University of Central Florida Student Union

In the summer of 2009, the University of Central Florida's Student Government Association began working with WinderLumen LED to retrofit select areas of the UCF Student Union with LED lighting technology.  Using a combination of Cree LED Lighting Solutions LR6 and LR24 fixtures, the new installations are saving the Student Government Association 60-75% in energy usage over the incandescent and fluorescent lighting installed previously.  The slide show below details the results from the Student Government office suite and the Key West Ballroom, where the Student Government will save an impressive $10,000 a year on energy and maintenance over the next eight years.

Student Governmenet Association Office Suite - Before

In the SGA suite, each 2' x 4' fluorescent lay-in troffer was replaced with a Cree LED Lighting Solutions LR24. Each 2' x 4' fixture in this photo is using 128 Watts of electricity.

Student Governmenet Association Office Suite - After

Each Cree LR24 in this photo is using 48 Watts of electricity. The resulting savings of the one-for-one retrofit is a 63% energy savings. Based on daily year-round usage of 16-18 hours, the new LED fixtures will last over eight years without maintenance or lamp replacement (50,000 hour useful life).

Student Governmenet Association Office Suite - Before (CRI)

Notice the contrast between the greenish hue from the fluorescent fixtures and the area outside the SGA suite where there is natural sunlight in the atrium. This is due to the poor color rendering index typical of fluorescent lighting (75-80 CRI).

Student Governmenet Association Office Suite - After (CRI)

With the Cree LR24 fixtures, CRI is back up to 92+, giving the room a much more natural looking light. Through the doorway on the left, there is still a distinct difference in color rendering where the fluorescent fixtures are still installed.

Student Governmenet Association Office Suite - Before (Meeting Room)

The fluorescent fixtures in this meeting room were also replaced with the Cree LR24's...

Student Governmenet Association Office Suite - After (Meeting Room)

Besides the energy and maintenance savings, along with the improved color rendering, the Cree LR24 is also dimmable to 5% on a low voltage control, which will allow for multimedia presentations in this meeting room without having to keep the lighting at full brightness.

Key West Ballroom - Before

All four sections of the Key West Ballroom were retrofitted with Cree LED Lighting Solutions fixtures. Each section started with twelve 2' x 4' fluorescent fixtures (128 Watts each) and thirteen recessed fixtures (75 Watts each) for a total usage of 2,511 Watts in each section.

Key West Ballroom - After

The new LED installation includes eight high-ceiling Cree LR24 fixtures (58 Watts each) and thirteen Cree LR6 fixtures (12 Watts each) in the soffit. The total usage for the new configuration is 620 Watts, yielding energy savings of over 75%!

Key West Ballroom - Before (Recessed Lighting)

The 75 Watt recessed lamps in the soffit are leaving large shadows and dark spaces on the partition walls...

Key West Ballroom - After (Recessed Lighting)

... while the 12 Watt Cree LR6 demonstrates a much more efficient flood with the top of the light scallop striking the partition much closer to the ceiling than before. The uniform 3500K color temperature of the LR6 and LR24 fixtures also increases the functionality of the soffit lighting.

Key West Ballroom - Before (Presentations)

The fluorescent lighting in this room did not allow for much flexibility for multimedia presentations compared to the controllable Cree LR24 LED fixtures.

Key West Ballroom - After (Summary)

Besides the increased color rendering and new flexibility in control system integration, the real success of the Key West Ballroom LED retrofit is in the payback: according to the Student Union's Associate Director, the 75% energy savings, 50,000 hour life of the LED fixtures and the reduction of heat waste above the ceiling will yield a total savings of $10,000 per year over the next 8-9 years. The payback on the LED retrofit is less than two years.

The Greenovation of Terra Verde

Dr. Anna Marie, health specialist for the Weather Channel and host of the syndicated better living show, Your Life with Dr. Anna Marie, is leading this greenovation project to transform a 1970's home on the edge of the Ocala National Forest into an eco friendly, energy efficient and ultimately healthy home.  When completed, this never-been-renovated home will boast renewable energy technologies like thin-film solar power, wind power and geothermal cooling.  WinderLumen LED is working with the Greenovation team to specify the lighting in the home, including recessed lighting from Cree LED Lighting Solutions and accent lighting from American Lighting.  Dr. Anna Marie will feature the home on her show, and several local, regional and national media outlets will showcase areas like the kitchen, where recycled materials, energy technology, LED lighting and efficient appliances culminate in a breathtaking design.  For Dr. Anna Marie, the ultimate goal is to educate, inspire and motivate people to start making changes in their own homes to reduce their carbon footprint and live in a green and healthy home.  For more information on the Greenovation of Terra Verde, please visit www.TerraVerdeTV.com.