STUDENTS HELP WITH LIGHTING AUDIT IN JESSUP HALL
Two students enrolled in Sustainable Systems 52:107 conducted a lighting audit in Jessup Hall Thursday, April 3 under the supervision of Facilities Management staff. Adam Beranek-Collins, a junior in Chemical Engineering, and Marcus Galante, a senior in Business Management, met up with Facilities Managment's Energy Engineer John Zhou, and Area Mechanic Joe Stockman.

The students, carrying light meters and clipboards, measured various lighting levels in spaces throughout the building. Several opportunities to save energy were noted. The T12 fluorescent bulbs, commonly used throughout campus buildings, are larger and less energy efficient than their smaller replacements, the T8 fluorescent bulb.  Replacement of these bulbs alone could reduce lighting energy use by 30-40% throughout the building.

However, the change would require an investment. Zhou must determine if the investment in the project is worth the payback. He will consider the total cost of the project, energy and financial savings, and rebates from MidAmerican before replacement work begins. Also, he will consider the occupants. Zhou says, "We must also provide some customer education. Building occupants are accustomed to a particular level of lighting and when you take that away, they will notice. However, task lighting is very efficient and can meet their needs without raising energy costs." 

Left to right: Marcus Galante, Adam Beranek-Collins, John Zhou and Joe Stockman take a light reading in a Jessup Hall work room.	John Zhou and Adam Beranek-Collins identify the number and type of lightbulbs in an office during a lighting audit of Jessup Hall.