We are about half-way through lighting retrofit that will reduce electricity consumption an impressive 17%. The lighting retrofit is funded in part by a Department of Commerce Grant and incentives from Puget Sound Energy and will save the college $136,000 per year.
You may notice light sensors on the wall or ceiling with blinking red and green lights. These sensors are designed to turn off the lights when they’re accidentally left on. You can continue to turn on-and-off the lights as you choose in your office or classroom. In addition, lights may come on automatically now in some areas when you enter. As part of the retrofit we are employing LED technology. For example, the L building atrium up-lights are now LED and equipped with photo-cells. These provide more light, use 80% less energy, and there will be no more light shining into the skylight on a sunny day. The retrofits have touched much of campus, but are mostly invisible. One space that is visible is the cafeteria which a noticeable boost in quality of light while reducing energy consumption.
With the interior spaces mostly complete, the retrofit will continue into the parking lots. The new parking lot lights will be equipped with a “high-low” sensors designed to double the lighting level when movement is sensed. This will increase safety by highlighting movement at night and improve the color of the lighting. Check out the mock-up in the D2 parking lot behind the R building or by the WeCar on the ground floor of the parking garage.
Read previous posts on this project:
- BC Awarded $815,000 Energy Efficiency Grant
- July 4th Marks Lighting Retrofit Kickoff
- Lighting Retrofits Proposed for Main Campus
Last Updated November 23, 2021