Power of Change: Award Success Story

Mintz and Hoke: June 2014 August 2014

CHALLENGE
The George J. Sherman Family Sports Complex at the University of
Connecticut (UConn) is home to the schools intramural sports program, field
hockey and mens and women's track and field programs. The athletic facility
is located in the heart of UConn's main campus in Storrs. Opened in 1995,
the complex features a state-of-the-art artificial turf field (nylon knit on
elastic layer over a vertical drain base), affording the UConn field hockey
program one of the finest on-campus collegiate facilities in the nation. The
complex also includes an eight-lane, 400-meter all-weather track surface as
well as seating for 2,000 fans and full-field lighting.
When considering all of the impressive on-field activities and novel advances
the complex provides, its outdated, inefficient lighting system was in clear
need of replacement. The lighting system came with manual switches that
often kept complex lights on for hours even while it was not in use.
Ultimately, this energy drain became a central part the Universitys Climate
Action Plan that set out to reduce energy costs, shrink its carbon footprint
and become Dark Skies Compliant by reducing light pollution, all while
meeting NCAA lighting requirements.
SOLUTION
To address these challenges, UConn selected and installed a new automated
lighting system that uses fewer fixtures and less electricity and reduces light
pollution and glare, while still providing lighting that complies with the NCAA
regulations. An advanced 24-hour control and monitoring function enables
personnel to turn off the system remotely when not in use.
RESULTS
There was a significant difference in efficiency and savings after the new
lighting system was installed in mid-2013. The new light fixtures reduced
energy usage in the complex by 187 kilowatt hours per light bulbresulting
in a 55% reduction in energy use. The new lights are projected to achieve an
annual cost savings of $11,000. Longer lamp life is also expected to reduce
maintenance costs.

Additional benefits of the lighting retrofit and being able to remotely turn off
the system include reducing the carbon footprint of the complex by 85 tons
per year and an additional annual energy savings of $2,000. The total effort
has brought the UConn facility to become Dark Skies Compliant with a 50%
reduction in light pollution. Not only has the new lighting system achieved
the goal of energy savings, it also provided a learning opportunity through
the schools living laboratory approach to sustainability educationall
while making funds available for energy projects in the future.