CASE STUDIES

The Problem

Before coming to Commonwealth Energy Group, LLC, their existing lighting system needed an update. They had (198) 400-watt Metal Halide Fixtures that were wall-mounted throughout the ice rinks and basketball courts.

The existing system had started to fail after many years of service. This eventually led to the ice rink incurring increasingly high maintenance costs. The operating expense of the older technology, coupled with the increased demand on the cooling system to combat the heat created by the HID lamps, caused the facility manager to seek out more affordable alternatives. To improve the lighting system and reduce extraneous operating costs, they came to us.​

The Solution

Commonwealth Energy Group (CEG) designed and installed an LED lighting system that would work as a 1-for-1 replacement for what they already had. By working with the existing lighting fixtures, we increased existing light levels by approximately 30% and reduced the operating expense by 60% before we even analyzed the fraction of air-cooled savings.

Upon further review, we realized that each of the existing HID fixtures acted as small heaters in the ceiling, causing the refrigeration system to work harder. The new LEDs we installed generated only 20% of the heat created by the original HIDs, thus lowering the cooling cost for the two ice rinks.

CEG negotiated a 10-year Manufacturer’s Warranty on this project, giving the venue many years of maintenance-free operation.

The Problem

For over 50 years, this leading window manufacturer had been distributing their energy-efficient glass products worldwide. However, the process of making these top-selling windows had become less energy-efficient than it could be.

The challenge was to find a cost-effective way to reduce their overall energy cost and increase light levels throughout the facility.

The Solution

Our solution was simple; we retrofitted over 64 existing 400W metal halide high bay fixtures and replaced them with brand-new LED fixtures. By making this simple change, this leading glass manufacturer reduced their overall maintenance cost, improved worker productivity by up to 25%, and maximized their facilities’ overall energy savings by 50%.

The Problem

The original lighting system in the Field House Gymnasium of Butler County Community College consisted of (30) 1000-watt Metal Halide Fixtures. These fixtures were wall-mounted on the side walls of the gym, shining up at the ceiling and providing indirect light to the floor of the gym.

The existing system had started to fail after many years of service. This expectedly resulted in increasingly high maintenance costs.

The existing system was turned on/off by the breaker panel, with no switching or dimming in place. Staff needed to walk to the breaker panel and turn on/off the amount of breakers needed to supply enough light for the day’s task. Then, at the end of the day, the staff would need to return to the breaker panel and turn off the lights.

The Solution

Commonwealth Energy Group (CEG) – with the help of RAB Lighting – developed a plan to install energy-efficient LED lighting with wireless dimming controls in the gymnasium. By integrating wireless dimming controls into the LEDs, we were able to give the college multiple light levels at the touch of a button when needed. We were also able to automate the on/off schedule, thus freeing up labor previously spent flipping breakers.

CEG created scenes on the touchscreen controller:

• Cleaning: All Lights 25%
• Practice: All Lights 50%
• Game: All Lights 75%
• Televised Event: All Lights 100%

In addition to the scenes, the controller also supported on-the-fly customization, allowing the user to set the lights at the exact level needed.

​CEG negotiated a 10-year Manufacturer’s Warranty on this project, giving the college many years of maintenance-free operation while saving up to 75% in energy costs versus the old metal halide system.

The Problem

The Radisson, Scranton’s historic landmark, which served as a passenger train station in the early 1900s, was redeveloped as a hotel in the 1980s. The original clocks, doors, foundations, stairs, ceilings, and walls all remain in the six-story tourist attraction, keeping the building’s overall historical appearance.

The Radisson’s lights were outdated, though, with high energy and high maintenance costs. We went in and conducted an in-depth lighting audit of the building to see where upgrades could be made to save energy and money.

The Solution

We retrofitted over 400 fixtures, replaced over 2,000 lights, and installed over 200 new exterior LED lights. The Radisson will see 70% annual energy savings, which is more than $50,000 a year! They also received more than $51,000 in rebate incentives and will receive over $30,000 in tax incentives.

The Problem

The existing lighting system at Mercyhurst University in Erie, PA, used over (400) fixtures, including Metal Halide, Linear T12 Fluorescent, Linear T8 Fluorescent, Incandescent, Compact Fluorescent, and High-Pressure Sodium. These fixtures were spread throughout the campus and included areas such as:

• Ice rink
• Locker rooms
• Weight room
• Basketball courts
• Offices
• Volleyball courts
• Stairwells
• Hallways
• Exteriors
• Etc.

The staff wanted to take a proactive approach to upgrading the lighting systems and offset the cost of doing so with our Efficiency Made Easy Program.

The goal was to ​maintain or increase existing light levels while lowering operating expenses and reducing the different types of lamps throughout the campus.

The Solution

CEG visited the site and performed a campus-wide energy survey, during which we identified the groups of fixtures that would help reduce maintenance and operating expenses. CEG funded the project for Mercyhurst, allowing them to move forward with the installation while requiring no money down. The project went according to plan and schedule, and the result was:

• Increased light levels
• Reduced energy costs
• Long-term maintenance savings
• Peace of mind

A year later, with the lighting system that we installed still working perfectly, the customer once again called upon CEG to assist in analyzing the exterior lighting on the campus. Our team put together an LED system that would save the college 68% on the cost of their exterior lighting. The project was approved and completed.