As retailers work to reduce energy usage and actively pursue a goal of net zero energy buildings or implement different components of a net zero energy management plan, lighting is often the first step that can be tackled by most.
“For the past several decades, a facility’s lighting system represented about 40 percent of the monthly utility bill, but with the cost of LED lighting systems becoming very affordable, energy use has been reduced by 50 percent or more,” said Anthony J. Denami, Director of Lighting Design and Project Estimating for Stones River Electric. Not only does the lower wattage of LED lighting require less energy, but LEDs emit less heat, which results in less demand on air conditioning units, he added.
“Moving forward into 2018, ascena retail group is initiating a comprehensive energy program to enhance the lighting in our stores across all brands,” explained Amy Ochoa, Facilities Manager for ascena. “While individual brands in the retail group embarked on a series of LED lighting programs and energy management systems prior to the creation of our center of excellence, we are looking to build off the success of those initial efforts.”
For example, ANN, INC. reported installation of LED bulbs in over 600 stores in 2015, but additional energy management systems were added to ANN in 2016, said Ochoa. “We work with eight unique store design segment groups and must ensure that the right bulbs are available for the right brands,” explained Tara Thompson, Director of Corporate Procurement, Energy and Sustainability for ascena. “We work with Visual and Brand teams to meet their design needs and balance the cost and efficiencies needed to meet the goals of the center of excellence.”
Major considerations for retailers evaluating lighting changes are the number of states that have adopted energy codes such as ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1, the International Energy Conservation Code or state-specific codes such as California, which has the Energy Efficiency Standards for Residential and Nonresidential Buildings, also referred to as Title 24, Denami explained. “Some cities and municipalities, such as those in Colorado, have written their own lighting ordinance, codes and standards, which address exterior lighting.”
Of course, retailers are actively seeking new ways to conserve energy for a variety of reasons. One of the more interesting projects that Denami has handled is a national restaurant company that wanted to upgrade the lighting system at the corporate campus, reduce energy use and obtain the maximum utility incentive available. “We saved the owner over $97,000 annually in utility costs and obtained a utility rebate of over $91,000,” he said. A year later Denami’s company was implementing an interior LED upgrade in all of the company’s restaurants, and two years after the initial project, the restaurant company upgraded the exterior lighting at all locations to energy saving LED sources.
Lighting system energy savings are not just the result of LED lights, Denami pointed out. “Lighting controls can and do reduce energy consumption and energy demand,” he said. “Look at the utility bill and take the time to analyze the various charges and fees associated with your invoice.”
“Many of these charges are under the users’ control. Investing in technologies which will save money on your monthly utility bill and the systems will pay for themselves in a very short period of time,” Denami said. “After reaching the controls investment break-even point, those dollars saved in energy cost add to the bottom line, month after month after month.”
Left to right: Tara Thompson, Corporate Procurement – Energy and Sustainability; Amy Ochoa, Facility Manager; Jamie Hubbard, AVP Procurement
BY: Sheryl S. Jackson
