accordance with the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct), which has been extended through 2013. EPAct deductions are calculated based on the percentage of energy savings and are applicable to all commercial buildings. Facilities in certain states may also qual-ify for incentive rebates from utility compa-nies. “Energy service companies and utilities may offer shared savings plans and upgrade-related loans, leases and state-sponsored energy efficiency grants,” Bloom states. With so many incentive programs in place, facility managers may be able to retrofit buildings with energy-efficient light-ing systems without huge startup costs. “Many financing options are available to fund a lighting upgrade,” Bloom adds. “And, contrary to popular thinking, upgrades often do not rely on an up-front cash outlay by the facility.” In addition to direct financial savings, a retrofit lighting system can boost the pro-ductivity of both workers and building occu-pants, as well as prevent worker injury and reduce labor costs. “As lighting is an element of the work-place environment that can directly impact an employeeʼs mood and degree of comfort and satisfaction, employee productivity can increase as the result of a successful light-ing upgrade and can significantly improve a companyʼs bottom line,” Bloom asserts. The long life of many energy-efficient lights — and therefore the increase of time between maintenance — means fewer potential accidents and wasted man hours, which all contribute to overall savings. Taking An Informed First Step Once you have made the decision to retro-fit your facility with an energy-efficient light-ing system, you may not know where to begin. “A great first step for facility managers considering an upgrade is to conduct a light-ing audit of their facility,” explains Bloom. This audit can be conducted either by an in-house expert or a third-party organization like an electrical distributor, energy service company or lighting manufacturer. Additionally, if you are pursuing a third-party certification, such as the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, a light audit by a LEED specialist can determine how energy-effi-cient lighting can help you toward that goal. “While there is no such thing as a LEED-certified lighting fixture, you can get a num-ber of LEED points toward certification of a facility by utilizing lighting fixtures that have very high efficiencies,” Hong concludes. Regardless of which energy-efficient lighting system you determine is the best fit for your facility, making the change can help you save time and money and achieve certification goals, as well as give you the peace of mind that you are making a responsible, sustainable choice for your facility, your workers and your bottom line. CM Circle Product Information no. 201 on page 32 www.cmmonline.com 37
CMM – Archives Mar 2010: 37
