|
Sponsored by the Environmental Assistance Office (EAO) for Small
Business at UNC Charlotte, The Environmental Corner is
designed to serve as an environmental management and pollution
prevention resource. The theme for the January newsletter is
lighting and energy conservation.
Many
times as a new year begins, there are reflections on the memories
from the past, actions for the present, and dreams for the future.
These reflections help us to focus on the path of light we choose to
follow. Our January newsletter focus is on lighting. It gives
insight to the importance of lighting to increase productivity,
create proper atmosphere of space functionality, and provide
opportunities for energy savings and pollution reduction.
In
this issue:
Do you know your
lighting energy budget?
 Could
a light make a difference?
The General Electric (GE) website link provides information on light
its effect on the quality of color. A higher color rendering index (CRI)
light will make things appear better.. There is an interactive color
booth link which allows one to see the different types of effects
lighting can produce on color and can help in choosing the right
light.
At the site, a literature library provides lighting brochures for
different business and industrial needs along with various
applications within the business. There are general lighting needs
to give basic light, perimeter lighting to brighten walls and make
space appear larger, accent lighting to highlight pictures and
objects, along with task lighting for activities to be performed.
The different work environments are accented with proper lighting to
match the activity. Optimal lighting can give your business an
exciting new look, create attractive and appealing surroundings,
increase productivity and reduce absenteeism. It can also provide
savings in energy, lamp replacement, and labor costs.
DELTA (Demonstration and Evaluation of Lighting Technologies and
Applications) is a program to design, evaluate and publicize
energy-efficient lighting solutions. The website has publications
with business, industrial, residential, and outdoor lighting (gas
stations) examples. There are photos and explanations of objectives,
techniques, and details used for the lighting.
http://www.lrc.rpi.edu/programs/DELTA/publications/index.asp.
What
is optimal lighting?
ENERGY STAR is the national symbol for protecting the environment
through energy efficiency. Energy Star products are developed to
meet strict energy efficiency guidelines and prevent greenhouse gas
emissions. The website is located at http://www.energystar.gov/
The Energy Star Building Manual lighting chapter explains many
aspects of lighting for businesses. There are charts which give
information on % usage and show savings potentials. The aspects of
light quality, quantity, heat impacts, efficiency comparisons, and
control features are discussed along with checklists for action
items and the best ways to save money.
http://www.energystar.gov/ia/business/Lighting.pdf
The Salt River Project (SRP) Electrical Supply Company in
Phoenix
highlights advantages for energy savings and lighting at
http://www.srpnet.com/electric/business/lightsolutions.aspx
Benefits of optimum lighting at businesses are given by business
type. There are advantages in both indoor and outdoor lighting.
Lighting can account for 30 – 50% of the energy requirements for
commercial business. An increase in savings for operational cost can
be obtained with lighting efficiently.
Return to top of page
Does
sunshine light effectively?
US
Department of Energy (DOE) – Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Division provides information on the use of Day lighting to bring in
the natural lighting and reduce artificial lighting and energy
demands:
http://www.eere.energy.gov/consumerinfo/factsheets/cb4.html.
The benefits include reduced energy requirements for lighting, and
benefits on heating and cooling system demands due to the reduced
heat generated with natural light versus artificial light and solar
heating capability, less worker time loss with power failure, and
increased worker satisfaction.
A
detailed research report on the use of day lighting found that there
were positive effects. A view is psychologically desired and
physiologically it is a stimulant for the circadian and visual
systems. The effects on a retail business which originally had no
windows showed increased sales.
http://www.lrc.rpi.edu/programs/daylightdividends/pdf/DaylightBenefits.pdf
What others think about day lighting is given in
a research article at:
http://www.lrc.rpi.edu/resources/news/enews/jul03/pdf/LRCdaylightingFR.pdf .
It
includes comments from building designers and “end –use” customers
from Charlotte -NC, New York City, Des Moines - IA, Orange
County-CA, and
Portland-OR. There were discussions to explore the
barriers to day lighting usage in industrial, business, and
institutional buildings along with identifying ways to overcome the
barriers.
Return to top of page
What
are the Regulatory Requirements?
Charlotte Mecklenburg’s LUESA – Air Quality website highlights the
requirements for the EPA Energy Star, a program that requires no
permits, no inspections, no mandatory reporting and can save you
money.
http://www.charmeck.org/Departments/LUESA/Air+Quality/Public+Interest/energy_star.htm
The main industries affected by regulatory requirements for lighting
are food industries. Light bulbs are generally required to be
shatter resistant or shielded when they’re located in the immediate
areas of clean equipment, utensils, and linens as well as around
prepared foods. This information is presented in U. S. Department
of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Food and Drug
Administration, 2001 Food Code, Chapter 6, section
6-202.11.
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/6-2
If your company needs shielded lighting, a
recommended website that has information about shielded lighting is
http://www.shattershield.com/index.html
and they also have additional information and links to regulations
affecting various industries. The regulation links can be found at
http://www.shattershield.com/regulations.html.
Return to top of page
Pollution
Prevention Can Be Done!
Energy Efficient Products:
If
each household in
America were to change out 5 frequently used light bulbs or fixtures
to Energy Star products, the household could realize a $60 yearly
savings in energy and the reduction of air pollution equivalent to
the emissions from 8 million cars or more than one trillion pounds
of greenhouse gases. View Energy Star Products at http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=lighting.pr_lighting.
Energy Evaluations:
Are you ready to evaluate your lighting and energy efficiency? The
EPA Energy Star website has many resources to enable energy
management and assessment at the business improvement section
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=business.bus_index.
The cost savings related to energy savings also brings about the
reduction in air pollution.
Energy Training:
On-line training sessions and presentations are offered at no charge
to increase your team’s understanding on the impact and
implementation of Energy Star programs at:
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=business.bus_internet_presentations#pm
Return to top of page
Environmental
Assistance Office (EAO) for Small Business
The Environmental Assistance Office for Small Business provides
non-regulatory, client-confidential pollution prevention assistance
to small businesses in the greater
Charlotte region. The EAO is designed to assist regional businesses
in their efforts to voluntarily prevent pollution. The EAO staff can
provide timely assistance for pollution prevention planning,
including information about industry-specific case studies,
waste-specific case studies, and new technologies. The office
provides links of resources to needs between the region's business
community, government, municipality, and university. If there is a
particular issue or question you would like to see in an upcoming
edition, please send an e-mail to
EAOforSB@email.uncc.edu.
Contact Information:
Environmental Assistance Office for Small Business:
9201 University City Blvd.
136 Kennedy Building, UNC Charlotte,
Charlotte,
NC 28233-0001
Phone number: 704-687-3968 Fax number: 704-687-3115
Email:
EAOforSB@email.uncc.edu
Services:
·Assistance with Air Permits - Assistance for small businesses in
completing paperwork for EPA air permits.
·Educational Materials - Educational pamphlet, brochures, flyers,
and other materials to relate facts on pollution prevention.
·Educational Outreach - Develop educational outreach campaigns and
presentations for the public or employee training.
·University Resources - Library information, faculty expertise,
student projects and research at both graduate and undergraduate
levels.
Return to top of page
|