Lighting Retrofit Analysis of Canyon Residential Hall
by Harlo Pippenger, Green Campus
Prepared for Humboldt State University Housing & Facilities Management
December 14, 2018
Compiled for the web by Abigail Lowell, January 2019
The Canyon is an on-campus dormitory housing community located at Humboldt State University. It consists of eight buildings: Alder, Cedar, Chinquapin, Hemlock, Madrone, Maple, Pepperwood, and Tan Oak.
For this project, Humboldt State Housing & Residence Life requested an audit of existing lighting used in the Canyon buildings, as well as recommendations for replacement LED fixtures that will reduce energy costs. Left: Canyon dorms exterior Right: Map of HSU campus with Canyon dorms circled in red Below: Building locations in Canyon dorm complex |
Energy Audit
A partial lighting energy audit of the Canyon dormitory buildings was conducted on December 8, 2017. The audit determined the number and type of existing lighting fixtures, primarily to determine which fixtures had been replaced in one-off circumstances.
Daniel Bouchard (HSU Maintenance Lead), Katie Koscielak (HSU Sustainability Analyst and Green Campus Staff Advisor), Harlo Pippenger (Green Campus Coordinator, 2017-18), and Andrea Alstone (HSU Energy Planner & Analyst) conducted the audit, which included the Maple, Madrone, and Pepperwood buildings. After this initial audit, Daniel Bouchard sent additional information that would help us understand the existing conditions in Alder, Cedar, Chinquapin, Hemlock, and Tan Oak.
The data from these site walks was compiled in an Excel spreadsheet and used to calculate total annual energy usage and costs for lighting in Canyon.
Daniel Bouchard (HSU Maintenance Lead), Katie Koscielak (HSU Sustainability Analyst and Green Campus Staff Advisor), Harlo Pippenger (Green Campus Coordinator, 2017-18), and Andrea Alstone (HSU Energy Planner & Analyst) conducted the audit, which included the Maple, Madrone, and Pepperwood buildings. After this initial audit, Daniel Bouchard sent additional information that would help us understand the existing conditions in Alder, Cedar, Chinquapin, Hemlock, and Tan Oak.
The data from these site walks was compiled in an Excel spreadsheet and used to calculate total annual energy usage and costs for lighting in Canyon.
Summary of Existing Conditions
The current lighting in the Canyon dorms is predominantly provided by fluorescent fixtures, with a small number of LED fixtures installed as well. These LED fixtures have been installed to replace failing fluorescents as they die in one-off circumstances.
The majority of the fixtures are of the same type: 22 Watt Circline fluorescents.
In the common areas at the basement floor of each building, there are T8 32 Watt fluorescent fixtures.
The exterior lighting for the Canyon consists of 43 compact fluorescent wall packs with a wattage of 13 each.
Exterior paths and walkways are lit using 25 light poles in the “lollipop” style, which use 75 watts each.
The lighting in hallways and common areas operates 24 hours a day, while the stairwell lighting is controlled by photo-sensors that turn off the lights during daylight hours.
Annual maintenance costs were estimated using the cost of purchasing a replacement fixture and the cost of labor to install the new fixture.
The material cost for one replacement fixture is $80.
The labor to install a new fixture has a cost of $60 per hour, and is estimated to take 20 minutes.
The facilities maintenance lead estimated that 7 fixtures are replaced every 10 years, so the average cost over a ten year period would be approximately $700.
The actual annual cost is found by dividing the 10-year cost by 10, for a value of $74 per year.
The table below details the existing light fixtures, including their wattage, number of fixtures, time of operation, controls, energy usage, and annual cost.
The majority of the fixtures are of the same type: 22 Watt Circline fluorescents.
In the common areas at the basement floor of each building, there are T8 32 Watt fluorescent fixtures.
The exterior lighting for the Canyon consists of 43 compact fluorescent wall packs with a wattage of 13 each.
Exterior paths and walkways are lit using 25 light poles in the “lollipop” style, which use 75 watts each.
The lighting in hallways and common areas operates 24 hours a day, while the stairwell lighting is controlled by photo-sensors that turn off the lights during daylight hours.
Annual maintenance costs were estimated using the cost of purchasing a replacement fixture and the cost of labor to install the new fixture.
The material cost for one replacement fixture is $80.
The labor to install a new fixture has a cost of $60 per hour, and is estimated to take 20 minutes.
The facilities maintenance lead estimated that 7 fixtures are replaced every 10 years, so the average cost over a ten year period would be approximately $700.
The actual annual cost is found by dividing the 10-year cost by 10, for a value of $74 per year.
The table below details the existing light fixtures, including their wattage, number of fixtures, time of operation, controls, energy usage, and annual cost.
Exterior Lighting Measurement (Photometrics)
Light output from compact fluorescent wall pack fixtures located on exterior of the Alder building were measured using a photometer to determine if lighting levels were adequate for safety and aesthetics. The unit is the "foot candle", defined as illuminance on a one-square foot surface from a single candle, also known as 1 lumen of light.
The exterior brightness of the Alder building was found to be between 1 and 2 foot candles adjacent to fixtures, and less than 1 foot candle on nearby walking paths.
Campus standards for light levels are approximately 5 foot candles on walking paths. The current light levels are inadequate, only providing 20-40% of the mandated light levels.
The proposed LED wall-pack fixtures, if installed, would provide adequate light levels up to distances of at least 10 feet away from each fixture, and therefore would meet campus safety standards.
Proposed RAB post-top fixtures spaced 8 feet apart would provide adequate light levels on the elevated walkways leading to the Canyon dorms.
The exterior brightness of the Alder building was found to be between 1 and 2 foot candles adjacent to fixtures, and less than 1 foot candle on nearby walking paths.
Campus standards for light levels are approximately 5 foot candles on walking paths. The current light levels are inadequate, only providing 20-40% of the mandated light levels.
The proposed LED wall-pack fixtures, if installed, would provide adequate light levels up to distances of at least 10 feet away from each fixture, and therefore would meet campus safety standards.
Proposed RAB post-top fixtures spaced 8 feet apart would provide adequate light levels on the elevated walkways leading to the Canyon dorms.
Recommended Energy Efficiency Measures
From his work on this project, Harlo Pippenger recommends that the existing lighting fixtures in Canyon be replaced with LED fixtures that will provide adequate light levels, increase efficiency, and reduce electricity costs.
Five energy efficiency replacement fixture types have been chosen, with different fixtures for hallways/common areas, stairwells, walls, and exterior light poles. In addition, installing emergency lights at all exits is recommended to ensure safety.
Five energy efficiency replacement fixture types have been chosen, with different fixtures for hallways/common areas, stairwells, walls, and exterior light poles. In addition, installing emergency lights at all exits is recommended to ensure safety.
Contact Harlo Pippenger at [email protected] with questions or interest!