Buildings Magazine - October 2015

what controls are present, if any. Bridges recommends taking a photo of every fixture type to help you with analysis afterward. Review recent electric bills to determine what you’re paying for electricity, a step that will help you estimate the ROI of potential improvements.

2) Determine occupant needs.

Record what tasks workers perform in each space, as well as how often they use the lighting and for how long. Consult the Illuminating Engineering Society’s footcandle recommendations for different tasks and age groups to see if you’re overlighting any areas.

Also examine traffic through your facility, determining where occupants tend to congregate vs. areas that are frequently empty. Existing building schedules can help with this.

3) Assess the space. The tasks and
activities you looked at to determine
occupants’ required light levels will also
help you determine whether the fixtures
in each space are suitable for the envi-
ronment around them.

“Let’s say you have a machine shop with exposed egg-crate T12 fluorescent fixtures, and the fixture and lamps are covered with years of dirt,” says Markowitz. “Now the amount of illumination is compromised due to light depreciation from the dirt. In hindsight, that probably wasn’t the right fixture to put into service.”

Potential Pitfalls

These issues can sidetrack your auditing success, so make sure to avoid them.

Volume: Every space means every space, even the smallest ones. A janitor’s closet with one hanging light in it still counts, so don’t forget to account for its lamp and measure the space on your audit.

Documentation: Rebates and incentives can add another layer of difficulty to accounting for everything due to the sheer amount of detail required. It’s vital that you take exact measurements, Bridges explains – many tax deductions are based on square footage, for example, so some of the spaces in your facility may qualify while others don’t.

Strategy: Don’t overlook retrofit opportunities that could yield savings, Markowitz says. Lighting controls and daylight harvesting can both dramatically reduce energy usage, especially when used together. Utilities and state programs may cover some of the cost, but it’s vital that you research them because in many areas, local organizations don’t market their efficiency programs widely.

Janelle Penny janelle.penny@buildings. com is Senior Editor of BUILDINGS.

The Value of In-House Lighting Audits continued from page 9

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