Hubbell Lighting, Greenville, S.C., recently launched GreenWise, an online resource intended to show building owners, building operators, facility managers, and other decision makers responsible for operations the benefits of energy-conscious lighting principles. Hubbell Lighting estimates that 80 percent of the existing commercial buildings in the United States are still operating with lighting systems dating back to the 1980s and that the lighting retrofit market is huge.
"We are embarking on a nationwide program to reach these people in their school buildings, government facilities, hospitals, factories and office high rises and demonstrate to each how an investment in 21st century energy-efficient lighting systems will not only make their bottom line healthier, but also will significantly contribute to the greening of their communities,” said Scott Muse, president of Hubbell Lighting. “Buildings of every description account for nearly 40 percent of all CO2 emissions in the United States, and two-thirds of the electricity we consume. Hubbell Lighting is committed to changing these equations for the better.”
To jump-start this on-going program, Hubbell Lighting will be distributing market-specific information directly through its national network of agents and through its new GreenWise web site. The website will offer virtual tours, including one where school officials can “walk through” a typical facility starting at the entrance and going on to the lobby, classrooms, hallways, gymnasium, private offices, school grounds, bus loading zones, sports fields, parking lots among other areas. Energy-efficient lighting fixtures are identified and features and benefits are outlined for each location on the “tour.” Lamp choices are also explained with an overview of the pros and cons of each lamp type. Visitors will also learn about simple lighting tips for saving energy in existing schools and universities that require minimal capital investment and can often produce paybacks in less than two years. Similar tours have been prepared for hospitals, government facilities, commercial office buildings, factories and warehousing facilities.
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