Buildings Magazine - September 2017

THEENERGYMANAGER

Advanced lighting and automated window shading reduced lighting energy usage by nearly 80% in a recent test on one floor of a New York City high-rise during a recent field test.

A partnership of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the Building Energy Exchange (BEEx), the test incorporated four sets of technologies across one 40,000-square-foot floor of an office building. The T5 fluorescent lights on the floor were replaced with dimmable LEDs, which were adjusted throughout the day to reflect changes in daylight levels and space occupancy. Researchers raised and lowered automated shades to bring in outside views, let in daylight or reduce glare.

The space was monitored for a full year before the retrofit to create a baseline for comparison, then for another six months after the retrofit.

How Off-the-Shelf Technologies Slashed 80% of Lighting Energy Use

THE ADVANCED LIGHTING STRATEGIES BEHIND STAGGERING SAVINGS

The 40-foot-deep perimeter zone saw a 79% reduction in lighting-related energy use, and the associated demand for peak lighting was decreased by 74%. Most of the savings resulted from switching to LED lighting and allowing dimming across the entire floor rather than just next to the windows. The ability to customize zone control at the work-group level with advanced controls also contributed significantly to the savings, with many of the configuration decisions based on the need to maintain both bright interiors and access to the outdoors.

If the entire building received the same retrofit, researchers estimate a total electricity savings of $730,000 per year at an average rate of 20 cents per k Wh, resulting in a 3- to 12-year payback depending on installed system costs.

“Using everything we learned on this project, we’ve developed a series of tools that will really help the engaged design professional or building owner make better decisions about lighting system upgrades and avoid the common pitfalls on the road to a high performance office space,” explains Yetsuh Frank, BEEx Managing Director of Strategy and Programs.

Often overlooked in the scheme of energy efficiency, natural gas has improved considerably through recent efficiency efforts, according to a report by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE).

In Natural Gas Efficiency: Progress and Opportunities, the organization outlines how new technologies, price effects, building codes, appliance and equipment efficiency standards, and utility-funded energy efficiency programs have made natural gas a more viable energy source for commercial buildings.

Some states and utilities have experienced annual energy savings increases of more than 1% of commercial and residential sales annually, and the states that achieve the highest savings are those with energy efficiency resource standards and incentives for utilities that are more energy-efficient for their customers.

The report also addresses how these incremental improvements by 1% each year can be achievable over the next 10-20 years, and that there are additional ways to find ways to improve the cost-effectiveness of already inexpensive natural gas. It highlights commercial building retrofits and advanced controls as just two of the many ways to capitalize on natural gas for your facility.

Opportunities identified in the report include combined heat and power (CHP), coordination with electric and water utilities, and fuel switching. Of these, the report lists multiple opportunities for CHP deployment with other utilities.

“Natural gas makes up a significant
portion of our energy mix, and there are
still many opportunities to increase our
efficiency, keep energy bills in check and
reduce our emissions,” explains Steven
Nadel, Executive Director of ACEEE. “By
doing so, we can improve the U.S. econo-
Visit www.aceee.org to read the
report.