Arizona State Expects $127k Annual Savings from Lighting Switch

  • By Dian Schaffhauser
  • 08/18/09

Arizona State University (ASU) has retrofitted six parking structures at its Tempe campus with new light-emitting diode (LED) fixtures. The university said it expects that the change, which uses hardware from Lighting Science, will save up to $127,000 annually in energy and maintenance costs. The project cost about $1.5 million, according to David Brixen, associate vice president of university business services.

The LED project is part of the second phase of an energy conservation and sustainability project underway at ASU. The university contracted with APS Energy Services to replace 2,000 150-watt metal halide fixtures with Lighting Science's 78 W LED low bay luminaires. According to Lighting Science, the replacement will reduce the institution's energy consumption by 1.5 million kilowatt hours, the greenhouse gas emission equivalent of 208 passenger vehicles. The new fixtures are projected to last 50,000 hours, about three times longer than the typical metal halide fixture.

Phase two of the project, according to Brixon, "includes converting many buildings from pneumatic HVAC controls to direct digital controls, converting buildings to variable air volume systems, from constant volume, relamping interior lighting from T-8 32-watt lamps to 25-watt lamps, relamping exterior lighting to 70-100 watts from 150-175watts, relamping all parking structures with LED lighting, and installing technology to better control air exchange rates in various buildings." Those measures will add up to $40 million.

"Exploring the value of LED lighting solutions is an important component to 'greening' our university," said Bonny Bentzin, the director of sustainable business practices at ASU. "In addition to the superior level of illumination offered by the LED fixtures, installing energy efficient lighting provides financial and environmental benefits."

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

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