Benefits
Roberts says the reviews of the new lighting system are very positive. “Since we got the levels adjusted the way we wanted them,” he says, “what I continuously hear is that it’s a nice even light throughout.”
On the recently completed ninth floor, the lights outside the elevators are set to 20 percent of maximum output. Those down the corridors are at 30 percent, while the lights adjacent to them are at 50 percent. But, says Roberts, “You can’t physically see the difference. You can put a light meter underneath and then see the difference, but you can’t see it with the naked eye.”
Nowhere on the ninth floor — which is about 56,000 square feet — are the lights set at more than 80 percent of their capacity, with the majority operating at between 50 and 60 percent. The ability to fine-tune light levels individually in each fixture, and ultimately to achieve the perfect lighting environment, is the result of an ideal marriage between the fixtures and digital control technology.
Piedmont also wanted to reduce the fixture count; they’ve done so by about 10 percent, and expect greater reductions on other floors. “With the savings from the reduction in the fixture count and the reduced energy consumption per fixture,” says Dan Dillon, Piedmont Office Realty Trust’s Regional Manager, “we should realize pretty significant savings.”
These are positive developments in NASA’s green plan, and in attaining that LEED Silver certification. Moreover, NASA and Piedmont Office Realty Trust are anticipating significantly lower maintenance savings with the Cree solution: no more incessant light bulb changing. “That’s another big potential savings,” Dillon says.
And, speaking to the reliability of the CR22 troffer, Roberts says, “It’s an amazing fixture. We’ve put in about 1,300 of them, and they are performing beautifully. I think that’s just excellent.”
The government is increasingly moving to LEDs, Dillon says, and this installation has served as something of a showcase to other agencies of the advantages to be gained. “The system has been very well accepted by the NASA staff,” he says, “and we’re really very pleased as well.”