Spring Break
Recent grant provides energy efficient lighting
Issue date: 6/24/09 Section: News
For the fifth consecutive year, Western Illinois University has received an Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation grant for energy efficient lighting upgrades on the WIU-Macomb campus.
The most recent grant, which totals $170,616, will allow Physical Plant staff to upgrade lighting in Waggoner, Currens and Mowbray halls, Beu Health Center and the Physical Plant facility.
The projects consist of retrofitting existing fluorescent lighting fixtures with high efficiency electronic ballasts and lamps that use 35 percent less energy than the original equipment, according to Benjamin Dedjoe, Physical Plant electrical engineer. The new high efficiency lighting will reduce air conditioning loads in summer, as well as electrical demand during high cost periods of peak electrical usage.
Last year Western received $210,606 to upgrade lighting in Tillman, Sallee, Browne, Brophy and Horrabin halls. Since receiving the initial grant funding in 2003, Western has upgraded lighting eight buildings on the WIU-Macomb campus.
"Improving environmental sustainability is a priority for the University," said Western Vice President for Administrative Services Jackie Thompson. "We're happy that Western continues to receive funding to implement additional energy conservation programs."
The total cost of the project is $407,871, with Western providing $237,255 in addition to the Illinois Clean Energy grant.
According to Dedjoe, the completed project in Waggoner, Currens and Mowbray halls, Beu Health Center and the Physical Plant is expected to result in nearly $82,000 in costs savings per year and will also contribute to a reduction in airborne pollution emissions from power generating plants.
Post-retrofit lighting levels is of equivalent or higher quality than current building lighting levels. Lighting efficiency upgrades are the most common energy management project in older institutional buildings and are usually accomplished with little or no disruption to the occupants or functions in the facility, Dedjoe added.-University Relations
The most recent grant, which totals $170,616, will allow Physical Plant staff to upgrade lighting in Waggoner, Currens and Mowbray halls, Beu Health Center and the Physical Plant facility.
The projects consist of retrofitting existing fluorescent lighting fixtures with high efficiency electronic ballasts and lamps that use 35 percent less energy than the original equipment, according to Benjamin Dedjoe, Physical Plant electrical engineer. The new high efficiency lighting will reduce air conditioning loads in summer, as well as electrical demand during high cost periods of peak electrical usage.
Last year Western received $210,606 to upgrade lighting in Tillman, Sallee, Browne, Brophy and Horrabin halls. Since receiving the initial grant funding in 2003, Western has upgraded lighting eight buildings on the WIU-Macomb campus.
"Improving environmental sustainability is a priority for the University," said Western Vice President for Administrative Services Jackie Thompson. "We're happy that Western continues to receive funding to implement additional energy conservation programs."
The total cost of the project is $407,871, with Western providing $237,255 in addition to the Illinois Clean Energy grant.
According to Dedjoe, the completed project in Waggoner, Currens and Mowbray halls, Beu Health Center and the Physical Plant is expected to result in nearly $82,000 in costs savings per year and will also contribute to a reduction in airborne pollution emissions from power generating plants.
Post-retrofit lighting levels is of equivalent or higher quality than current building lighting levels. Lighting efficiency upgrades are the most common energy management project in older institutional buildings and are usually accomplished with little or no disruption to the occupants or functions in the facility, Dedjoe added.-University Relations
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