Dorm Lighting Upgraded Over Intersession
As part of BU’s plan to reduce energy consumption by 10% by July 2017, LED desk lamps were added over intersession to all rooms in West Campus, Warren Towers, and 1019 Comm Ave. Facilities Management & Planning (FM&P) removed the less efficient fluorescent light fixtures, and along with BU Housing, plan to install the sleek, new lamps in all residences on campus in the near future.
In addition, FM&P replaced fluorescent lights in all hallways and bathrooms in Warren Towers with new motion-sensing LED fixtures. In total, these two projects are expected to save 2.3 million kWh of electricity annually.
LED light bulbs are extremely energy efficient and long-lasting; an LED bulb can cut energy consumption by over 80% when compared to conventional light bulbs and can last up to 25% longer. If every American replaced one conventional light bulb with an LED, the energy savings could light an estimated 2.5 million homes. That is the equivalent to the greenhouse gas emissions of 800,000 cars. For more information on the benefits of using LED bulbs, visit energy.gov.
Over the past few years, Boston University has rolled out tens of thousands of new solid state lighting fixtures and bulbs. This LED lighting technology is mature and has emerged as the most cost effective solution for both retrofits and new construction applications and with significant financial incentives from the electric utilities. Not only are LEDs more energy efficient in producing the same light output as an equivalent incandescent, but they last longer which means bulbs need replacing less often. Moving to LEDs significantly lowers greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and eliminates worries about mercury and hazardous waste disposal typical of fluorescent and other technologies. Facilities Management & Planning has replaced over 26,000 fixtures with LEDs since 2011 equating to over 9.4 million kWh of savings annually.