How American Businesses are Leading the Way in Green Building Technology

See how U.S. companies made the Shanghai Tower a shining example of green building. | Graphic by Matty Greene, Department of Energy.

In 2014, two daredevils broke into a construction site and climbed to the top of the second tallest building in the world: the Shanghai Tower. You may recognize it from their vertigo-inducing viral video, which leaves no doubt that the Tower is tall. What it doesn’t show is how much American businesses have had an impact on making the structure one of the greenest large buildings in the world.

Green buildings are more sustainable than conventional buildings by using fewer building materials, conserving energy and reducing waste. Thanks in large part to technologies from U.S. companies (and compared to conventional technologies) the approaches used in the Shanghai Tower:

• Reduce energy use by 21 percent
• Reduce water consumption by 40 percent
• Reduce the building’s carbon footprint by 34,000 metric tons per year, equivalent to taking more than 7,000 cars off the road.

From the architectural design and landscaping to temperature control and lighting, U.S. companies have made significant contributions to the Tower’s green design, which has earned a LEED Gold rating, as well as a China Green Building Three Star rating. Take a look at the graphic above to see some examples.

The Tower exemplifies how U.S. technology can drive economic growth while reducing carbon emissions, a path critical to addressing global climate change. As Secretary Moniz said in a recent speech, “Ultimately our focus is on the solutions to the climate-change challenge through technology. … American business will be called upon here to do the heavy lifting.”

That’s why 24 American companies are in China right now, joining Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker and Deputy Secretary of Energy Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall for a joint trade mission focused on smart cities and green infrastructure. The trip aims to follow through on the climate change goals laid out by President Obama and President Xi last November.

The Shanghai Tower is just one shining example of how U.S. companies are leading the way in green building technologies. In Shanghai and around the world, American innovation is scaling new heights when it comes to sustainability.

Pat Adams

Digital Content Specialist, Office of Public Affairs

Amazing New Solar Panels Are Completely Transparent

Just so we’re totally clear, this is a huge deal. (Get it?)

posted on Aug. 27, 2014, at 3:51 p.m.

Kasia Galazka

BuzzFeed Staff

http://www.buzzfeed.com/kasiagalazka/transparent-solar-panels#.ou6byrdMk

Program to Help Businesses Save Energy

http://www.ppulse.com/Articles-The-Green-Page-c-2015-02-26-120299.114136-Program-to-Help-Businesses-Save-Energy.html

February 27, 2015

Businesses have an opportunity to save energy and reduce operating costs by participating in Focus on Energy's Business Incentive Program (BIP) and Renewable Energy Competitive Incentive Program (RECIP). Focus on Energy, Wisconsin utilities' statewide program for energy efficiency and renewable energy, is proud to offer cash-back incentives and technical expertise to energy-intensive businesses like Capital Brewery.

Middleton-based Capital Brewery was founded in 1984 and has been brewing beer since 1986. The company worked with Focus on Energy and their utility, Madison Gas & Electric (MG&E), to complete two projects, including the installation of a 13 kW solar photovoltaic (PV) system and the installation of a high efficiency heat recovery system with controls. These equipment installations are helping the brewery save more than 19,000 kWh and 4,000 therms, resulting in a savings of more than $4,500 annually on their utility bill.

"It was the incentive and technical expertise from Focus on Energy that motivated us to do these projects," said Scott Weiner, president of Capital Brewery. "Capital Brewery is committed to sustainably brewing world class lagers and ales. We look forward to continuing our work with the Focus on Energy team and reducing our water and energy consumption as well as our carbon footprint."

"Breweries are a significant part of the industry and culture in Wisconsin," said Tamara Sondgeroth, director of operations for Focus on Energy. "By helping breweries make smart equipment choices combined with financial incentives, we are able to trim costs and help these businesses become more sustainable."

From lighting, to heating and cooling, and refrigeration systems, Focus on Energy offers both custom and prescriptive incentives to qualifying businesses. For more information on Focus on Energy's business programs, call 800.762.7077 or visit our focusonenergy.com.

Energy Efficient Upgrades - Lighting

Lighting is a critical component of every small business. Employees must be able to see to perform their jobs, and objects and spaces must be aesthetically pleasing to encourage sales.

Depending on the type of business you operate, lighting accounts for 20% to 50% of electricity consumption. This means that significant cost savings can be achieved with energy-efficiency improvements, and due to continually improving equipment, lighting usually provides the highest return-on-investment of major upgrades.

https://www.sba.gov/content/lighting

Fact or Fiction – LEDs don’t produce heat

http://www.ledsmagazine.com/articles/2005/05/fact-or-fiction-leds-don-t-produce-heat.html

Find Financing for Energy Efficient Upgrades

http://www.energy.gov/eere/buildings/find-financing-energy-efficiency-upgrades

New programs from Focus on Energy!!

Contact us to reduce your energy costs today!



https://focusonenergy.com/business/businessprogramupdates

LEDs: Lighting The Way To Major Energy Savings

LEDs: Lighting The Way To Major Energy Savings Eric Savitz Eric Savitz , Forbes Staff Guest post written by Chuck Swoboda Chuck Swoboda is CEO of Cree, which makes LEDs and LED lighting products. Chuck Swoboda President Obama set what he considers an ambitious goal for reduced energy consumption during his State of the Union address Tuesday night: “Let’s cut in half the energy wasted by our homes and businesses over the next twenty years.” Why wait so long? The technology and economics to achieve much of this goal exist today. One of the most antiquated devices wasting power in your home right now is the light with which you’re reading this article. Your incandescent bulb is based on technology that is more than 130 years old, a light source that converts most of the bulb’s energy to heat rather than light. American companies that build lighting based on modern technology – LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) – can enable consumers to save money and slash their electricity usage for lighting by as much as 80 percent. Today. That change can achieve much of the President’s goal since lighting accounts for nearly one-fifth (19 percent) of electricity spending in the average household, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. As consumers, we already rely upon LED lights in our cell phones and HDTVs. The barrier to the widespread use of efficient LEDs for lighting has been the high upfront cost of LED fixtures and bulbs. But now advancements in technology are dramatically lowering prices, so much so that a sub $10 LED bulb, which delivers brilliant, high quality light for more than a decade could soon be a reality. LED lighting is already cost effective – extremely so – for businesses and municipalities. The City of Los Angeles is saving $5.3 million annually thanks to the Green LA initiative that has thus far replaced 114,000 high-pressure sodium street lights with LED lighting, the nation’s largest such project. Once completed, Los Angeles anticipates LED lighting will save taxpayers $10-million-a-year, nearly two-thirds of what the city had been paying for lighting its streets. Sheetz, the convenience store and gas station chain, ranked 61st on Forbes Magazine’s List of America’s Largest Private Companies, has installed LED interior and exterior lighting at more than 130 of its locations across six states. The energy savings: 45 percent on interior lighting, and as much as 55 percent on exterior lighting that illuminates Sheetz’s gas pumps. As expenses drop, LED lighting is helping boost top-line growth, according to Sheetz, which reports customers find the brighter facilities more visually appealing and perceive them as safer. Such examples explain why LEDs accounted for 8 percent of the U.S. lighting market in 2012, according to McKinsey & Co., primarily in street lighting, retail and office environments. Now it’s the consumer’s turn. Fundamental advances in LED semiconductor technology, optics, and lighting system design now enable LED lights to break century old cost and performance barriers that have prevented consumers from realizing the savings businesses and municipalities already enjoy. While a typical incandescent bulb uses 60 watts of power to generate light, the current state of LED technology can produce the same light for less than 10 watts. A better, more efficient product means less expensive light. To a consumer, this means saving money – significant amounts of money. As the cost factor shrinks, adoption of LED lighting climbs. The industry’s current rate of cost reduction could result in a doubling of LED lighting adoption over the next year. The shorter the payback on the upfront expenditure, the more likely consumers will choose LED lighting. We’ve already seen this trend in commercial lighting markets. As we approach price parity with traditional lighting, any remaining barriers for commercial and consumer adoption should continue to diminish, and we believe the rate of adoption will accelerate. Not only does this trend result in better lighting that saves Americans money and time (imagine not changing a bulb for more than a decade), but it will also eliminate a tremendous amount of physical waste. According to IMS Research, collectively, 5.6 billion bulbs light American households and businesses, including 4.2 billion incandescent bulbs and about 1 billion compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs that contain toxic mercury. More than 1 billion new bulbs are purchased every year. The President’s own U.S. Department of Energy predicts the switch to LED lighting over the next two decades could save $250 billion in energy costs. There’s no need to wait.

Lumens are the New Watts

Using lumens as the measure of a light bulb’s brightness will simplify shopping for light bulbs… By EARTHEASY.COM Posted AUG 17, 2011 Back in the old days, when there was only one basic type of light bulb consumers could buy, (the incandescent bulb descended from Edison’s original) we could rely on the term “watts” to help us choose the right bulb for our lamps and outdoor lights. Although “watts” refers to how much energy a bulb will use when lit, we understood the relative brightness levels between 60-watt, 100-watt or 150-watt light bulbs. Then along came the energy-saving CFL bulbs A 15-watt CFL bulb, according to the package, produced the equivalent light of a 60-watt incandescent. A 25-watt CFL was comparable to a 100-watt incandescent in light output. And so forth. Shoppers were expected to understand the wattage conversions of these strange looking new CFL light bulbs. LED bulbs, more efficient than CFLs, use even less wattage to achieve desired brightness levels As we gradually got used to the idea of the CFL bulbs and began to understand how to choose the right CFL for our lighting needs, the new LED bulbs came into the mix. Originally used for small task lights such as flashlights and instrument lights, LED technology has evolved rapidly with new LED bulbs available for most applications in the home. LED bulbs, more efficient than CFLs, use even less wattage to achieve desired brightness levels. A 6-watt LED is equivalent to a 15-watt CFL which is equivalent to a 60-watt incandescent bulb. It’s getting confusing isn’t it? And besides three different wattage equivalents for the three basic types of light bulbs on store shelves, there are new halogen incandescent bulbs, new LED tube lights, and terms like Coloring Rendering Index (CRI) and Correlated Color Temperature (CCT) which further describe characteristics of light quality from a bulb. the FTC has mandated packaging changes for all light bulbs, effective in 2012, which simplify and standardize the differences in light bulb output To help shoppers make sense of the many choices in lighting today, the FTC has mandated packaging changes for all light bulbs, effective in 2012, which simplify and standardize the differences in light bulb output. Wattage is no longer a reliable way to gauge a light bulb’s brightness. Lumens, the measure of a bulb’s actual brightness, is the new standard for comparing light bulbs of all types. Lumens, the measure of a bulb’s actual brightness, is the new standard for comparing light bulbs of all types Lumens measure brightness. A standard 60-watt incandescent bulb, for example, produces about 800 lumens of light. By comparison, a CFL bulb produces that same 800 lumens using less than 15 watts. But you don’t need to understand yet another conversion. It’s simple. The more lumens, the brighter the bulb. You can use lumens to compare the brightness of any bulb, regardless of the technology behind it, and regardless of whether it’s a halogen incandescent, CFL or LED. Using lumens helps you compare “apples to apples” when you shop for light bulbs. Once you know how bright a bulb you want, you can compare other factors, like the yearly energy cost.

http://energy.gov/articles/top-8-things-you-didn-t-know-about-leds

There is still time to cash in on incentives from Focus on Energy. Please consider us for all your lighting needs.
https://focusonenergy.com/business/efficient-equipment/lighting

Rural Energy for America Program - Renewable Energy System and Energy Efficiency Improvement Guaranteed Loan and Grant Program

The Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) provides financial assistance to agricultural producers and rural small businesses in rural America to purchase, install, and construct renewable energy systems; make energy efficiency improvements to non-residential buildings and facilities; use renewable technologies that reduce energy consumption; and participate in energy audits, renewable energy development assistance, and feasibility studies.

http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP_ReapResEei.html

GOOD SOLAR NEWS

Kyocera Solar reduces cost and increases efficiency with new 1000-volt modules

Kyocera Solar Inc. is now offering new 1000-volt solar photovoltaic (PV) modules designed to significantly reduce labor and materials costs while simultaneously increasing overall system efficiency.

The US electrical code was only recently amended to allow 1000-volt solar modules, following a similar development in Europe that enables wider use of high-efficiency 1000-volt inverters.

By specifying a 1000V system instead of the previous 600V standard, installers can reduce total system costs by a substantial amount — up to 20%, according to Kyocera engineers, depending on the individual project.

The cost reduction is achieved in several ways:

• Because 1000V PV systems incorporate more modules per string, materials and labor costs are minimized by reducing the total number of strings and combiners the system requires. 
• String cable used for 1000V modules is thinner and uses less copper, making it less expensive to purchase and install. 
• 1000V inverters are likewise smaller and less expensive to install than their 600V counterparts.

A more long-term advantage of the 1000V system is its ability to minimize resistive losses, also known as “voltage drop” — which is typically about 0.75% lower in a 1000V system than in a comparable system of 600V. This increase in efficiency results in significant energy retention over the 20+ year lifespan of a system.

LED LAMPS ARE NOT ALL EQUAL

Buying “the Wrong” LED Tube Lamps can be Expensive

Electrical Systems and Services, Inc is always concerned that our customers are well educated on what's new as well as comparing products. Many times when we get asked to bid on a project, we go over and above the demand by offering the customer several different options.One of the more common recent lighting upgrades ESS has done has been the T12 to T8 or T5. With a little more dollars up front, we can usually show the customer how money will be saved in the long haul, using LED's 

When making purchasing decision on energy efficient lighting, it is not uncommon for people to choose LED tubes lights on price alone. With conventional lamps where all things are equal, per-lamp price is a reasonable yardstick. However, with LED T8 lamps all things are everything but equal. Per-lamp price alone is inadequate to reflect the real cost of a retrofit project. Experienced lighting professionals are now considering  these factors when calculating the true cost of a retrofit project:

• ·         Per-lamp price
• ·         Per-lamp installation labor cost (50% labor saving is a lot)
• ·         Per-lamp accessories cost (for new tombstones, wirings, or an external driver)
• ·         Per-lamp rebate (available only for qualified LED products listed with LDL or DCL)
• ·         Per-lamp incentive (for it has strict requirements and expiration date)
• ·         Per-lamp energy difference (18W LED T8 saves 18% more energy comparing to 22W LED T8.)
• ·         Warranty (Rebate lists routinely call for 5-year warranty, thus a 3-year warranty is no longer acceptable.)
• ·         UL label (IFAR 1598C will be the standard in Feb, 2013, and many LED T8’s will lose their listing.)

With this holistic view for your retrofit project, buying a “lesser” LED T8 may be the wrong choice. Saving money by using a single-end lamp that only carries a 3-year warranty won’t get you the rebates. Also, you will need to use non-shunted tombstones, which your fixture may not have. Lastly, change-out time is greater since the fixture will require the electrician more labor time.  Now, how much did you really save with the “lesser” LED tube with that 3-year warranty, additional 4-watt higher on power consumption and without any rebate qualification, no UL1598C classification and requiring 50% more labor time on replacing fixture tombstone? You actually end up paying a lot more on a project basis with this “lesser” LED tube even though its per-lamp cost is cheaper.

RACINE ENERGY EFFICIENCY - Re2 PROGRAM

Would you like to save on energy bills and boost your bottom line?

Re2 and Electrical Systems and Services, Inc can help.

Re2 or the Racine Energy Efficiency Program is a federally funded program to help business owners implement energy-efficiency projects that will yield large energy savings over time. Re2 has the resources and expertise to help make energy savings upgrades like new lighting, HVAC, refrigeration equipment, and more, to your business.

Contact us to find out more on this new and exciting opportunity.

LED Street Smarts

Street lighting turns to LEDs for longevity and efficiency

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have been appearing in traffic signals and vehicle headlights for years and are poised to affect another source of light we use to navigate our cities and towns. 


Municipal street lighting retrofitted with LEDs has enhanced several communities’ nighttime environments, while significantly reducing energy consumption and maintenance costs.

Administrators are well-versed in the financial strains of street lighting. It can account for up to one-quarter of a municipality’s electric bill, while maintenance can cost another 15 to 25 percent of their annual operating expense. However, what most municipalities lack is basic knowledge of lighting systems and technology.

T12 LIGHTING PHASE-OUT JULY 1, 2012

What should I be prepared for?

• Manufacturers will be phasing out their production

of T12 lamps and ballasts

• Progressively less availability of T12 lamps and

ballasts

• Increased cost of T12 lamps and ballasts due to

demand vs. limited supply

• To keep up with federal regulations of energy

efficiency, manufacturers’ technology and production

will be focused on T8 and T5 systems

What T12 Lamps are affected by this

phase out?

• T12 4-ft. & 2-ft U-lamps with medium bi-pin bases

   - Majority of F40 and F34T12 lamps and all FB40

and FB34T12 U-lamps

   - 4-ft. requires 3560 lumens @ 40W and 3030

lumens @ 34W to pass @ 89 LPW

   - 2-ft. U-lamps require 3360 lumens @ 40W and

2856 @ 34W to pass @ 84 LPW

• T12 8-ft. Slimline with single pin bases

   - All 75W F96T12 lamps

   - All 60W F96T12/ES except for the 800 Series

• T12 8-ft. 800mA HO with RDC bases

   - All 110W F96T12 HO lamps 

   - All 95W F96T12/ES/HO lamps

Did you know?

Approximately 30 percent of all fluorescent lamps sold

in the U.S. are still T12 technology. As a result of the

T12 phase out, 70 percent of all T12 fluorescent lamps

sold in the U.S. will be phased out come July 2012.

FAQ's

1. Why are T12 fluorescents systems being 

phased out?

Answer: T12 lamps and magnetic ballasts are 

considered outdated compared to the far more energy 

efficient T8 and T5 fluorescent technologies now 

available. The Department of Energy’s objective is to 

remove less efficient T12 fluorescent systems from the 

market, and thus increase lighting energy efficiency for 

organizations. 

2. What type of energy savings can I expect 

for upgrading?

Answer: Managers of facilities can select from several 

upgrade scenarios which could result in energy savings 

as high as 45 percent, with attractive 1-3 year simple 

paybacks to the building owner. 

3. Why are Energy Efficiency Fund incentives only 

offered for a limited time on T12 upgrades?

Answer: Once the DOE mandate becomes effective, 

it will become common practice to remove less efficient 

T12 systems; therefore, retrofitting T12 systems will be 

the customer’s only option for maintaining their old, 

inefficient lighting system.  Energy Efficiency Fund 

incentive programs will likely not support commercial 

and industrial T12 system retrofits in the future.

4. Are there some T12 systems that will continue to 

be manufactured?

Answer: Yes.  The following will continue to be manufactured:

• T-12 ballasts designed to dim fixtures more than 

50 percent of their full light output

• T-12 ballasts driving 8-foot, high-output fixtures 

designed for outdoor advertising

• T-12 ballasts designed and labeled for use in 

residential applications

5. Should I gradually change out my T12 magnetic 

ballast system or should I change it all at once?

Answer: In order to take advantage of the Energy 

Efficiency Fund’s 50 percent upgrade incentive, a 

project must upgrade the lighting system as a whole, 

not as individual fixture upgrades.

Please contact Electrical Systems and Services, Inc. with any questions or for a FREE evaluation and proposal for your lighting upgrade needs.

ANALYZE THIS !

                                                              Commercial Building

30 %

Percentage of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide produced by commercial buildings

70 %

Any successful approach to combating climate change must include commercial buildings, which make up 70% of electrical consumption.

50 %

According to the World Economic Forum research, nearly 50% of all energy consumed by commercial building could be avoided with new energy-efficient systems and equipment. These energy savings would exceed the costs of the upgrades - generally within five years or less.

MOTION OR OCCUPANCY SENSORS

 Motion or Occupancy Sensor Light Switch


Fit a motion sensor light switch to automatically switch off lights when a room is empty

• The Motion Sensor Light Switch  is a new product which will only turn lights on in a room when it is occupied. By automatically turning off the lights when no-one is in the room, the manufacturers claim that an average of 128 hours per year of unnecessary lighting will be avoided, reducing electricity consumption for the lighting by 10%.

• The light switch is sold as a complete, easy to install unit which can be quickly fitted as a direct replacement for a standard (non-dimmer, single way) switch. A manual switch is provided so that lights can be switched ON or OFF, or to enter AUTO mode. When in AUTO mode, the fitted PIR sensor (which covers 110 degrees with a range of 5 metres) detects if someone is in the room. A second adjustable light sensor ensures that the lights are only turned on when it is dark

• A delay time setting (8 secs to 6 mins) is provided so that you can set how often you want the motion detector to check the room for inhabitants. The longer this time is set, the longer the lights will remain on after you leave the room. The shorter the time, the more likely it is that the lights will turn off while you are still in the room - potentially a problem if you are sat in an armchair not moving or walking backwards and forwards directly towards the motion sensor.

Contact ESS for more information on how we can install these money saving devices in your office or plant.

GIFFORD SCHOOL - OFF GRID SOLAR POLE LIGHTS

GIFFORD SCHOOL GOES GREEN

Next time you find yourself traveling on Highway K thru Franksville, check out the 2 Solar Pole Lights at the west entrance to the Gifford School parking lot. The project was a part of the overall parking lot restructure. The off - grid lights were installed instead of using the old "wired to the grid" lighting system that uses electricity supplied by WE Energies. Working with Racine Unified School District, ESS located, assembled and installed the lights. The LED lights use only solar power to light the entrance to the school parking lot.

Great Job RUSD & Gifford School.

All of your current and past students, teachers & staff can be proud of the fact that Gifford School is doing its part to go "GREEN"