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VA Healthcare Sites Save Energy with High Efficiency Ballasts
The maintenance staff at the Department of Veterans Affairs' Northern
California Health Care System (NCHCS) Martinez site needed to find a way to
reduce energy costs and standardize the large lighting-related inventory they
were required to maintain.
The Martinez site, which includes 14 buildings, is just one of the many NCHCS
outpatient clinic locations in Northern California. As each structure was built,
it incorporated the newest lighting technology. "The extensive inventory
of lamps, ballasts and fixtures to maintain these buildings became quite large
and complex," explains Mark Fierner, project manager, Engineering and
Facilities Management Services for NCHCS. "One of the lighting retrofit
goals was to reduce the size and scope of the necessary inventory."
Engineering and Facilities Management Services worked on a solution with the
consulting group Energy Resources Associates (ERA) of Livermore, CA. ERA concluded
as much as 25 percent could be saved in materials, labor and energy costs by
standardizing all lighting equipment, thereby reducing inventory.
The resurgence of the California energy crisis motivated Fierner's team
to explore new options to save energy. All NCHCS facilities were already operating
under the federal directive to reduce energy use by 20 percent in all government
buildings. In addition to the federal mandate, the local utility, Pacific Gas
& Electric Co. introduced a double rebate program to stimulate energy conservation
in response to the state's energy problems. The Engineering and Facilities
Management Services team submitted a proposal, based on ERA's recommendation,
to the regional VA office, where it was approved.
"Working with ERA, all the buildings at the Martinez site were reviewed,"
Fierner said. "We selected the nine oldest buildings for the lighting
retrofit. Additionally, we decided to retrofit two NCHCS buildings in downtown
Oakland, CA, that we also maintain. All the buildings serve as outpatient or
support-related facilities."
In the areas identified as lighting critical at the Martinez and Oakland sites,
the retrofit lighting project included the installation of 500 Universal Lighting
Technologies high efficiency electronic ballasts and T8 F32XLSP41 fluorescent
lamps. All other areas, such as hallways and storage areas were retrofitted
with more than 400 Universal Lighting Technologies low power electronic ballasts
and T8 F32XLSP41 fluorescent lamps. The new lighting replaced a combination
of T12 and T8 fluorescent lamps and magnetic ballasts at both sites.
"We were able to utilize all existing two-, three- and four-lamp fixtures,"
comments Fierner. "After a thorough cleaning of each fixture, the electricians
installed new sockets in each unit. This small change resulted in the best contacts
for the new fluorescent lamps and maximum light output for each lamp/ballast
package.
"We estimated savings of more than 288,630 kwh with the new lamp/ballast
systems for the 14,000-square-foot Martinez site and the 20,000-square-foot
Oakland site. The projected energy cost savings of more than $36,000 is based
on a blended kwh rate of $0.125. Our utility rebate was more than $30,000,"
explains Fierner. "We have already seen a 17 percent decrease in the site's
utility bill in the month since the project was completed."
Response to the lighting retrofit project, valued at $150,000, has been positive.
Fierner indicated that the lighting system passed the critical eye inspection
of the maintenance crew chief in Martinez.
Universal Lighting Technologies' high efficiency electronic ballast represents
the most significant energy-saving advancement in linear fluorescent technology
in 25 years. The high efficiency ballast is ideal for retrofits, replacements
and new construction and offers excellent return-on-investment (ROI). The high
efficiency ballast operates standard and high efficiency T8 lamps, and the lamp/ballast
system yields up to 11 percent savings when compared to a standard T8 lamp/ballast
system.
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