More light, less cost

Citation

(2009), "More light, less cost", International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, Vol. 58 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijppm.2009.07958cab.005

More light, less cost

Article Type: News From: International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, Volume 58, Issue 3

A new light management system from Lutron Electronics Co. Inc., recently installed in a new, landmark Manhattan office tower, is achieving a “stunning” 70 percent energy savings compared to the ambitious energy-efficiency benchmark the building was designed to meet.

Lutron’s Quantum total light management system was installed in The New York Times Building, the new headquarters for The New York Times Company – a dazzling 52-story tower featuring open spaces and floor-to-ceiling glass walls designed by Renzo Piano in conjunction with other architectural firms.

“We designed our building to use 1.28 Watts per square foot of lighting power. With Quantum, it’s using only 0.38 – that’s 70 percent less,” says Glenn Hughes, the Director of Construction for The New York Times Company during the design, installation, and commissioning of The New York Times Building.

The energy-saving lighting control strategies employed in the building include the following:

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  light level tuning (setting the appropriate target light level for each space);

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  daylight harvesting (automatically dimming electric lights when enough daylight is present); and

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  occupancy sensing (turning lights off when space is vacant).

It is estimated that this 70 percent savings in lighting energy usage will mean an annual savings of about $315,000 for the Times Company. In addition, the environment also benefits: about 1,250 metric tons of CO₂ emissions will be prevented each year.