"...this was the first project I can think of where the client actually proposed a specific fixture to be used."
Providence, Rhode Island (PRWEB) March 23, 2015
When a National Grid account manager recently toured a sprawling 125,000 square foot design and manufacturing center belonging to Interplex Engineered Products on Ferris Avenue in East Providence, she was not only struck by the impressive high tech design and manufacturing work taking place in the facility’s labs and on the plant floor, she also saw an opportunity to save potentially hundred of thousands of Kilowatt Hours each year in lighting energy.
This presented a mutually beneficial opportunity for both the Utility and the business owner. It also launched a series of events that resulted in the large scale, high tech lighting retrofit project just completed at the facility. The result of which, will conserve nearly 500,000 kWh annually.
The project was referred to Energy Source of Providence Rhode Island, a NationalGrid Project Expeditor that provides turnkey energy conservation solutions for businesses and specializes in navigating the process of securing significant Incentives available from the Utilities.
Jim Howard, the Director of Operations of Energy Source, worked with Paul Cinque-Mars and Peter McNeil of Interplex to coordinate a comprehensive energy audit, targeting the facility’s lighting system.
With the audit data and analysis in hand, Energy Source proposed a solution that would replace the early generation of T8 fluorescent lighting with approximately 1,100 high efficiency LED fixtures throughout the interior and exterior of this facility. Further, fixtures installed in the labs and office areas would feature state of the art, programmable, photo-based occupancy sensors and employ the latest “Daylight Harvesting” technology to exploit every possible savings opportunity based on room use and available ambient light.
Howard saw real benefits in working with a company such as Interplex, a big player in the high tech sector, and found forward thinking partner sin Interplex’s Cinque-Mars and McNeil.
“Paul and Peter were extremely receptive to leveraging high tech solutions like Daylight Harvesting and software based controls, as they saw the opportunities for savings that they represent. It was such a pleasure working alongside someone who had obviously gone up the learning curve on best practices. In fact, this was the first project I can think of where the client actually proposed a specific fixture to be used. I was impressed that Paul and Peter had taken the initiative to attend a National Grid product Expo in order to educate themselves on the latest options available in energy conservation” Howard said.
The project took less than three months from audit to design and final implementation. Energy Source’s installation team had the challenge of working around the company’s 24/6 operating schedule on a project that spanned 125,000 square feet of work area. Nevertheless, the entire project was completed on time and on budget with little to no interruption to processes.
On the business side, the design as installed will save 498,233 Kilowatt Hours annually and yearly dollar savings of $53,000 into the future. With the considerable Utility Incentives attained by Energy Source on behalf of their client, Interplex will enjoy a very rapid payback on the project.