Source: Ford Motor Company
The lights around Ford’s Dearborn, Mich., campus are going to get more efficient, as a new lighting project kicks off that will bring an estimated energy reduction of more than 18.2 million kilowatt-hours – enough to power 1,648 U.S. residential homes for a year.
The project eliminates more than 11,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions and offers an annual cost reduction of more than $1.3 million. We are talking 50,000 light fixtures, across Southeast Michigan and more than 6,000 fixtures in Ford World Headquarters alone will be replaced.
“We are continuously taking steps to make sure we’re current with the technologies that offer us reduced energy consumption, along with a cost savings for the type of space,” said Gary Jensen, manager of energy efficiency. “This project helps the environment, reduces demand on the grid and brings bottom line savings for Ford, too.”
So their green lighting project includes:
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Retrofitting existing fixtures
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Optimizing the use of day lighting
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Replacing incandescent exit signs with LED exit signs
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Controlling unoccupied areas with occupancy sensors
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Replacing incandescent and halogen lamps with compact fluorescent and LED lamps
“Lighting technology changes rapidly, with each generation producing greater efficiencies,” said Jensen. “This is only the most recent large-scale lighting upgrade that Ford has done.”
Office buildings, test facilities, a test warehouse and a vehicle proving ground facility are all areas that will be upgraded, with the project being wrapped up in 2011. Within those buildings, lighting is being replaced in offices, conference rooms, hallways, design studios, laboratories and restrooms.
