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Sustainable System Design
Lighting the Built Environment
According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) 22% of the electricity consumed in the United States is for lighting. This represents a significant area to focus on in order to reduce the carbon footprint of the built environment. Proven technological advances can be used to provide visually appealing, energy efficient lighting that enhances the space while minimizing dependence on fossil fuels through lowered usage.
Single Source Electrical Design
Electric Construction has staff devoted to efficient lighting design. We can provide complete lighting design for exterior and interior spaces including 3D modeling and photometric calculations. 3D models created with AutoCAD MEP software can be used with other Building Information Modeling (BIM) packages to predict constructability issues and possible conflicts. This can speed up the design and construction phases by identifying and resolving coordination issues early.
Daylighting
Daylighting of interior spaces involves both architectural and electrical design issues. We can suggest strategies to improve access to daylight through selection and location of architectural elements. We can aid your architectural team by selecting appropriate luminaires and automatic daylighting controls to maximize energy savings. Studies have shown that access to daylight and exterior views can improve worker's mood and morale which corresponds to an increase in productivity and reduced absenteeism. Electricity usage can be reduced by automatically turning off electric lighting when daylight is present.
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design LEED
There are 11 LEED points available under LEED V2.2 that are related to electrical design criteria. If this project attempts LEED certification we can use our experience with previous LEED projects to maximize points received.
Financial Incentives
We will work for the owner to obtain financial incentives to help offset the initial cost of purchasing efficient electrical equipment. Wisconsin Focus on Energy has incentives available that could apply to this project. We can also work the building owner's accountants to accelerate depreciation schedules with EPAct tax deductions related to efficient lighting design.
