Erik Anderson, Director, Facilities Operations, writes:
“Using funding from rebates of previous energy-saving projects, the Santa Fe Facilities staff hatched another energy-saving idea.
“While induction lighting is not a new technology in Europe, it is in the United States, so we set out to find a vendor who could retrofit our parking lot lights. The old lights were a total wattage of 390 per light. We found an induction light that requires 200 watts.
“We then ordered 117 retrofit fixture heads (that maxed out our rebate money) and our electricians David Diefendorf, Supervisor, Jason Head, Senior Electrician, Seth Florio, Journeyman Electrician, and Chris Carey, Electricians Helper, went about changing out the lighting.
“If you come here after dark you can tell which lights have been changed. The induction lighting is brighter and produces better color rendering, an important security feature (for example, it makes it easier for police to create accurate descriptions of vehicles).
“Facilities collected a $21,750 rebate check from Gainesville Regional Utilities on July 29. We will continue to search for more ways to save energy and research newer technologies.”
Dan Clark, GRU Key Accounts Representative, said GRU applauds SFC’s accomplishments in the energy conservation realm.
“They use the projects to educate people, to lead the way in the community, ” Clark said. “No one else has done parking lot induction lighting in the community. It gives us the opportunity to educate other businesses in town, to bring them out here so they can see the lights. You’re not just educating your students and staff, you’re making it real for the community.”
Representatives from Indian River Community College, Manatee College, Polk Community College, South Florida Community College, and St. Johns River Community College have looked to SFC to learn more about our energy conservation projects, Anderson said.
Induction lighting lasts for 100,000 hours, which is equivalent to 10 years, full-time. Since the parking lot lights are on at night until around midnight, the new lights should be good for 20 to 25 years.
“Think of what we’re going to save on maintenance,” said Diefendorf. “We’ll most likely never have to touch them again.”
In the photo from left to right, Seth Florio, David Diefendorf, Chris Carey, Jason Head, Dan Clark, and Erik Anderson.