Residence hall lighting retrofit project earns rebate and saves energy costs at University of Minnesota

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Residence hall lighting retrofit project earns rebate and saves energy costs at University of Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (11/08/2010) -Xcel Energy has issued a rebate check for $142,772 to the University of Minnesota Housing and Residential life staff for a residence hall lighting retrofit project done by the university's Energy Management department this year.(Media-Newswire.com) - MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL ( 11/08/2010 ) —Xcel Energy has issued a rebate check for $142,772 to the University of Minnesota Housing and Residential life staff for a residence hall lighting retrofit project done by the university's Energy Management department this year.

University of Minnesota staff retrofitted more than 7,400 inefficient T12 lamped, magnetic ballasted fluorescent light fixtures with modern solid state ballasts and high efficiency T8 lamps in eight residence halls on the Twin Cities campus. The lighting retrofit has improved the quality of light provided in the students' living spaces, study areas, common areas and dining facilities, while saving money and reducing the university's carbon footprint. The project cost $404,000 upfront, but will pay for itself in 2.6 years. Along with the $142,772 rebate from Xcel Energy for the improvements, the university will save about $100,000 annually.

"Housing and Residential Life came to Energy Management looking for ways to become more energy efficient and this lighting retrofit was a no-brainer," said Jim Green, assistant director in Energy Management at the U of M. "The end result is a better performing lighting system which consumes less energy."

The lighting systems installed qualified for prescriptive rebates under Xcel's Lighting Efficiency Rebate Program which made the return on investment in this situation very attractive, Green said.

"Everybody ended up a winner on this project and we'll continue to reap the benefits for many years to come," Green said.

In 2008, the university set a goal to reduce campus energy consumption by five percent, saving $2.25 million annually and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 25,000 tons per year. The five percent goal was met in March 2010, approximately three months ahead of schedule, due mostly to an aggressive building recommissioning program.

As of Nov. 1, efficiency improvements implemented since April 2008 have saved the university more than $3 million annually in energy costs. The Residence Hall Lighting Retrofit is just one example of the hundreds of projects implemented as part of this overall energy efficiency initiative.

The benefits of the retrofits are:

Operating Savings -- approximately $100,000 annually

Energy Savings -- 1,654, 951 kWh annually

Carbon Savings -- approximately 1,374 Metric Tons annually