that helps owners, managers and engineers reduce their energy costs. Value Energy Solutions has more than 30 years experience providing creative and effective lighting solutions that improve the illumination for building users and reduce electrical bills. Their expertise, wide selection and value pricing cannot be beat. For more information please call (678) 501-4880 or visit our lighting retrofit website- www.valueenergysolutions.com
CVS Saves On Lighting Energy Costs
As reported in Chain Store Age website
CVS Caremark details its efforts to better manage its energy consumption and reduce its carbon emissions in the company’s just-released 2009 Corporate Social Responsibility report.
The drugstore chain emitted approximately 1.73 million metric tonnes of CO2e emissions in 2009, of which 90% is generated by electricity consumption. To reduce consumption at its stores, CVS focused on several initiatives in 2009, including installing more efficient lighting and new roofs designed to reflect heat, and integrating its first energy-management systems.
In other moves, the company evaluated renewable energy sources, built new facilities to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards and/or environmental considerations and reduced fuel consumption in its distribution networks.
Energy Efficient Lighting Provided Largest Savings
Three lighting projects in the states of Florida, Michigan and Pennsylvania yielded the highest savings of 2,640 MWh, 3,480 MWh and 1,850 MWh, respectively. In addition, CVS rolled out its computer-controlled energy-management system in 50 stores in Florida, and will expand the system to 250 locations in 2010.
In the area of transportation, CVS has reduced the driving speed of its private fleet to 63 miles per hour, and consolidated its deliveries, which has eliminated 6,541 routes across the network. This resulted in nearly 1.2 million fewer miles driven and a savings of 218,730 gallons of fuel. It also prevented the emissions of 2,260 tonnes of CO2.
Sponsor: Value Energy Solutions is an Atlanta based lighting retrofit company that helps owners, managers and engineers reduce their energy costs. Value Energy Solutions has more than 30 years experience providing creative and effective lighting solutions that improve the illumination for building users and reduce electrical bills. Their expertise, wide selection and value pricing cannot be beat. For more information please call (678) 501-4880 or visit our lighting retrofit website- www.valueenergysolutions.com
CVS Caremark details its efforts to better manage its energy consumption and reduce its carbon emissions in the company’s just-released 2009 Corporate Social Responsibility report.
The drugstore chain emitted approximately 1.73 million metric tonnes of CO2e emissions in 2009, of which 90% is generated by electricity consumption. To reduce consumption at its stores, CVS focused on several initiatives in 2009, including installing more efficient lighting and new roofs designed to reflect heat, and integrating its first energy-management systems.
In other moves, the company evaluated renewable energy sources, built new facilities to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards and/or environmental considerations and reduced fuel consumption in its distribution networks.
Energy Efficient Lighting Provided Largest Savings
Three lighting projects in the states of Florida, Michigan and Pennsylvania yielded the highest savings of 2,640 MWh, 3,480 MWh and 1,850 MWh, respectively. In addition, CVS rolled out its computer-controlled energy-management system in 50 stores in Florida, and will expand the system to 250 locations in 2010.
In the area of transportation, CVS has reduced the driving speed of its private fleet to 63 miles per hour, and consolidated its deliveries, which has eliminated 6,541 routes across the network. This resulted in nearly 1.2 million fewer miles driven and a savings of 218,730 gallons of fuel. It also prevented the emissions of 2,260 tonnes of CO2.
Sponsor: Value Energy Solutions is an Atlanta based lighting retrofit company that helps owners, managers and engineers reduce their energy costs. Value Energy Solutions has more than 30 years experience providing creative and effective lighting solutions that improve the illumination for building users and reduce electrical bills. Their expertise, wide selection and value pricing cannot be beat. For more information please call (678) 501-4880 or visit our lighting retrofit website- www.valueenergysolutions.com
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
LED Lighting Jewelry Store
What makes a piece of jewelry stand out from others doesn't just have to do with the four-C's (cut, color, clarity and carat). Sometimes it has everything to do with the way it looks on display. For jewelers, display cases help protect and highlight products. But for many, the cases also hinder consumers from seeing merchandise details that can lead to sales. As grocers and discount retailers have already discovered, LED (light-emitting diode) lighting technology helps showcase product details, attract consumer attention and reduce energy expenses. Now the LED lighting trend is making its way to the jewelry industry, where one leading jeweler is turning heads--literally--with its recent upgrade to GE's LED lighting for display cases.
As one of the largest independent jewelers in the U.S., The Diamond Cellar in Dublin, Ohio (see video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNCgKtuqYGE), is known for its expertise in service, selection and, now, its innovative approach to showcasing products throughout its multilevel flagship store. By replacing existing display case bulbs with GE's Immersion(R) LED Display Case Lighting, the retailer is able to add sparkle to all facets of merchandise on display, while guiding a consumer's eye throughout the cases to see the wide selection of jewelry in an effort to increase sales.
GE's LED system uses multiple point sources of light to increase visual reflectivity and shine while reducing operating costs. Its reflector design focuses peak light to the center of the case and radiates light out across the case to eliminate shadows and lighting hot spots often found with fluorescent and halogen lighting. It creates a brighter, more uniform look throughout.
"The effect of the GE LED lighting on the jewelry is quite remarkable. It really does sparkle more than ever before, putting our products in the best possible light to attract attention," says Ronald Croft, Jr., director of operations, The Diamond Cellar. "Plus, we're benefiting from the efficiencies and long life that the GE system offers."
Immersion LED Display Case Lighting uses advanced thermal management for cooler operation and it consumes as little as 7.8 watts per foot while producing higher lux levels per watt of energy used when compared with fluorescent. While halogen systems produce higher lux levels, the Immersion LED Display Case Lighting offers better optical control and nearly 80 percent energy savings, along with a long 50,000-hour rated life to reduce maintenance hassle and costs. The new LED lighting's environmentally responsible design is not only energy efficient, but also RoHS compliant and doesn't contain lead, mercury or glass.
As one of the largest independent jewelers in the U.S., The Diamond Cellar in Dublin, Ohio (see video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNCgKtuqYGE), is known for its expertise in service, selection and, now, its innovative approach to showcasing products throughout its multilevel flagship store. By replacing existing display case bulbs with GE's Immersion(R) LED Display Case Lighting, the retailer is able to add sparkle to all facets of merchandise on display, while guiding a consumer's eye throughout the cases to see the wide selection of jewelry in an effort to increase sales.
GE's LED system uses multiple point sources of light to increase visual reflectivity and shine while reducing operating costs. Its reflector design focuses peak light to the center of the case and radiates light out across the case to eliminate shadows and lighting hot spots often found with fluorescent and halogen lighting. It creates a brighter, more uniform look throughout.
"The effect of the GE LED lighting on the jewelry is quite remarkable. It really does sparkle more than ever before, putting our products in the best possible light to attract attention," says Ronald Croft, Jr., director of operations, The Diamond Cellar. "Plus, we're benefiting from the efficiencies and long life that the GE system offers."
Immersion LED Display Case Lighting uses advanced thermal management for cooler operation and it consumes as little as 7.8 watts per foot while producing higher lux levels per watt of energy used when compared with fluorescent. While halogen systems produce higher lux levels, the Immersion LED Display Case Lighting offers better optical control and nearly 80 percent energy savings, along with a long 50,000-hour rated life to reduce maintenance hassle and costs. The new LED lighting's environmentally responsible design is not only energy efficient, but also RoHS compliant and doesn't contain lead, mercury or glass.
Cleveland Mayor Changing Plans To Purchase LED Lights?
By Mark Gillispie Plain Dealer Reporter
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Mayor Frank Jackson introduced legislation Monday that would commit the city to buying LED lights for 10 years from a company willing to bring a North American headquarters and at least 350 jobs to the city.
Only this time, his administration would seek an LED supplier using the City Charter's competitive bidding process instead of handpicking the company.
The move came a week after Jackson tabled a deal that would have made a Chinese company the city's exclusive supplier. He said at the time that he had tainted the process in March by announcing the deal with Sunpu-Opto Semiconductor Ltd. while his aides still were gathering proposals from other companies.
In an interview Monday, Jackson said nothing was wrong or illegal with the Sunpu-Opto deal. But he said the tainted process put at risk his new business model, which ties the city's considerable purchasing power to its economic development needs.
"It's too important for me to quibble about the rightness or wrongness of something, even though what we did was perfectly legal and proper," Jackson said. "They can see that, at the end of the day, this wasn't about a company. This was about the future of the city of Cleveland."
http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2010/06/cleveland_mayor_frank_jackson_14.html
Value Energy Solutions is an Atlanta based lighting retrofit company that helps owners, managers and engineers reduce their energy costs. Value Energy Solutions has more than 30 years experience providing creative and effective lighting solutions that improve the illumination for building users and reduce electrical bills. Their expertise, wide selection and value pricing cannot be beat. For more information please call (678) 501-4880 or visit our lighting retrofit website- www.valueenergysolutions.com
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Mayor Frank Jackson introduced legislation Monday that would commit the city to buying LED lights for 10 years from a company willing to bring a North American headquarters and at least 350 jobs to the city.
Only this time, his administration would seek an LED supplier using the City Charter's competitive bidding process instead of handpicking the company.
The move came a week after Jackson tabled a deal that would have made a Chinese company the city's exclusive supplier. He said at the time that he had tainted the process in March by announcing the deal with Sunpu-Opto Semiconductor Ltd. while his aides still were gathering proposals from other companies.
In an interview Monday, Jackson said nothing was wrong or illegal with the Sunpu-Opto deal. But he said the tainted process put at risk his new business model, which ties the city's considerable purchasing power to its economic development needs.
"It's too important for me to quibble about the rightness or wrongness of something, even though what we did was perfectly legal and proper," Jackson said. "They can see that, at the end of the day, this wasn't about a company. This was about the future of the city of Cleveland."
http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2010/06/cleveland_mayor_frank_jackson_14.html
Value Energy Solutions is an Atlanta based lighting retrofit company that helps owners, managers and engineers reduce their energy costs. Value Energy Solutions has more than 30 years experience providing creative and effective lighting solutions that improve the illumination for building users and reduce electrical bills. Their expertise, wide selection and value pricing cannot be beat. For more information please call (678) 501-4880 or visit our lighting retrofit website- www.valueenergysolutions.com
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
New Study To Deliver Real Information on Retrofit Cost Savings
As reported in the New York Times
Chester Higgins Jr./The New York Times
The practice of retrofitting buildings with simple, environmentally friendly technology like more-efficient boilers and better-quality windows has been around for years, but there is little research on how much energy these changes actually save — and by extension, how much money they can save landlords and lenders.
In an effort to supply that information, Deutsche Bank Americas Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the German bank, is financing the creation of a public database of several hundred retrofitted buildings in New York City and a companion report to determine the savings from such moves.
“Retrofitting buildings is considered the low-hanging fruit in carbon reduction, but despite its simplicity, it is still not mainstream,” said Gary Hattem, president of the Deutsche Bank Americas Foundation. “The largest obstacle to making these practices go mainstream is data that will convince building owners to retrofit their properties and at the same time increase underwriters’ willingness to finance the projects.”
The project, called the Deutsche Bank/Living Cities Building Energy Efficiency Data Report, was begun last fall when the bank brought together an advisory committee that included utilities like Con Edison, city agencies like the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, and lenders like the Community Preservation Corporation.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/02/realestate/commercial/02deutsche.html
Value Energy Solutions is an Atlanta based lighting retrofit company that helps owners, managers and engineers reduce their energy costs. Value Energy Solutions has more than 30 years experience providing creative and effective lighting solutions that improve the illumination for building users and reduce electrical bills. Their expertise, wide selection and value pricing cannot be beat. For more information please call (678) 501-4880 or visit our lighting retrofit website- www.valueenergysolutions.com
Chester Higgins Jr./The New York Times
The practice of retrofitting buildings with simple, environmentally friendly technology like more-efficient boilers and better-quality windows has been around for years, but there is little research on how much energy these changes actually save — and by extension, how much money they can save landlords and lenders.
In an effort to supply that information, Deutsche Bank Americas Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the German bank, is financing the creation of a public database of several hundred retrofitted buildings in New York City and a companion report to determine the savings from such moves.
“Retrofitting buildings is considered the low-hanging fruit in carbon reduction, but despite its simplicity, it is still not mainstream,” said Gary Hattem, president of the Deutsche Bank Americas Foundation. “The largest obstacle to making these practices go mainstream is data that will convince building owners to retrofit their properties and at the same time increase underwriters’ willingness to finance the projects.”
The project, called the Deutsche Bank/Living Cities Building Energy Efficiency Data Report, was begun last fall when the bank brought together an advisory committee that included utilities like Con Edison, city agencies like the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, and lenders like the Community Preservation Corporation.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/02/realestate/commercial/02deutsche.html
Value Energy Solutions is an Atlanta based lighting retrofit company that helps owners, managers and engineers reduce their energy costs. Value Energy Solutions has more than 30 years experience providing creative and effective lighting solutions that improve the illumination for building users and reduce electrical bills. Their expertise, wide selection and value pricing cannot be beat. For more information please call (678) 501-4880 or visit our lighting retrofit website- www.valueenergysolutions.com
Monday, June 7, 2010
Bank Of America Opens Green Building in NYC
If you're planning to visit the brand new Bank of America (BOA) building in midtown Manhattan, make sure not to use any Purell before you go. The 8,000 people who work in the crystal-shaped, glass skyscraper at the corner of 42nd St. and Sixth Avenue may not object to the ubiquitous hand sanitizer, but the building itself would. The tower's air circulation system is equipped with sensors to detect what are known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and a rapidly evaporating substance like Purell is full of them.
You might well think that an office building should mind its business about what kind of hand cleanser you use, but consider that the VOC detectors can also spot volatiles outgassing from synthetic carpets, cubicle partitions, floor cleansers and much of the rest of the chemical soup that often makes breathing office air such a nasty experience. Consider too that a similar carbon dioxide detector can sample the building's interior atmosphere for CO2 and redirect fresh air to any room or corridor in which too many people are doing too much inhaling and exhaling. That drooping feeling you get midway through a meeting in a crowded conference room may not be caused by boredom, but by too little oxygen circulating in an overpopulated space. (See 10 ideas for the next 10 years.)
The 55-story BOA building — officially known as 1 Bryant Park — was always going to attract attention even on the crowded Manhattan skyline. At 1,200 ft. tall, it edges out the venerable Chrysler building for the honor of second tallest tower in the city. And its reflective, faceted shape and 255-ft. spire draw eyeballs from almost any angle. But what the building's owners, architect and developers like to talk about most are its green features, a host of innovations that have made the tower the first commercial high-rise to earn a platinum designation from the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program — the official best-in-show judges for environmentally friendly architecture.
At a time when fellow corporate giant BP is struggling to scrub oil from the coastlines of the Gulf of Mexico and Bank of America itself is similarly trying to clean the stain of toxic assets and bailout money from its own damaged name, a mega-building that evokes the ideal of a clean, renewable future seems like both good citizenship and very good PR. It didn't hurt that Al Gore, the Yoda of all things green, not only attended 1 Bryant Park's official opening last month but, more significantly, has rented office space there. But how a building is designed to perform is not always the same as how it does perform. Do celebrity tenants and a shiny LEED label really mean as much as they seem, or will an exercise in enormity like the BOA building wind up being more of a feel-good project than a do-good one?
At the new tower's sidewalk level — the only level from which the overwhelming majority of New Yorkers will ever experience it — its mission is clear in ways big and small. Despite its cool, steel-and-glass face, the handles on all of its street-facing doors are made of white oak, something that's impossible not to notice the first time you lay your hand on one, particularly if you're not expecting it.
Read more: http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1994554,00.html#ixzz0qBsYWsKz
You might well think that an office building should mind its business about what kind of hand cleanser you use, but consider that the VOC detectors can also spot volatiles outgassing from synthetic carpets, cubicle partitions, floor cleansers and much of the rest of the chemical soup that often makes breathing office air such a nasty experience. Consider too that a similar carbon dioxide detector can sample the building's interior atmosphere for CO2 and redirect fresh air to any room or corridor in which too many people are doing too much inhaling and exhaling. That drooping feeling you get midway through a meeting in a crowded conference room may not be caused by boredom, but by too little oxygen circulating in an overpopulated space. (See 10 ideas for the next 10 years.)
The 55-story BOA building — officially known as 1 Bryant Park — was always going to attract attention even on the crowded Manhattan skyline. At 1,200 ft. tall, it edges out the venerable Chrysler building for the honor of second tallest tower in the city. And its reflective, faceted shape and 255-ft. spire draw eyeballs from almost any angle. But what the building's owners, architect and developers like to talk about most are its green features, a host of innovations that have made the tower the first commercial high-rise to earn a platinum designation from the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program — the official best-in-show judges for environmentally friendly architecture.
At a time when fellow corporate giant BP is struggling to scrub oil from the coastlines of the Gulf of Mexico and Bank of America itself is similarly trying to clean the stain of toxic assets and bailout money from its own damaged name, a mega-building that evokes the ideal of a clean, renewable future seems like both good citizenship and very good PR. It didn't hurt that Al Gore, the Yoda of all things green, not only attended 1 Bryant Park's official opening last month but, more significantly, has rented office space there. But how a building is designed to perform is not always the same as how it does perform. Do celebrity tenants and a shiny LEED label really mean as much as they seem, or will an exercise in enormity like the BOA building wind up being more of a feel-good project than a do-good one?
At the new tower's sidewalk level — the only level from which the overwhelming majority of New Yorkers will ever experience it — its mission is clear in ways big and small. Despite its cool, steel-and-glass face, the handles on all of its street-facing doors are made of white oak, something that's impossible not to notice the first time you lay your hand on one, particularly if you're not expecting it.
Read more: http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1994554,00.html#ixzz0qBsYWsKz
Thursday, June 3, 2010
he Sparkasse Mainfranken Würzburg is one of the largest savings banks in Germany, with 1800 employees and a network of 138 branches and offices. As a bank with roots in the region, the environment is a central concern for Sparkasse Mainfranken, in addition to its commitment to culture and social issues. Consequently, during the general renovation of its headquarters the parking garage was also fitted with a contemporary lighting solution, distinguished by energy efficiency and the highest degree of economy, reliability and safety.
Even during the modernisation of the payment machines in the first building phase care was taken to light the vestibule appropriately, but at the same time in an energy-efficient manner. Outside of the opening times or when there is a low customer volume, the lights are operated at an energysaving level and only adjusted to full lighting strength when people are in the room. During this conversion project the electronic operating equipment of TridonicAtco with its integrated corridor function proved persuasive for the Sparkasse Mainfranken. Since the ballast itself takes on the intelligent control of the light, additional components could be dispensed with. As a result, the installation proved to be both very economical and at the same time energy-saving. When the renovation of the underground garage lighting was undertaken in a further project stage, a convenient and above all energy efficient solution had to be found. Previously at peak periods the entire lighting was operated manually at 100 % on the parking levels. At times when there was little traffic, the light was switched on and off completely. However, until the light switch had been found the person switching it on was in unpleasant darkness. For convenience and safety reasons it was decided to remedy this defect with an intelligent light solution.
Never more in the dark
On the one hand, we require a high lighting level for the underground garage, but at the same time for ecological reasons the system has to save energy, says Herbert Manger, the responsible employee in the Building Department of the Sparkasse Mainfranken. Confronted with this challenge, the fittings from TridonicoAtco with the implemented corridor function, which had already been used in the conversion of the cash machine area, convinced electrical planner Weber Engineering Würzburg. These deal precisely with the dilemma of operating lights 24 hours a day in safety sensitive areas while simultaneously keeping the demand for energy and cost saving in mind.
The function provides for safety and a pleasant atmosphere through sufficient light. In the correspondingly equipped fittings a 100 % dim level of the lights connected is preset at the factory when people are present and 10 % when no one is there. The transition, which occurs fluidly within a time that can be set in advance (dimmed) can be adapted very easily, just like the corresponding dimming levels to individual requirements.
More light, lower costs
The 180 lights with 1 x 58 W T8 lighting elements and magnetic ballasts were replaced by efficient linear luminaires with T5 fluorescent lights. New installation has now occurred for 210 lights with 2 x 35 W T5 lighting elements and Pca Excel one4all Ip dimmable ballasts from TridonicAtco. Despite the higher by 40 % electrical output installed, the Sparkasse Mainfranken will save over 13,000 kW annually through the use of the corridor function. The associated CO2 saving is 21 t and in this way makes a noticeable contribution to relief of the environment.
Simple conversion, uncomplicated start-up
The conversion and realisation of the features required worked perfectly with the ballasts used, Rainer Zachleder,managing director of elektro zachleder GmbH in Gemünden, which was commissioned with the installation, is happy to report. The lights are controlled by presence detectors, which are all connected with a us line. The simple cabling, which occurs as in normal dimming operation, convinced him as did the uncomplicated and user-friendly start-up of the system.
Fast amortisation guaranteed
The reduction in light power made possible has led to a considerable energy saving, via which the new light installation amortises itself. If one converts the calculation back to a light output comparable to that of the original installation, the amortisation period is just over three years. Thanks to this function, the underground garages, corridors and staircases can be equipped with energy- and money-saving lighting. Converting existing systems is no problem. Herbert Mangers comment: The added value compared to
non-dimming lighting is very clear for the Sparkasse Mainfranken: great convenience and safety for visitors and customers, major CO2 savings in favour of the environment and noticeable financial advantages in operation.
Even during the modernisation of the payment machines in the first building phase care was taken to light the vestibule appropriately, but at the same time in an energy-efficient manner. Outside of the opening times or when there is a low customer volume, the lights are operated at an energysaving level and only adjusted to full lighting strength when people are in the room. During this conversion project the electronic operating equipment of TridonicAtco with its integrated corridor function proved persuasive for the Sparkasse Mainfranken. Since the ballast itself takes on the intelligent control of the light, additional components could be dispensed with. As a result, the installation proved to be both very economical and at the same time energy-saving. When the renovation of the underground garage lighting was undertaken in a further project stage, a convenient and above all energy efficient solution had to be found. Previously at peak periods the entire lighting was operated manually at 100 % on the parking levels. At times when there was little traffic, the light was switched on and off completely. However, until the light switch had been found the person switching it on was in unpleasant darkness. For convenience and safety reasons it was decided to remedy this defect with an intelligent light solution.
Never more in the dark
On the one hand, we require a high lighting level for the underground garage, but at the same time for ecological reasons the system has to save energy, says Herbert Manger, the responsible employee in the Building Department of the Sparkasse Mainfranken. Confronted with this challenge, the fittings from TridonicoAtco with the implemented corridor function, which had already been used in the conversion of the cash machine area, convinced electrical planner Weber Engineering Würzburg. These deal precisely with the dilemma of operating lights 24 hours a day in safety sensitive areas while simultaneously keeping the demand for energy and cost saving in mind.
The function provides for safety and a pleasant atmosphere through sufficient light. In the correspondingly equipped fittings a 100 % dim level of the lights connected is preset at the factory when people are present and 10 % when no one is there. The transition, which occurs fluidly within a time that can be set in advance (dimmed) can be adapted very easily, just like the corresponding dimming levels to individual requirements.
More light, lower costs
The 180 lights with 1 x 58 W T8 lighting elements and magnetic ballasts were replaced by efficient linear luminaires with T5 fluorescent lights. New installation has now occurred for 210 lights with 2 x 35 W T5 lighting elements and Pca Excel one4all Ip dimmable ballasts from TridonicAtco. Despite the higher by 40 % electrical output installed, the Sparkasse Mainfranken will save over 13,000 kW annually through the use of the corridor function. The associated CO2 saving is 21 t and in this way makes a noticeable contribution to relief of the environment.
Simple conversion, uncomplicated start-up
The conversion and realisation of the features required worked perfectly with the ballasts used, Rainer Zachleder,managing director of elektro zachleder GmbH in Gemünden, which was commissioned with the installation, is happy to report. The lights are controlled by presence detectors, which are all connected with a us line. The simple cabling, which occurs as in normal dimming operation, convinced him as did the uncomplicated and user-friendly start-up of the system.
Fast amortisation guaranteed
The reduction in light power made possible has led to a considerable energy saving, via which the new light installation amortises itself. If one converts the calculation back to a light output comparable to that of the original installation, the amortisation period is just over three years. Thanks to this function, the underground garages, corridors and staircases can be equipped with energy- and money-saving lighting. Converting existing systems is no problem. Herbert Mangers comment: The added value compared to
non-dimming lighting is very clear for the Sparkasse Mainfranken: great convenience and safety for visitors and customers, major CO2 savings in favour of the environment and noticeable financial advantages in operation.
40 Ways To Green Your Office By Jones Lang Lasalle
Published on GreenBiz.com (http://www.greenbiz.com)
40 Ways to Green the Workplace
By Peter Belisle and Robert Best
President Peter Belisle and Executive Vice President Robert Best of Energy and Sustainability Services at Jones Lang LaSalle offer these tips.
Everyone involved in office space -- owners and property managers as well as tenant office managers and employees -- has a shared responsibility for reducing the environmental impact of our business activities.
In commemoration of Earth Day’s 40th anniversary, here are 40 ways to make the office a greener place to work:
Owners
1. Include reasonable sustainability provisions in standard lease agreements, and try to accommodate tenants with their own green criteria.
2. Require your management staff to follow sustainable procedures as much as possible, and to report on what they are doing.
3. Ask your property manager and other service providers what steps their organization is taking to be sustainable, including what they ask their own vendors, to ensure the sustainability of your supply chain.
4. Keep current on public policy mandates regarding green buildings, including tax credits and other incentives as well as building codes and other requirements.
5 Be knowledgeable of costs and financing alternatives relating to energy and sustainability improvements, and weigh these factors against potential financial benefits.
6. Conduct a complete commissioning of mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems once every three years to ensure they operate as they were designed to do.
7. Install bike racks to encourage emission-free commuting.
8. Institute a building-wide recycling program, and if possible, establish an area for sorting recyclables before they leave the building.
9. Budget for tenant sub-metering, subject to applicable laws and lease agreements.
10. Invest in roofing materials that reduce heat absorption by using highly reflective materials or vegetation.
Property Managers
11. Replace traditional base building light bulbs with high efficiency/low mercury lighting.
12. Install carbon dioxide detectors to ensure enough fresh air is circulating.
13. Don’t over-ventilate: It’s important to have enough fresh air, but outside air must be heated or cooled to inside temperatures, increasing energy use.
14. Follow a consistent schedule of checking and replacing filters.
15. Sub-meter equipment for better data on where energy is being used, so that when there is an unexpected rise in energy, the problem can be isolated more easily.
16. Use cleaning supplies and restroom paper products that meet EPA’s Environmentally Preferred Purchasing guidelines or are certified by organizations such as Green Seal
17. Ensure that parking-lot lights are shielded to focus light on the ground instead into the sky or neighboring properties, avoiding light pollution.
18. Follow integrated pest management principles that pose the least risk to people and the environment at the most economical cost.
19. Utilize high-efficiency irrigation technologies.
20. Work with municipalities to permit motion-sensitive lighting in emergency stairwells.
Office Managers
21. Set office copier defaults to print on both sides of paper to reduce paper waste.
22. Post recycling receptacles in central locations as well as at individual desks.
23. Use motion detectors to control lighting in storage and other rooms that are used infrequently.
24. Install task lighting at employee workstations so that late workers do not need full lighting throughout the department.
25. Consider recycled and recyclable materials when renovating space or replacing furniture.
26. Require interior build-out contractors to follow sustainable practices, particularly in ensuring the air quality of adjoining areas where employees are working.
27. Use low Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) paint and formaldehyde-free furniture and carpet in offices to ensure that air quality is not compromised.
28. Investigate the installation of software that automatically turns off copiers and printers at a certain time, and make sure standby modes are set correctly.
29. Consider programs that allow employees to work from home part of the time, reducing carbon emissions from commuting and potentially limiting space needed per employee, thus reducing the amount of space to heat and cool.
30. Design space to maximize penetration of natural light into your space.
Employees
31. Bring lunch from home to reduce cafeteria and restaurant waste.
32. Print documents only when necessary, and use double-sided printing when possible.
33. Learn which plastic lunch items are and are not recyclable, and wash food particles from recyclable containers before depositing
34. Use a coffee mug and reusable water bottle instead of paper cups and disposable plastic bottles.
35. Turn off your computer at night and unplug the adaptor—even an idle adaptor draws energy.
36. Bring your laptop to meetings to avoid printing out presentation materials.
37. When working late, use task lighting at your desk instead of lighting an entire floor.
38. Take mass transit or carpool to work if possible; or better yet, walk or ride a bicycle if you live close enough to the office.
39. Place plants in your office space to help absorb indoor pollution.
40. Turn out conference room lights when meetings are over.
If each person does his or her part, these practices will greatly reduce costs for everyone and ensure a healthier, happier workplace as well as helping the environment.
Source URL: http://www.greenbiz.com/research/tool/2010/04/21/40-ways-green-workplace
40 Ways to Green the Workplace
By Peter Belisle and Robert Best
President Peter Belisle and Executive Vice President Robert Best of Energy and Sustainability Services at Jones Lang LaSalle offer these tips.
Everyone involved in office space -- owners and property managers as well as tenant office managers and employees -- has a shared responsibility for reducing the environmental impact of our business activities.
In commemoration of Earth Day’s 40th anniversary, here are 40 ways to make the office a greener place to work:
Owners
1. Include reasonable sustainability provisions in standard lease agreements, and try to accommodate tenants with their own green criteria.
2. Require your management staff to follow sustainable procedures as much as possible, and to report on what they are doing.
3. Ask your property manager and other service providers what steps their organization is taking to be sustainable, including what they ask their own vendors, to ensure the sustainability of your supply chain.
4. Keep current on public policy mandates regarding green buildings, including tax credits and other incentives as well as building codes and other requirements.
5 Be knowledgeable of costs and financing alternatives relating to energy and sustainability improvements, and weigh these factors against potential financial benefits.
6. Conduct a complete commissioning of mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems once every three years to ensure they operate as they were designed to do.
7. Install bike racks to encourage emission-free commuting.
8. Institute a building-wide recycling program, and if possible, establish an area for sorting recyclables before they leave the building.
9. Budget for tenant sub-metering, subject to applicable laws and lease agreements.
10. Invest in roofing materials that reduce heat absorption by using highly reflective materials or vegetation.
Property Managers
11. Replace traditional base building light bulbs with high efficiency/low mercury lighting.
12. Install carbon dioxide detectors to ensure enough fresh air is circulating.
13. Don’t over-ventilate: It’s important to have enough fresh air, but outside air must be heated or cooled to inside temperatures, increasing energy use.
14. Follow a consistent schedule of checking and replacing filters.
15. Sub-meter equipment for better data on where energy is being used, so that when there is an unexpected rise in energy, the problem can be isolated more easily.
16. Use cleaning supplies and restroom paper products that meet EPA’s Environmentally Preferred Purchasing guidelines or are certified by organizations such as Green Seal
17. Ensure that parking-lot lights are shielded to focus light on the ground instead into the sky or neighboring properties, avoiding light pollution.
18. Follow integrated pest management principles that pose the least risk to people and the environment at the most economical cost.
19. Utilize high-efficiency irrigation technologies.
20. Work with municipalities to permit motion-sensitive lighting in emergency stairwells.
Office Managers
21. Set office copier defaults to print on both sides of paper to reduce paper waste.
22. Post recycling receptacles in central locations as well as at individual desks.
23. Use motion detectors to control lighting in storage and other rooms that are used infrequently.
24. Install task lighting at employee workstations so that late workers do not need full lighting throughout the department.
25. Consider recycled and recyclable materials when renovating space or replacing furniture.
26. Require interior build-out contractors to follow sustainable practices, particularly in ensuring the air quality of adjoining areas where employees are working.
27. Use low Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) paint and formaldehyde-free furniture and carpet in offices to ensure that air quality is not compromised.
28. Investigate the installation of software that automatically turns off copiers and printers at a certain time, and make sure standby modes are set correctly.
29. Consider programs that allow employees to work from home part of the time, reducing carbon emissions from commuting and potentially limiting space needed per employee, thus reducing the amount of space to heat and cool.
30. Design space to maximize penetration of natural light into your space.
Employees
31. Bring lunch from home to reduce cafeteria and restaurant waste.
32. Print documents only when necessary, and use double-sided printing when possible.
33. Learn which plastic lunch items are and are not recyclable, and wash food particles from recyclable containers before depositing
34. Use a coffee mug and reusable water bottle instead of paper cups and disposable plastic bottles.
35. Turn off your computer at night and unplug the adaptor—even an idle adaptor draws energy.
36. Bring your laptop to meetings to avoid printing out presentation materials.
37. When working late, use task lighting at your desk instead of lighting an entire floor.
38. Take mass transit or carpool to work if possible; or better yet, walk or ride a bicycle if you live close enough to the office.
39. Place plants in your office space to help absorb indoor pollution.
40. Turn out conference room lights when meetings are over.
If each person does his or her part, these practices will greatly reduce costs for everyone and ensure a healthier, happier workplace as well as helping the environment.
Source URL: http://www.greenbiz.com/research/tool/2010/04/21/40-ways-green-workplace
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