By Monica Kanojia

The Interior Lighting Campaign has seen tremendous success since its inception with more than 160 leading organizations signing on as participants and supporters. Launched as one of the Better Buildings Initiative’s Technology Campaigns in 2015, the Campaign is designed to address the opportunity for energy savings represented by updating perennially inefficient fluorescent lamp lighting systems, and to serve as both a recognition and guidance program for facility owners and managers. This week, the Campaign’s first year culminated at the 2016 Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International Conference and Expo with Dr. Kathleen Hogan, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), recognizing top performing participants like Target, CKE Holdings, Inc. and the Army Reserve for their significant achievements.

From 100k to 1 Million

The Campaign, led by DOE in partnership with BOMA, the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES), the General Services Administration (GSA), and the International Facility management Association (IFMA), started with an initial goal of upgrading 100,000 troffer lights. In the first few months, the Campaign quickly surpassed that goal – thanks in part to participants like Target, which replaced 120,000 troffers in 100 of its 1,800 stores by March 2016. ILC then raised their own bar, shooting for a goal of 1 million troffers. Within its first year, the Campaign has already achieved the upgrade or replacement of 650,000 troffers, which represents an estimated 130 million kWh, or $13.5 million in energy cost savings.

The Ubiquity of Troffers

Troffers generally operate for upwards of 10 hours per day and are responsible for an annual consumption rate of nearly 97 billion kWh of electricity. There are roughly 300 million troffers in commercial buildings across the U.S. In an effort to decrease an approximate energy cost of $9.9 billion, the equivalent of energy consumed by 8.9 million homes in one year, the BBA developed the High Efficiency Troffer Performance Specification to serve as guidance for owners and managers by detailing requirements that will result in energy savings for troffers, as well as reliable performance. The specification was developed in collaboration with the BBA’s Lighting and Electrical Technology Team, manufacturers, and stakeholders; its adoption can help building owners save up to 60% on a one-for-one basis, and up to 75% with the use of controls.

Leaders Showing the Way

This week at the BOMA conference during the awards ceremony, 13 participants were recognized for their exemplary performance. Several leaders took home multiple awards:

  • Army Reserve - 9th Mission Support Command
    • Exemplary Federal Government Sector Site
  • Army Reserve - 99th Regional Support Command
    • Exemplary Federal Government Sector Site
  • Baylor Scott and White Health
    • Exemplary Healthcare Sector Site
  • CHRISTUS Health
    • Exemplary Healthcare Sector Site
  • CKE Restaurants Holdings Inc.
    • Largest Number of Facility Projects
    • Highest Absolute Annual Savings for Troffer Lighting Retrofits - Small Project
    • Highest Percentage of Annual Savings for Troffer Lighting Retrofits - Small Project
  • Cleveland Clinic
    • Highest Absolute Annual Savings for Troffer Lighting Retrofits - Large Project
  • Northern Arizona University
    • Best Use of Lighting Controls in a Single Building
    • Exemplary Higher Education Sector Site
  • Sustainable Technologies
    • Highest Percentage of Annual Savings for Troffer Lighting Retrofits - Medium Project
  • Target
    • Highest Absolute Annual Savings for Troffer Lighting New Construction - Medium Project
    • Highest Absolute Annual Savings for Troffer Lighting New Construction - Large Project
    • Highest Percentage of Annual Savings for Troffer Lighting New Construction - Medium Project
    • Highest Percentage of Annual Savings for Troffer Lighting New Construction - Large Project
    • Largest Portfolio-wide Annual Absolute Energy Savings
  • T-Mobile
    • Highest Absolute Annual Savings for Troffer Lighting Retrofits - Medium Project
  • Tutera Real Estate
    • Exemplary Commercial Real Estate and Hospitality Sector Site
  • U.S. General Services Administration
    • Highest Absolute Annual Savings for Troffer Lighting Retrofits - Large Project
    • Highest Percentage of Annual Savings for Troffer Lighting Retrofits - Large Project
    • Best Use of Lighting Controls in a Single Building
  • U.S. Toy Co.
    • Exemplary Retail, Food Service, or Grocery Sector Site

CKE Restaurant Holdings Inc. had an impressive 157 sites submitted with an average savings of 53%, totaling 1.9 M kWh savings, the equivalent of the energy consumption of 177 homes. The Cleveland Clinic achieved energy savings of 2.6 M kWh over one year resulting in a 55% energy consumption reduction in comparison to existing data, which secured its standing as the Highest Absolute Annual Savings for Troffer Lighting Retrofits in the large project category. Target, setting the bar high for its fellow participants, received several awards having achieved 26 M kWh saved annually totaling energy cost savings of about $2.7 million.

The continued increase in commitments to the Interior Lighting Campaign, along with significant contributions from current participants, has it on track to achieving its ambitious goal. “These awardees are showing the way and inspiring others to step up,” said Jason Hartke, program manager of the Commercial Buildings Program at BTO. “Thanks to their leadership, we’re confident that we will meet or exceed our target of replacing 1 million high efficiency troffers by this time next year.” Learn more about the Campaign and how to get involved.