The future is looking bright for the thousands of students returning in the fall semester for classes or for research in three campus buildings.
That's because of an initiative by Facilities Planning & Management (FP&M) to replace 10,900 aging, power-hungry fluorescent lighting with brighter, more energy-efficient LED lighting in those buildings since the start of the year.
The tally of LED lighting replacement in the buildings:
- University Library: 4,300
- Biotechnology Building: 3,300
- Engineering Laboratories: 3,300
Parking Structure 1 also received lighting upgrades. Crews replaced more than 2,360 fluorescent lamps with LED lighting. The new lighting in Parking Structure 1 is projected to save over 61.5% in energy consumption, said George Lwin, manager of Energy, Utilities & MEP Services.
Overall, a total of 13,260 fluorescent lamps were replaced in the three buildings and Parking Structure 1. Plans are underway to replace fluorescent lamps in three other buildings through the end of the year.
The Electrical Shop was involved with the LED lighting installation process while the Maintenance Shop helped plan the logistics of the replacement project. Environmental Health & Safety helped arrange the collection of fluorescent lamps to a holding facility on campus.
Following the change-out of the fluorescent lighting, hazardous waste hauler Clean Earth transported the obsolete lamps for proper disposal.
"They all deserve credit for making things go as smooth as possible," said Manny Toledo of Projects Services, which led the LED installation project in the buildings. "It truly was a team effort."